Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-10-27
A Quarter Century.

Precisely, to the day, twenty-five years
ago, October %, 1879, the present editor Of
this newspaper entered upon that work.
Mr.. VIM. Need, who in his younger days
worked at elbows with Horace Greeley on q
newspaper in New Orleans, gave The Ca.
TocTIN CLARION its name and beginning in
1871. He was an aged man at the time and
four years later the weight of years and bro
ken health enforced the REIMBURSEMENT of a
work that had proven exceptionally agreca
bic and profitable. Mr. Alex. p. Beatty
purchased the plant and conducted 1t some
thing over four years and disposed Of it 20
Edgar L. Root and Chas. Z, Cassell, they be.
coming the publishers and the latter the ed
itor, October 81, 1879. This partnership ter.
minated in May, 1882, Mr.. Root retiring
from the business.
As Mr. Need fashioned II, THE CLARION
was six column paper, but his press was
but five column press, hence the measure
of the column WAS very narrow, the size Of
the sheet being 22x30. In 1883 1t was en-.
larged to full seven columns.
The history of that quarter century is IN.
teresting in this, that, FROM the local news
papers point of view, 1t has witnessed the
most marvellous changes of attitude on the
part of commercial advertisers, while the
local work in the job department and the
local subscription list have been as decidedly
marked by evenness of support. During the
first eight years the commercial advertising
patronage was excellent; during the next Fl We
years 1t fell off seriously; then for eight years
it was entirely Satisfactory and during the
following four years il reach ed the minimum.
In the local job and subscription depart.
ments, the variations from the average have
been so slight as to be practically haught
BY lmperceptible degrees the policy of the
paper has drifted into that of the strictly
local, or town interest; this has not been In
its own best interest and probably not that
OF the town.
The relations between The CLARION and
its constituency have always been pleasant;
its friends have been staunch and It's enemies
a negligible quantity, while, with sporadic
exceptions. the brethren of the press have
been kind, courteous AID gracious. They
have dealt leniently with our transgressions
and have encouraged us with good words in
season.
These twenty five years have witnessed
decided changes in our town and vicinity.
Geo. w. Stocksdale, Peter N. Hammaker,
VIM. H. 10y and J. Henry Cover alone are
yet remaining of those who were then bust.
ness men of the town Geo. II. johnson,
Van B. Osler, j. B. Gilbert, Fred'k White,
Enos N. Cover, Joshua Stokes, Andrew Sef.
ton. James Creeger, VIM. Need, Simon A.
" eller, N. G. Croft, Drs. White and thinner
man and A. Slick are dead, and John Root,
Witherow & Armacost, ]. w. N. Gilds, J.
Ed. Martin and William Webb are no longer
engaged in business here.
Within that period have come to the town
water supply, hose company, town hall,
two banks, one rebuilt and two new churches,
two school houses, good pavements and a
new name.
THE CLARION has noted these changes
and In some measure has aided and In every
instance advocated these several steps in ad.
yancement. 1t has been duly appreciated
by the great majority, hence has NO reason
to anticipate demand for an apology for
haying monopolized attention during TWEEN.
tyfve years. Another may easily have serv.
ed his constituency better; we affirm, regard
less OF the paving" adege that none could
have had better Intentions.