Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-04-11
OUR BIRTHDAY.

east publication which certain new
paper prophets predicted was destine
to die an early death, and take its plac
in Vermont's newspaper graveyard
The new journal had been chris,ene
y 1.-The Evening Enterprise" and in
concise statement its platform was an
nouncod. Few and far apart were til
friends that were counted by that nev
paper, and certain men with more FEES
than brains were loudly proclaimin,
that this paper was trcading on forbid
den paths or, in other words, that thu
territory in which the paper would cir
culate was the sole property Of other
and that the glorious constitution draw
up by our forefathers was no longer il
force here. Even those counted as per
sonal friends shook their heads and sad
ly predicted that we would never sur.
vive the first year. They could not ,,l.
| "OASt'Hu HoN ouc COuIu Dc So DOlu. VIC
months was the limit given lis in which
to write our obituary.
Time, however. brings multitude OF
changes. The first editorial announce
ment stated that we did not come to fill
any long felt want, but to publish live,
up-to-date, local paper, unbiased by the
rigid ties of any local faction. That we
have kept our promise, the steady in
crease in both circulation and advertis-
ing patronage amply proves.
One year ago today our country was
on the verge of declaring war against
the kingdom of Spain and realizing that
the residents of our city would appre-
cate the latest news from the front,
a contract was made with the worlds
greatest news service. the Associated
Press, and with the first issue of The.
"Evening Enterprise" was published a
day report of the Associated Press, and
this was continued until several weeks
after the war had ended. Only at a
great expense were we able to secure
that telegraphic service and when the
war ended it seemed to us as though the
public did not care for the service to
such an extent as to warrant the cOnlin-
uance of the contract ut such heavy
expense. Even then we published more
local news than any other Barre paper
had ever done, so that, as it were, we
forced ourselves upon our enemies, who
bought unwillingly at first. But later
they came our way when they realized
how much better a bargain we gave
them. We were bound to win.
Since we discontinued the Associat, d
Press our efforts to publish a greater
amount of local news have been doubled
and with the commencement of our sec
ond year we make the assertion, sup
ported by facts, that this paper gives
more daily news of the city in which it
is issued than any other Vermont daily
does of its own city.
Although this birthday is celebrated
beneath the sunshine Of bright prospects
for the future, there have been times
in the months gone by when the shad-
ows were dark and heavy. In this as
in other matters we adhere to tho plain
lnvanished truth. That is the best pol
icy us others may sometime learn. At
he time when the first issue of this pa
DER made its appearance the present
writer, although having had considcra-
dc experience along literary lines was
out little versed in the ant of manag ing
| newspaper, and was therefore DEEPEN
dent upon the former owner of the
Weekly Enterprise. This proved to be
great handicap, and we at once decid-
ID that no daily could ever succeed in
Barre with milestone hanging to its
leck. Many expected to see the young
enterprise fall into the rut of the old
me. This caused our circulation to iii
rease very slowly. Advertisers could
ot be blamed if they failed to use our
olumns until we had proved our inten-
ion Of remaining amongst them. Ev-
ryone was against us and we had all
manner of obstacles to overcome but
We hung on just the same.
With these facts before us and with -
oss OF $500 a month for at least six ,
lonths 1t was no small battle that we
ave been waging in order to put the
aper on paying basis, to give the ,
""ple OF Barre an opportunity of secur-
e all the news, to secure both sides of
II questions, and to make the citizens
1d business men OF Barre we'll under. :.
land that this daily was in Barre to re-
lain.
Asa starter in this direction the inter- b
IT'S OF Scott and wife were purchased, I
id the Barre Press Company organized
18th e. A. Ross and Fl. G. Whitaker as
vners. The name of the daily was
Hanged to the "EyENING TELEGRAM, II
order that any traces OF the former o
lys might be entirely destroyed, y,
Enr |