, 1884-07-24
THrtemporary oOnapse Of the scrap book

publication known as the -NOTHboeSteTH
Lire Stock Journal furnishes a theme for
4 few remarks on trade or class papers.
The Journal was a fair specimen of the
class of papers devoted to the interests of
a particular industry. The matter OF
which it was composed consisted almost
entirely of selections made with more or
less judgment from papers published
throughout the country. Much Of this
material was necessarily widowed with
age are read like "reminiscences from the
previously published daily papers. A
great deal of the matter possessed merely
a mild local interest in the place where it
had originally been printed. For instance,
a statement published in the Rat Portage
RereiHe, and reprinted in the Stock
Journal, blazoning to the world the inter-
esting fact that John Smiths cow had a
calf last week, could scarcely be expected
to thrill with amazement and delight a
Wyoming man, a thousand OF whose cows
may have been having a thousand calves
at the very moment Mr.. Smith was gloat-
ing over this perhaps unexpected addition
to his family. Nobody would be disposed
to wonder il the Wyoming cattle kings
received information of this character with
d considerable degree of philosophy,
Without the least desire TO cast reiee-
tons upon the editorial ability of the gen.
tleman in charge, it would be ridiculous
to assert that any journalistic genius was
ever displayed in the original matter.
While the syntax may never have been
shaky, the construction of the articles WINS
always slipshod and the matter as
thoroughly diluted as the dose ola Home
opathic physician. There seemed to be a
prevailing fear on the part Of the editor
that a bit Of genuine information would
prove hurtful to his readers, and he con
sequently exercised the most rigid and
painstaking care to keep what he knew to
himself His success in this one respect
may be regarded as remarkable.
To offset what might be considered dis
advantages in a general newspaper the
Stool; Journal presented two features: it
was neatly printed and could be read by
old folks without their spectacles. The
latter, however, was a hazardous under
taking.
The paper was started on credit but
was ushered into existence with a big
blare of trumpets. The fact that it was
to represent the stock interests was pro-
claimed from the housetops and deeply
impressed upon business men.
The proprietors claim to have
made u mint of money out Of
the concern, yet in the whole
course of its existence what solitary thing
has it done to advance the cattle industry
which it claimed to represent Its readers
were necessarily confined TO stockmen and
men interested in stock. 1t never had
and could not possibly obtain a
general constituency. Its ad, oeacy
therefore of any measure to benefit the
live stock industry could only reach those
in sympathy with the movement and
never come within mailing distance of
those opposed to it. The latter was the
class necessary to reach and it were only
reached by the daily papers.
The greatest opportunity presented to
The paper to distinguish itself was last
April during the Stockgrower's Conyen-
ton. Verbatim reports Of the proceed
ings were printed each day in the Sun
and LEADER, and the following week in
the Stock journal Did anyone interest
ed wait Il week to read the pro-
ceedings when he could have read them
just as faithfully reported the following
day.
1t does not seem probable.
Altogether, the Stock Journal was an
unnecessary luxury. 1t neither well nor
ably filed the field it assumed to cover.
Its pretensions to influence or to benefit
ting the cattle industry were as absurd as
they were ridiculous.
The concern has temporarily fallen by
the wayside, and should it ever be resur-
rected it will hereafter be gagged by the
public on its merits and not by its pre-
tensions.