The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-15
A BOOM EDITOR ON THE FRONTIER
A Town With Nothing But a News
naner But That Was ENOUGH.

paper, But That Was Enough.
A correspondent of the st. Paul Pioneer
Press tells this story about A. c. Adams,
editor of the Webster, Oak, Farmer and
Reporter. After the war Maj. Adams was
prominent for some years in Iowa politics,
bu finally determined to move to Dakota
He settled in Day county, far from the
haunts of man, took up claim and built
himself a sod shanty. He was printer by
trade and a newspaper man by instinct,
and having run paper in Iowa succe S
fully took a printing outfit with him to his
claim He finally went TO amusi G him
self getting out a newspaper. He was
twelve miles from post Office, ard thirty
eight from railroad, but he issued a paper
filled with accounts of the occurrences
which would ordinarily take place in Il town
of 800 OF 400 He described the fhcmens
parade, the concert by the band lectures by
prominent people in the town hall, church
soca5les, and so on, drawing on his lmagl-
nation and past experience indiscriminately
After printing a few hundred copies of
these papers The Major would drive over to
the post Office and mail them to various of
fees in the East and West for general distri-
button.
One dav the editor of this strange sheet
was standing in front of his sod Shanty
when he saw a horse and buggy coming
across the prairie. AS it drew nearer he
observed the figure OF a man in the buggy
and he noticed thaJ every now and thea IUe
vehicle stopped and the man stood up in the
buggy and looked anXiously about him.
This proceeding was repeated as he APP
preached the shack, and finally Adams
made out the man to be am elderly gentle
man with iron-gray whiskers, and evidently
man of business AT last he stood up on
his seat, shaded lis eyes with his hHnd, an!
scanned the horizon in every direction.
Then he sat down and drove straight up to
the sod shack.
"Hellom said Adams. "How are you"
"Howdy doY' replied the stranger
Wont you get out and come in and restp
said the Major.
Yes, 1 will" responded the traveller and
he did.
He took stool and looked around the
shack curiously, taking in the printing
outfit with the other furniture. Then an
idea seemed to strike him.
Look here,n be said, ''do you print the
Western chief here~
eyes, " said Adams. "Would you like to
look at onep
"Look at onel" exclaimed the stranger,
"look at one! No, thank you, Pve looked at
it a good many times"
WHAT do you think of itp' inquired
Adams.
You want me to ten your responded the
stranger.
Certainly" replied the editor.
"Well then, think you are the d-est
liar ever knew"
"Why, you didn't take my fun in earnest,
did youW inquired Adams.
"Fun nothingl' said the reporter. "Why,
| came out to your Internal place to start a
hardware store"
Adams tried to prevail on the stranger,
whose name was Lawrence, TO stay and
start the store anyway, but it was no use.
He went back 20 Iowa. But four months
from that time Mr.. Adams stood in the door
of his shack and counted 120 houses in sight.
The boom edition had brought Others in VINO
stad. New railways traverse the region,
and short distance from that first dwelling
stands the thriving town of Britton, in
Marshall county, Day having been divided
and a new county formed of that name.
IF Lawrence had staid and started the
hardware store" says Adams, she would
now be worth $4,000"