Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-13
TEXAS BORDER JOURNALISM.

How n Paper wac Started Six Years Ago
What "a Weekly Can Do FOR County.
FORT WORTH. TEX Jan. IL, 1888.
To the Editor of the Gazette.
An article published in TIE GAZETTE
some time siuce, headed Border Journal
ism in DakCts, reminds me of very
similar experience on she Texas border
in the year 1881. The Texas and Pacific
Railroad had reached the Colorado river,
and quite villsge of tents Lad sprung up
on the valley, right at the crossing
Among the first arrivals en- the ground
wss man with en- old Washington hand
press and u few cases Of old type. A tent
wss stretched, and in few days the ini-
tial number Of the Colorado Coursnt
msde its appearance, printed on brown
paper. In the course Of another month
another issue WAS born, which WIS very
similar in get up and style to the fist.
By this time construction trains were
running into the town, and business be-
gan to assume larger proportions. Three
stores, two saloons, ell n tents, and a
number Of other sma Ter businesses had
opened up, and the place was crowded
with cowboys, rangers and prospec-
tore. a good deal of very
bad whisky vas being drank,
and the editor of the C0urant
being of an agreeable turn Of mind wss
swinging inWith the boysIsnd taking drink
Just as often as suY Of them. This editor
whose name We will not call, wss light
ing editor and met with the misfortune of
being killed on the streets one beautiful
morning in April. This sad affair caused
the suspension of the Courant for q few
weeks and the typo being thrown out of
employment for the time engaged in the
then lucrative business OF gathering but
falo bones. Along about the first of May,
new man came on the scene fresh from
a hsy camp and eager for business. In
looking over the village he found this old
newspaper outfit and the thought struck
him that the town ought to have paper,
and that be was the right man IN the right
plSce and just at the right time. Finding
g printer who wss wanting job he re-
veuleG his thouehts to him and asked his
opinion. "Just the thing" said Cap
4 I'VE call the printer Cap for SHORTY, "there
is millions in it." Acting upon this
advice our sdventurer found the proper
owner of the outfit and 5000 CLOSED q
trade. He was now tae owner and sole
proprietor Of q newspaper outtis, but had
no experience whatever IN the business.
The printer WAS employed and given IT,
structions to go to work. His first call
was for copy. Well, what do you WsniP
Just anything suitable to go in the psper
Oar EDITOR was completely rouplussed,
ouJ sfser some Instructions from the
printer he prepared his salutetory, In
which be assured the public that his long
ana successful career in the newspaper
business, aud liberal patronage from
the business men Of the Queen City Of
the West would be sufficient guarantee
of strictly FIRST class psper. Receiving
the hearty approval Of the printer on this
maiden effort, the edi or took new cour-
age, and in lengthy write-up Of the city
aud county, Its beauty, It's great POSSIBLE
tiles, its natural and unnatural Edvsnt-
sges, its phenomenal growth, ETC., CON-
pletely p4ralyEsd the printer. Next fol-
lowed the locsl news, &
write-up Of Mitchell Academy
which was another dugout with csuvas
cover, church not ces, etc, until the
look Was foil OF copy and the printer
happy. The day OF pub icstion came or
Saturday sud while subscriptions book
had not been opened 800 coplfs were
printed aud distributed IN the town eI-:
cept few sample copies sent sway, snd
S few exchanges. A. W. Dunnfzthe
father Of the town, who hsd iheE onlv
wooden building in the town wssfhe arst
subscriber, and for period OF SIX menthsl
paid for loo copies. 70 this nstnber was