Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-05
HOW TO CONDUCT A COUNTRY
PAPER.
ALetter and a Reply.

A few days since We received a letter
from young gentleman of more than or
binary talents and culture, who contem-
plates the starting of a newspaper in a
country town Of 3, 500 population, and who
asks our advice concerning the duties the
undertaking involves. Thanking him for
the confidence reposed in our Judgment,
while we have 1t time and space to enter
into all the details, we will venture a few
considerations as connected with the sue
cess of his enterprise. In the first place
the life of an editor Of s country news
paper, if properly conducted, is by no
means an INDECENT one or one of ease. A
lust conception of the responsibilities
should be had, and then the most vigiIant
and untiring efforts used to carry ont those
conceptions. A paper in a thriving coun-
try town, alive to its interests and pros
perity, and the interest and prosperity of
the surrounding country is an institution
Of the first importance, and one that, when
rightly managed, ths psople are not slow
to appreciate.
Our young friend should name his pa
per well, that is he should adopt a nomen-
clature applicable to The country and
section in which it is to be issued. Let
I'LL dNOlu buCL1 LlSL-SOuiluluR udDl6S Us
would indicate 81 tendency to aping the
| metz opolitan dailies of the country. We
trust, too, that lie Will put the name of the
county as well as the name OF the town in
which it is published upon each issue, and
that he will have the date of each paper
/ on every page. 1t is very important that
the name of the county should appear.
WhSn fairly underw ay be should avoid
Hi l..
| toriaIs upon any subject. He should furn-
| ish his readers clear and condensed cpl
| tome of the news of the week. The more
pithy, pertinent local matters and home
events he can furnish, the more popular his
| paper will become. He should pay strict
| attention to the local interests OF bis town,
| county and section, especially to the sdu-
| cational and religious interests. If a
| school-house is to be built he should
be there and give it attention; if a
new road is to be opened he should
| give it attention. The agricultural
| interests of his section should receive his
| special attention, and every mandatory
that goes up,and every extraordinary piece
| of mechanism turned out should be care
| fully noted. Ali the fine stock brought into
| or raised in his county, should receive the
attention of his columns. The legal pro-
ceedings of courts, the remarkable opera
lions of the surgeons and physicians, the
merchants sales, the collection of taxes
and revenues, in his county should be re-
corded The products of the county, the
condition of the crops, and resources Of
the section should be kept promptly before
the readers. The shipment of produce,
receipts of merchandise, ETC., as well as
sales and transactions in real estate should
be carefully recorded. The marriages and
deaths in the county should be weekly
given. Every improvement going up il
town or county should be noted The des-
cription Of fine mill;erected in county il
of more service to a country papel
than a long winded editorial upoI
the Presidents message, Cuba or San Do