The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-16
IN DAYS OF OLD.
Eventful History of a Jer-
seY City Newspaper
Sixty Years Ago.
QUAINT AND CURIOUS ITEMS
Editors Mourn Over the Absence
of Public ~Spirit-Amusing
Advertisements.

DR.. Leonard J. Gordon a few days ago
while at an auction sale of household
effects bought for a small sum
for the Free Library a boupd
file of the Bergen County Courier con-
tanning every issue of the quaint news
paper from its first appearance on the
streets of Jersey City. Wednesday. Feb
ruary l. 1882 to the last. when it gave
UP the ghost on November IA, 1885,. having
lived only forty-two weeks.
AT that time Jersey City was a part
of Bergen county, the county town OF
which was Hackensack. 1t had no news
paper. and to supply this Messrs. John
Post and ]. E. Handley on the morning
mentioned launched the Bergen County
Courier on its brief and eventful ex-
istence. 1t was printed, as it said. in
the basement of the building occupied by
]. D. Muller. Esq, attorney and coufl-
sellor at law. Grand street. opposite the
per annum. It was a double page sheet.
and on the front of the pages appeared
this public announcement
PROSPECTUS.
1.-THE avenues to moral and political
elevation in this country are open to al;
!, avd Is; t6 ogpd9fsnit high ~ i disgpsnsIng g gea.
eral information should be embraced.
The liberty of the press, too, being a
and duly esteemed by our citizens. 1t
is unnecessary to apologize for an I'M
dertaking k the present in a county
say that its size and Importance de-
mand a well conducted press, and We
feel we hazard nothing in making the
assertion that such can and will be sup
ported. A population of more imam
twenty-five acknowledgement and intel
ligent-s deemed sufficient to urge us on
xgo rd 10 Wa 1aaup TO those who desire the
honor and prosperity of their county TO
manifest IT by heir support. a4,.a
offices for publication in county towns,
we nave been induced by what we deem
ianportarat consideration to lestabilsn
sectional partially nor the certainty OF
greater encouragement from that SOURCE.
An easy access to the great metropolis
ing the latest Intelligence and other mat.
ters of interest. not less for the beneflt
of the more remote inhabitants OF the
vicinity; the little difficulty which we
will thereby experience in procuring ma
ferials necessary ito support the appear
ance when press of business may re-
quire. 1t is upon such basis that We
county generally, hoping to prove by all
our actions that we love our neigh
we will pursue in politics a neutral
course. avoiding in all cases, as IS now
too ommon the practice of assailing
the private reputation of candidates for
offices, but treating such, as Well as
those In office. with courtesy n res
peot, without reference to political
'"our intelligence Will be generator;
eign, domestic. political, literary ana
religious, and shall be given as soon az
ter received as the regular time OF pub
I'VE lastly give the assuranee-if the
virtue and morals of a people depend in
any measure upon the character OF the
press they support, we will not, the prov
jdence Of God assisting us in the per-
formance of the important e~ndeavor,
ever give cause for the charge of cor
ruption, but. rather. prove the press
both morally and politically a blessing.
JOHN POST.
81. F.. HANDLEY."
SORROWFUL FAREWELL
Alas for the bright hopes of the en-
terprising editors. Jersey City people
were duii-a lot of farmers, and Jays as
1t was said. and they had no time to
patronize a live newspaper. After a long
struggle the editors shut up shop on
November u, 1882, printing on the entire
fourth page in very big letters this pitt
full tale of woe
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