The weekly intelligencer., 1895-09-07
Weekly Country Papers.


Col. W. y. Switzier in the Boouville Democrat
A large number Of people In every
county do not take, or patronize to the
amount of dollar in lifetime any of
the weekly papers published in their
counties. Some Of them are well-to-do
farmers, heads Of families, ami tax
payers. They are willing enough to en-
joy any Of the advantages which accrue
to county by the publication In its
county seat or elsewhere of enterprising
and ably conducted weekly newspapers,
some OF them democratic, some OF them
republican. But from year to year they
do not subscribe for any OF them, but
often borrow from more liberal and
wide-awaxe neighbors.
The fact seems never to have occurred
to them that il the other people who
live In the county followed their non
progressive and selfish policy, there
would not be published in the county o
newspaper Of any kind; and that their
county, To the shame and modification
Of every intelligent and proud-spirited
citizen in Il, would be distinguished -iol
being 20 illiterste and progressive
- to be without q newspaper alto.
gether.
Another class OF citizens, good
enough in their way but quarter OF {
century or more behind the times, occa
sionally grumble at paying $3.50, ol
about three cents per week per annum
for county paper because they can ge
. city paper Of much larger size fol
less money.
This 10 true; but while Il is their duty
to take . city paper they seem to forge
that Il does not contain, and canno
contain the county and neighborhoot
news which Is Of most interest AND
value to themselves and families. Th'
big city paper Is all right and fills {
very important place in its sphere, bu
1t does not publish the proceedings o
the several courts held In the county o
the country newspaper, or record o
the deaths, marriages and accidents, o
the news about the schools and churche
progress Of improvements. local, per
sonal and political news, ETC., wnicl
find their way into the columns Of al
live and well-conducted country papers
While the large city daily perform
an important junction in the busines
and progress of our modern civilization
|, 1t cannot feel rs much interest as tn
country weekly In the development an
improvement Of the county in whic
the weekly Is published. Even tn
> names as we'll as the persons of th
conductors Of the big city dailies al
unknown in the country, and largely
the city also, while the conductors {
9 the country press personally know ti
: people and the people know them; the
: are neighbors and fellow-citizen,
:. Therefore, in q sense that city new
paper conductors cannot hope to sttai,
country editors are in close touch wit
v the people, and understand their wan,
r and keenly sympathize with all the
d interests, trials, hopes and aspiration
for they are ''bone Of their bone an
q flesh of their fiesh.''
@ As to the difference in price betwee
l. a country weekly and weekly or sem
II weekly from the city, those who con
e PLAIN at what they call "a high price
n for the country weekly and think
q ought to be furnished at ratio
@ quantity Of reading to price, shOul
}. remember that the cost OF setting Il
type and editing the city paper is pal
for by the daily subscribers and adve
n tisers before the city weekly or sem
n weekly is printed; whereas in Il
a country weekly the matter appears
but one issue Of the paper and is pal
:, for Gf paid at alD alone by the sui
scribers TO and the advertisers In Il
/. country weekly.
The fact is-and after an exi erien(
n Of half q century we believe we kno
+ what We are talking about-no week
country paper like the Boonville Dem'
crat that incurs the expense and lab,
of keeping In the front rank of jou
=" nalism, can afford TO furnish pap,
" for twelve months for less than doll
. and fifty cents; and not one in t.
=" thousand Of the publishers Of SUI
papers get rich even at that price, I,
:. they work chiefly for the public and 4
)" the printers, rype-founders, pape
: makers aud landlords, and not 4
themselves.
4, | Cara M Tar hon aayara In,