The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-04-01
WATCHING THE MAIN CHANCE

WATCHING THE MAIN CHANCE.
Some years ago when the Scotland
Neck knitting mill was built there was
some discussion, we remember, in a bus |
mess meeting of the citizens as to the
beet location. And all were agreed that
it should be located near the railroad.
This was argued from two standpoints
first, for the facility OF shipping, and
second, "to let people who pass on the
cars see what the town is doing-to
show our improvements"
Both of these reasons for locating the
mills near the railroad were good ones.
We remember, also, that when the
new building was to be erected for the
male school, the same question came
up about the location of the school. 1t
was generally agreed that it should be
near the railroad, if possible, at least
within a good view of the railroad.
This was not desired for any special
convenience for shipping students to
and from the school, but simply "to
let persons passing on the cars see the
building and thus advertise the school"
This we thought was also wise; but
there are some other things that adver.
tise a town besides the new buildings,
&c. We reprint below a paragraph
from Press and Printer and ask the
people of Scotland Neck if they can't
find some meaning suggestions therein.
| Read it carefully and then read it
again, and see If you do not think a
little more investment in patronlzing
The COMMONWEALTH would pay.
1t says:
The local newspaper Is the truest rep
resentative of the town or city in which
it is published. It speaks for and pre-
sents its city, as it were, in mirror to
all the country. Every day or every
week of the year it proclaims to the
world the merits and dement's OF the
place where it is published. In large
measure the city Is Judged abroad by
its local newspaper. If the paper
creates favorable impression abroad
and Is we'll known, then the city, too,
will enjoy in measure the same sort
OF reputation. It is not so much the
readers of the newspaper abroad that
give it character and standing as its
exchanges. If the paper obtains high
place in the esteem of the newspaper
press, the city in which it is published
shares in considerable measure the
same sort OF reputation. If the paper
is of character to make it often quot
ed, the name of its city becomes famil
lar to the world. By the character Of
the local paper the character of its city
is very largely judged by the whole
newspaper press of the country. So
then, the fortunes OF city are much
: involved in its newspaper press.
| The character of the local paper il
determined almost wholly by the sup
port it receives. If the merchants ant
business men of its town are liberal, ell
terprising, far-seeing citizens, who ap
preciate the value of local newspape
and give it generous patronage, thel
it will be worthy of Its city. If, on tn
other hand, the support given is scant
then an unfavorable Impression of tn
town is every day carried to all parts o
the country.
We state truth when we say tina
not dollar is paid to the we'll conduct
ed local newspaper that does not come
back to its city in ten-fold value. w
: state another fact when we say that TO
, presenting to the public nearly all kind
of legitimate advertising, there is no
, another medium in the world so effect
i've and so economical as the local news
paper. The great merchants of thi
country who have amassed millions G
wealth, relied on the newspapers almos
wholly for their advertising.