Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-10-31
INTER-OCEAN
ONLY TWO YEARS AGO.
n Pioneer Editor on the Tramp o
Civilization.

writer, then employed on the Devils
Lake ISTER-OcEAN. "a writing beside
an open window, he heard the remark
outside, "This looks like a newspaper Of
nee" Looking out, he observed a trio
Of strangers, who were evidently taking
in the town, and invited them in. They
introduced themselves-one rs a banker
from an interior town in New York; All.
ether as = merchant from an Ohio river
town in Ohio; and the third 1.-THE spokes-
man Of the party a clergyman from
one of the eastern states, on his summer
vacation. They had become acquaint-
ed on the cars, and were exploring the
Devils Lake region in company. After
they had seated the nselvcs on the prim-
tive seats that the Office afforded, the
following conversation ensued:
Running a newspaper here, Ell"
eyes, sir" Handing each a copy.]
"And how long has this paper been
p%ublished?"
ABOUT SIX mOnGnS.
"Six months! Why, how old is your
town.
"About six months"
"Well, which is the oldest-the news
paper or the town"
"There was one house-that log cabin
on the ridge-when the paper was
started"
"Why Hooking Overt it, this is a lively
local paper, how'd you get your items?"
"Go out ON the street and corral them
a. they 90 by"
"Wbati is the population Of your town.
"About six hundred"
"Why, my friend, we have plenty Of
villages in our state of 1000 to 5000
population, that can't show such a pa
per rs this, and many Of them can't sup
port any kind of a paper. And here
you've a town only six months old, with
600 people in it, anda newspaper. TX
cuse my ~incivility, is it's it paying? p
REASONABLY WE'LL"
"And how do you get material, away
out hereT
"We have railroad and express con.
nections with the great business centers.'
"True, but they are so far away
But how do you supply yourself with
workmen away out here?"
my dear sir, if you were to go to the
uttermost parts Of the earth and discov
or some region that the foot of man hae
trod, and did not eventually leart
that some tramp printer had preceded
you, you would indeed be entitled t,
rank ii an eminent explorer"
Il can readily believe it.. Well,
suppose you intend to remain here per
%nanently."
"That is the intention"
Il am told that this is the extrem
front: now what lies beyondp
Hundreds of miles of u%noccupie
prairie"
"Now, suppose that the railroa
should 60. on next year, and this tow
should be deserted in consequence
"Ruled out of court as unreasonab
and improbable"
"But allow me to imagine that
could happen; what would you do
such q caseT
with the aid Of a newspaper. mar
prescience, move on to the next loo
ton, get out a paper, and invite imm
grafton to follow"
"What! Nothing but a newspap'
on the bare prairie7
"Well, it might have Il hotel, a s
loon, and possibly u blacksmith shop #
ne,ghbors."
II had heard of the pluck and ente
prise of western newspapers, but nev
realized what it was. With us newsp
pers are the result of settlement and in
provement: but here they seem to be tt
very pioneers Of civilization. \ tow
six months old, with a newspaper!
is wonderful! But we are detaini,
YOU. Wishing you abundant success
We bid you good evening"
And as they passed out Of hearing '
could still hear him so]iloquizing: rs
months = six hundred newspaper
wonderful country"
That was but little over two yea
ago. The little town of 600 populate
o has three banks. three or 70
churches, public school building, t,
tl%ourishing newspapers, district US. lal
Office, fire department, skating rim
roller mill in process of constructio
graded streets, and many other featul
%of metropolitan life. Forty miles to t
northwest We are now located with
newspaper at the county seat of a III
county. We wish that our revere
friend could today stand at our off
window and observe the smoke of
four different steam separators that
threshing the thousands of bushels
grain, raised on land, not a sod of viii
was broken at the time of his visit, a
listen to the u%nceasing tramp, tran
tramp of the march of the empire to
rapidly receeding extreme 'front.' II