Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-07-02
A WORD OF GREETING.


This issue of the Observer finds tt
active management Of the paper agai
In the hands of the owner of the plan
The lease under which J. R. Allgoo
and J. D. Collins conducted the bus
ness for year expired July l, a
which time the writer once NOR
assumed full control of the editorial
business and mechanical departments
1t is with an indescribable feeling O
pleasure and satisfaction that I onct
more take up the pen to greet the
Observers large and growing family
of readers-not only the friends who
have so Loyalty stood by the paper
during the byone years, but all of the
newer additions to the family circle as
we'll. The Office subscription records
reveal the names Of many new readers,
added to the list during my absence
some names being those OF new
neighbors whom I have never met, but
with whom l hope to become person
ally acquainted at no distant day.
Then there are the names Of those
friends who have been readers of the
Observer for long period of time,
and recall the names of not a few
acquaintances who have been constant
subscribers since the first number of
the paper was issued twenty one years
ago. Many of these friends I have
not had the pleasure of meeting since
my return to Oregon, SO gladly avail
myself of this opportunity to extend
the hand of greeting.
Readers of the Observer have doubt
less Ioticed that the use OF the first
personal pronoun, singular number,
nominative case, has always heen
strictly tabooed in the editorial col
umns, but there are times when little
trihes like office rules don't count-and
this is one OF them. I feel that it is
due to the readers Of the Observer to |
thank them personally for their sup
port in the past, for their many kind
nesses and courtesies to the Office dur
ing my absence, and to tell them
frankly OF our hopes and plans for the
future. Unlike most instances where
newspaper changes publishers, the
writer does not find himself talking to
strangers, but to old-time friends and
acquaintances, many OF whom he has
known since his earliest boyhood. II,
then, these lines shall seem to assume
somewhat personal tone, please to
remember that such Is the desire OF
he writer, who takes this opportunity |
o have little friendly chat with the g
leighbors and friends from whom he [
las been separated for many months. c
A short time after arriving home In q
iarch, I was offered partnership in {
ne OF the largest city printing ii
on the Pacific Coast n
n opening, may add, that guaran- a
ed far greater financial returns from o
le start than any income | could s.
ave hoped for from my home busi-
ess for many years to come. The o
roposal was tempting, and / will D.
'eely confess that for time l gave it b
srlous consideration. But weighing el
gainst the most enticing features OF s
lch a change were many strong Z
lfiuences and attractions connected 81
ith my business and home life in d
'allas, and these latter, in the end. pi
lr overbalanced all financial con- di
derations 10 aiding me to reach a d,
ecision to remain with the Observer. cc
l first acquired an interest in the
bserver seventeen years ago the first
last March. The paper was then
ally four years old and was issued as v,
small weekly. The Office equipment tb
as limited and antiquated, and only re
ie most simple forms OF printed mat 70
r could be produced with the type ey
nd presses at hand. Practically all W
the commercial printing worth CO
hile was being sent to the Portland de
buses, and some Of it was even find "a
g its way as far East as Chicago in
Id st. Louis. Realizing that this d,
ndition Of affairs was all wrong, vet
cling that no appeal could conscien- CO
'usly be made 10 'home loyalty" al
It'll at least as good printing could th
turned out In Dallas as In the large a
lies, the Observer began the task Of th
Hiding up a printing plant that br
'uld be creditable to It's town as well on
to its owner. The work was slow, tn
d at times discouraging. for the to
ID was limited and the only money do
ailable for Improvements was that sh
rned from the operation OF the plant. fol
might be Of interest TO remark that sta
the first seven years the entire lie
mt was housed by a building only ke,
title larger In its dimensions than an
outside measurements OF our 10
sent newspaper press. ito
nom this humble beginning, the the
iness Of the paper and Job ofIce On
" slowly, but steadily, each year Of
ofice records show that 10 all Of hes
seventeen years there was a steady eve
nease 10 the volume OF business apt
cash receipts, with the exception pul
single year. 10 1906, Cthe Lewis stri
Clark Fair year, the business titu