Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-10-28
The Local Press.

The Local Press.
The Tribune, few days ago, contained
an excellent article upon this subject. iron
which we extract as follows:
~ There is not . single paper on the Scum,
| that pays its prOprietors the interest on tn,
| capital invested, and fair days wages for tn,
| time devoted to the business. We arc anon.
those who believe that the people apprecia,,
the press, desire to sustain il, and need onl,
to know the facts to apply the remedy. TIL,
conductors Of the Sound papers are not mend
icants, and ask only their desers. Let mer
in all branches Of business advertise literally
and all who now borrow papers and read
them, subscribe and pay for the papers they
prefer, and every publisher on the Sound
would receive due compensation for his i'm.
vestment of money and labor, end work with
renewed zeal for the Interests and prosperity
of the people"
The duties Of the local newspapers, and
the advantages derived thcrefrom are thus
set forth:
eft is his business to present in truthful,
and at the same time the most favorable light
every thing calculated to interest and attract
population and capital to his vicinity. The
conductors of his " exchanges" scan his COL
have received from him, and they republish
whatever is noteworthy. For instance, we,
last fall published two little items, one on
large beets and another about an immense
cabbage, which we saw on different occasions
at the market of Dooley l. Rogers. During
the next three months we saw those items re-
produced in our exchanges from Maine to
Florida, accompanied, in many instances with
editorial comments. The notices published
in the several Weeklies Of Olympia as we'll as
in the 7ribune) Of the launch Of the WIlduood,
With statements of her dimensions, are still
going the rounds Of the Eastern press, and
have been the theme of numerous editorials.
calling attention TO the Unprecedented ship
building facilities Of Puget Sound. This sys-
tenn of exchanges is one of the heavy expenses
of the newspaper publisher, and one for which
his readers make no allowance. 1t is Of in
finite Importance, especially to new countries
like this Territory because it furnishes a
medium through which our varied resources
receive extensive gratuitous advertising, and
also because (as we have shown it enables
the local paper to furnish its patrons with
news from all parts of the world
Although the benefits derived from the
press are not immediate or apparent in all
cases, they are admitted by all sensible,
observing men. Every dollar expended
for advertising or subscription, inasmuch
as it advances the interest of the paper,
or the enterprise Of the publisher, is BEN
eft to the country and to each individual
member Of it. Nevertheless, how often
the pittance is grudgingly bestowed, or
an attempt made to "sponse" outright
these benefits. Every day the publisher
is requested to puff this or that object,
without HUT as to remuneration in any
form. Some one builds a shanty, and
although he may not even subscribe to the
paper, it is expected to herald the fact,
with the name Of the architect and builder,
and laudations Of the enterprise of its
owner. Another may introduce the "rus-
tic siding" as a novelty in building, or the
"Ogee bracket on the rake" and unless
the press 60 into extasies over it they are
mean and wanting in enterprise. Still
others will beg paper, and never say so
much as thank you for it, notwithstand-
ing it costs ready money for material to pro-
duce it. These individuals would not
think of asking store-keeper to give a
paper of pins or yard Of calico for moth
ing, yet the cost is just as much to the pub.
Usher for his paper as it is to the merchan,
for his articles. We do not wish to be
considered mean or stingy in abiding to
this small business, but mention it as one
of the most remarkable evidences of the
want of appreciation by the general public
of the power Of the Archimedean lever thai
moves the world.