The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-04-01

EDIT RIAL COM I'M ENT
This is the first issue Of the eighth year Of the
Independent The publishers are indeed grateful
to the public for the large patronage that this paper
has enjoyed during all of these years, and trust
that our patrons will feel repaid not only in the re-
suits of the business given US, but in the contem-
plation of the fact that they are helping Minot to
send forth to the world weekly paper of from 20
to "a pages each week. which cannot help but prove
IN excellent advertisement for the Magic City, and
northwestern North Dakota we'll Every week
hundreds of our papers are sent to all parts Of
the country by our readers to their friends, In adj
dition to those that 60 to other states regularly
North Dakota needs development. and paper that
sets forth the advantages Of so good state. must
have some effect on inducing capital to come
this way. As we have said before. we do not take
but partial credit ourselves for this The
public must necessarily come in for their share Of
h The Independent 81 AWAY belongs to the public.
The columns are open for discussion on the various
topics. We often admit articles that are directly
against our own views. but we believe in being at
least fair to those who differ from us in opinions,
and invite such discussion. comparison at this
time may not be out Of place. The Independent was
started with 300 subscribers but year later we
were printing nearly thousand copies weekly. At
the present time we were printing $3.50 issues and
rate Of forty week. Where ton of print paper
used to last two months, we are now using near
ly three tons month SO tons year. We buy
our print paper by the load now. Little idea
has the general public concerning the work neces-
s~ry to turn out paper. One thinks that dollar
. year means 80 cents net profit, but dollar
year paid is really profit at all in subscriptions
so don't be harsh with the publisher Tor expecting
pay for the paper. One has to set the type, which
1Ae 80
sides the other weekly pay roll amounts to more
than hundred dollars. Then take the rent, the
heat, light power, taxes cost of print paper, the
and tear the machinery, the cost Of the ink.
and this is very small item, and hundred and
other expenses that we do not take the trouble
to enumerate and you will readily that the av-
erage newspaper publisher must be late to bed
and early to RISE If he wants to pay his heavy ex-
penses, get three square meals day and lay by a
dollar or two a year for rainy day. During the
year. It is necessary for the Independents press
man to make 1,44O,OO0 impressions the cylinder
press, then besides the paper must be folded. ad-
dressed, bundled and taken to the post Office, after
being sorted properly. Twenty full mail sacks are
required for each edition. and the postage is no
small item Notwithstanding the fact that the pa
pers in the county sent free, with the excep-
lions of those that 60 thru the Mnot postoace,the
postage costs us the average twenty dollars
month Six years ago, our postage bill was fifty
or sixty cents month A great deal has been &C
complished by the Independent during the past
seven years in the way of building up an upto-date
weekly We recently added new feature, that OF
q farmers department, which is growing in popu-
larity. We have good correspondents located thru
out the county. We pay especial attention to coun-
ty and state news print the commissioners proceed
ings whether we get paid for them or not We feel
certain have the best lot of subscribers that
any paper possibly could have. We are dealing with
the most liberal business men in the country. we
are publishing paper in the best little city IN
the United States, in the best county in the state
and in the best state in the Union We have good
reasons to feel optimistic We are going to try to
do greater things in the future than we have done
in the past Help the Independent to accomplish
these things and you will be repaid in more ways
than one.