The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-01-06
Retrospective, Objective and Prospective

This number OF The Echo closes the
seventh year of its existence as n OF
the institutions of Leavenworth. Look
ing back wei the past even years, we
can recall numerous changes that time
has wrought. Not a few of those who
then formed a part Of the business and
social life of the town have passed into
the great beyond. Many others have
departed for new fields Of activity, while
enough of the old population of the
town remains to hold an annual reunion.
Leavenworth has more than trebled
in population in the past seven years,
1t has improved and developed in other
ways. With the growth and develop
ment o. the surrounding country the
business of the town has increased
about fivefold, a statement which is
borne out by the increased postal re-
ceipts.
With all this growth and develop
ment The Echo has tried to keep
abreast. 1t has always endeavored to
assist and encourage every movement
that meant for growth and development,
keeping in mind those things which
make for the permanent good OF man
kind. Whether its endeavor has always
been in entire harmony with every cit
izen of the town is doubtful.
One whom nature has endowed with
more than ordinary individuality is
quite likely not to do the things that
most people want him to do. 1ndivid-
uality means eccentricity to some peo-
pie. Indeed, many men call all those
who cannot agree with them cranks;
and if the editor of this paper has some
times been charged with being cranky,
he would not be surprised. Neither
would he be offended.
The men who have been called
cranks in the past have played no
inconspicuous part in the worlds his
tory. When Martin Luther Numbered
against the iniquities of the church Of
Rome he was called cranky by all those
who differed with him. And yet he
Ted a -reformation-saat~ eAsagsd>the
history Of the world and led up to a
better and higher civilization. There
are those yet living who call John Brown
and his fellow abolitionists cranks.
but the number of those who today
doubt the righteousness Of the cause
for which John Brown gave his life are
exceedingly scarce. What was thot
to be the very height OF political cranki-
ness in those who a few years ago advo-
Gated the direct election of United
States senators, and initiative, referen-
dun and recall as one of the methods
of purifying politics and making for
better things is today an accepted,
and in many instances an adopted fact.
So the editor of The Echo trusts to
the future to justify some Of his cranky
notions, if any there be who think he
has sometimes held to ideals that did
no harmonic with their own.
The outlook for the future Of Leaven-
worth never looked brighter and more
promising. 1t does not require a seel
to tell what will follow certain events,
If the many projects mentioned in
a news article in last weeks Echo
for this immediate vicinity, most Of
them already under way, and Others
planned by conservative business
men, are pushed to completion, the
population of the Upper Wenatchee
Valley will double and treble in 8
short time. If the population of the
surrounding country increases, the pop
ulation and the business Of Leaven.
worth will increase in practically the
same proportion.
To keep the lamp Of publicity trim
med and burning will be part of the
future endeavor of the editor of The
Echo. To make this endeavor more
effective we ask the cooperation Of
every citizen of Leavenworth. In pro-
portion as those who desire and believe
in progress contribute to the support