The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1866-11-03

FOURTEENTH voLuME.-The present number of
the RECORD commendes its Fourteenth Volume
Thirteen years ago the first number was issued by
CIV. Stiles & Co., at Bidwel Bar, then the county
seat of Butte county. 1t issued from the att
story Of frame building and the Office material
was regarded with much pride by the residents of
the Bar, who were just then moveing their cloth
houses and tents and replacing them with more
substantial frame buildings Bidwell Bar at that
period, was the most important place in the county,
casting something like four hundred votes. as hon
estly and fairly the right of suffrage was exer-
cised at other places in those "palmy days of the
Republic and of big Jumps and rich pockets for
the shonest miners of California. 1t was the pi-
oneer press of the county, and was warmly well
coined by the people of the county, who accorded
it generous support. Its proprietor, Styles how
ever, was not practical printer or professional
writer and his assistants Harry de Courcey, Long
Primer Hall, Sam Martin, and Jim Kerr, were roll
licking blades and spared no ''pains or expense
in the "get up" of the RECORD, or IN the en-
loyment of themselves. Martin, as Foreman of the
Office, was its kingbolt and mainstay. DeCourcey
and Hail. and Styles. were its triple thunderers.
until DeCourcey thrust knife under Hall shoul-
der-blade, when the former took position in the
county jail and the latter accepted of pallet in
the county infirmary. Then it was that one De
cember merging found Styles guest at a hotel on
the plains that we were endeayoring to keep Al
ter relation of the difficulties he had experienced
n his new calling, we suggested to him that we
"eould not keep hotel and perhaps he could;
he could not run printing Office, possibly we
,iobtc in dniup 81 The idea tOok. STYLES
became bonniface, and we assumed the conduct
of the RECORD. In the spring of 81 the office was
removed to the hill above the nest of buildings on
the bar that constituted the town for there were no
fire insurance companies in those days. 1t proved
wise precaution for the meridian sun OF August 4th
'5i shone upon but single house on the bar and
that was partially torn down. On the surrounding
hills stood the Court House, Sheriff Freers resi-
dence, the ferryman's residence, and the BUTTE
RECORD office. Around these gathered the home
less residents of the Bar, to gaze upon the smould
cring embers ashes and ruins below. MyTiads of
fire flies darted into their faces with sharp sting
force, as a reminder of tbe misfortune that had be-
fallen them and as if to assure them that the sud
den transformation of the brief hour was not
dream. The recuperative energy Of the people
soon reared better class Of buildings than those
destroyed hy the fire, and the summer of '55 wit
messed the greatest glory and prosperity of Bidwell
Bar Then came Oroville, who demanded the
county seat from the old 10 town. Then came de-
cay. and now Bidwell Bar boasts a bridge a way
side hostelry, and A grocery store. Like the old
town of Bidwell Bar, Oroville had her days of glo
rious mining and business prosperity, and thea
came the delugc of fire. that swept her business
. places with the hesom ofdestruction. The REcoRn
huildug was unscathed, and the morning of
Iuly 9th 1855 we looked for second time from its
windows upon lake of ashes and smouldering
emhers, instead of the hustle of lie and business
of the day previous. Then commenced the strug-
gle to regain business prosperity and after years Of
struggling Oroville begins to see that increase in
business prosperity that promises permanency. OF
course the prosperity of the RECORD was more or
less affected by these disasters and after the fire of
-. dropped its Daily and resumed its weekly pab
lication Its preservation from destruction by lire
has been almost Proydential, and for which we
hope we have not been unthankful. With the ex-
ception OF about two years-irom '6t to '66-it has
been under its present conductor since December
80. 1t was mistake of ours in dsposing of the
RECORD in Ga mistake that cost much to rec
tify. and one that VIII not occur again with our
consent Martyrs to public opinion in a Republic
are heroic asses Nothing more Great men d-
rect the events of their time wise take advan-
tage of them; weak carried along in their
current; the balance become martyrs to partisan
faith that however tempting To the eve, tarns to
. "ashes on the lips" The REcoRp has heretofore
during times of great partisan excitement issued
larger edition than at the present time; but there
never has been period during the thirteen years
of its existence that it has had numerous list
of permanent paving subscribers as at the present
.ime. It shall be endeavor to merit AZ increase
of support in this direction, until power press
shall become absolute necessity OF the office.
We believe this be accomplished by proper
attention to the business interests of the county,
State and Nation, aad proper appreciation of the
just sentiments of the people. We thus launch the
aEcoRn upon its fourteenth volume, hoping that
l,s close may witness the peaceful and proper ad-
vanoement of our people as community, as State
and as an united and ndiviSible natiou.