Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1901-02-14
Pointers and Discussions at the
State Press Meetino-Col.
Morton.
Excursion of Three Hundred Pe0ple
to the WaShburn Coal Mines
at Wilton.
Uneasiness Over Expected Appoint.
ments by the Governor Nun.
erOuS Clerks.

VuVVc OuVU MO-
Bismarck, n. D., Feb. 13.-The
meeting Of the state press association
yesterday was well attended. "What
Does it Cost to Make Newspapers"
a paper by H. G. Plumley, was read by
Major Edwards in the absence of Mr.
Plumley. 1t was carefully prepared
and contained many ideas of interest
S. F. Mercer of the Larimore Leader
made brief address, his subject be.
ing "How to Maintain Advertising
Patronage" Mr.. Mercer's idea is
that in order to establish correctly
the idea of the value of advertising
space the public should be made tc
pay fair price for the use of the
same. He discouraged the idea of
giving free of charge to church socie.
ties or others valuable advertising
space, when they derived profit from
the same. 1t was also his opinion that
the merchants Of the state will wake
up to the fact before many moons
that the success of the firms in
the cities in selling to farmers is due
to the persistent advertising of the
mail order houses.
But the experience OF the old-time
advertiser, Col. G. A. Morton of Far
60, was the most effective in proof of
the great value of advertising. Mr..
Morton told of how he had landed in
Fargo possessed of little money but
having title to considerable North
Dakota real estate. The land was
considered worthless in the east. By
the expenditure of many thousands
of dollars in advertising he was ena-
bled to, in 1881, sell land to amount of
81, $50, ,00O-nearly two million dollars,
of which considerable was profit. Mr..
Morton is of the opinion that the de-
velopment of North Dakota is due
almost wholly to tie advertising of
the states resources in North Dakota
papers. He believes that the only
kind OF advertising that pays is in
newspapers. This testimony, coming
from an experienced man like Mr..
Morton, is certainly valuable.
Yesterday afternoon members Of the
legislature and state pess association
visited the Washburn Ignite coal
mines at Wilton, the B. W. & G. f.
company furnishing an excursion
train free. There were about 800 in
the party. They were shown over the
mines and were surprised at the ex-
tent of the mining plant. The rail-
way company looked after their guests
and saw that nothing was lacking to
make them comfortable and after the
trip down into and through the mines
the party was served with excellent
refreshments.
Tuesday evening the Bismarck typo
graphical union gave a ball in honor
of the members of the press associ-
ation-an enjoyable affair.
Trustee o. A. Boynton of James
town and Superintendent Bangs of
the Devils Lake deaf school are here,
the latter delegate to the press as
ISOLATION meeting. Boynton. is kept
busy looking after the third house
and other matters.
Bert Fellows has been here from
jamestown. He has been looking
over the field and may decide to locate
in Mdpdan and engage in the harness
business.
The increase of the number of clerks
in the legislature seems to have been
unnecessary. One clerk says there are
quite number who do nothing and
that some OF them have hard Strug-
gle to keep up the appearance of being
busy.
There seems to be a feeling of un-
easineSs in certain quarters as to prob
able appointments. This feeling has
been increased by recent develop
mentS. Few there are who believe
that the compact alleged to have been
entered into at the time Governor
White was Dut on the state ticket will