The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-09-24
the TELEGRAPH IN ITS NEW DRESS
FIVE YEARS AGO,

THE TELEGRAPH IN ITS NEW DRESS.
FIVE YEARS AGO,
In back room on Rogue's Row."
aided by boy only, we issued the first.
number Of the TELEGRAPH. The war
had closed some four months before,
but the colored soldiers of DIcKEY, then
the reigning satrap in the Ouachita
country, occupied the courthouse square
in Monroe, he occupying our present
Office; the country was in an unsettled
and gloomy condition; men were won
dering what to do; the labor system
was disorganized; the government was
engaged in the search for Confederate
wagons, mules and cotton, to such an
extent that it lost sight of the citizen
and of society, and the result was, in
diyiduals fell into cmployments from
necessity, not knowing whether success
OF this numerous class-those old Con-
federates who were bankrupt in purse
and in hopes-the proprietor Of this
sheet was member. He had, however,
a trade, some old type, Washington
hand press and small degree Of for
titude and resolution left after the war,
and these he invested in the TELEGRAPH.
A few weeks before, the lamented
SLACK had resurrected the Intelligent
Ger, and, at the time our half sheet APP
peared, was occupying, in Monroe,
very nearly the entire newspaper field.
With his intellectual prowess and with
powerful support to back him, the con-
test for US appeared almost hopeless.
Anon the breeze began to fill our
sails, and the TELEGRAPH appeared as
full sheet, we'll filed with paying add
yertisements. But our Office was a
mere skeleton, and constant additions
to the material, especially in the job
department., with IA falling off of bust
ness consequent upon poor crops, kept
us from charging, and rendered US
even anxious about maintaining the
foothold we had secured. And thus
fighting our way against powerful
opposition, sometimes respondent but
neverdespairing,the TELEGRAPH amidst
the misgivings of friends and the pro-
scription of foes, has made it's regula,
weekly appearance. until now it APP,
pears in a
COMPLETE NEW OUTFIT,
In description of which, in accord
ance with custom immemorial with
newspapers, we propose now to indulge
craving the readers pardon if We
should appear little vain over the
neatness, harmony and elegance of oul
tout ensemble.
OUR NEW PRESS
Deserves to be mentioned first. 1t ii
cylinder power press, manufactured
at the Cincinnati Type Foundry, ant
was selected after careful investiga
ton of the merits of other presses, none
of which appeared to meet our want:
SO satisfactorily, which were, simplicity
strength, speed, cheapness, good i'm
preston and the application of little
power. In all these requirements, W.
are; so far, we'll pleased with our pur
chase, and can assure our patrons tina
they may rely implicitly upon a clear
readable sheet. Every precaution ha
been taken in supplying the press will
rollers of superior composition; while
its mechanism is so exact and easily
adjusted that once rightly started II bat
sheet is impossible. 1t has ample ca
pacity for sheet four columns larger
than this, to:which size we are prepar
ed to enlarge whenever justified b,
advertising patronage. We have pur
chased also
Which, though intended mainly fol
printing proof sheets, is equally handy
in working posters, placards, &c, where
the number of copies required is no
very great. 1t is simple, always ready
and greatly facilitates the printer
labors, an item of no small account.
THE NEW DRESS.
The type upon which this impression
was taken was cast at the celebrated
johnson Foundry, of Philadelphia
whose styles and quality of type are un
surpassed by.ay foundry in the Union
The reading matter is set in what print
ers call long primer, and the advertise.
/ments in mtnion, both of which, it will
be seen, have clear, symmetrical face.
and together make Il contrast which,
we fancy, cannot fail to give pleasing
satisfaction to the eye. Our selection