Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-05-02
1S97-1913

charge of the paper for several
years. At that time the plant
was located upstairs, in tthe old
Kelly building, occupying the
site on which the brick building
of Henry and Graham now
stands. The entire outfit con-
sisted of an old Washington hand
press, an old job press, a few
newspaper stands, composing
stone, a small amount of old
type, a chair, two framed pic
lures of mountain scenery, and
large picture of VIM. J. Bryan,
who at that time was rapidly
coming into prominence. These
pictures, an imposing stone and
news stand are about all that
is left of the old plant. In the
deal Mr.. Wright took over all
the unpaid subscriptions, and
started with virtually, not a
single subscriber. Contrary to
the usual course, | started the
paper first and secured sub
scribers afterwards, instead of
securing subscribers first. From
the old books | mai led the paper
to about 600 people, stating that
if they did not want the paper,
and declined to pay for it to
notify the office. If no notice
was received to the contrary
their willingness to pay for it
would be taken for granted.
There were few, if any, who de-
clined, and the paper paid its
expenses and something over,
for support of the family, from
the start, which, | believe is an
unusual experience with news
papers. | got out about two
issues on the old Washington.
and then had the paper printed
on the TaZewell Republican press
for several months. In the
meantime | bought power
press, the Country Campbell.
and installed it in October of
that year. This press is still
printing the paper in this office.
When the press came we had
moved as we could not get the
big machine up rickety stairs on
an insecure floor, into the old
building lower down the side
street, where the ware-room of
the store now stands. From
there, after a few years, we
leased, and afterwards bought
the property, now occupied by
the office.
l went into the newspaper
business, to be entirely candid,
because there seemed nothing
better open at that time. Before
deciding | consulted friends in
whose Judgment | had more
confidence than | had in my own.
Among these was the late Isaac
Chapman, l laid the matter
squarely before him, and upon
his advice and encouragement |
decided to launch out, and do
my best. As | had no money tom
vest in this enterprise there was
none to lose, and at it / went.
This was during, too, the DAYS
of the big panic, which made the
outlook less encouraging. The
truth is | went into the business
to meet a felt want, and have
been trying ever since to meet
1t, or overtake it. 1t still exists
however.
Until some seven years ago
the entire work was done by
Misunderstanding, motive power
and all. Anderson Buchanan,
old Buck" turned the big press
twice week, for the entire
issue. 1t was "a mans Job.
and no one but big, strong
man could do the work. lie
turned the presses in both news
paper offices in town for years.
lie would fuss, sweat, fume and
cuss", and newspaper day"
was his terror. But he stuck to
1t until motors were installed,
which, owing to the increased
circulation of the paper, became
necessity.
The force in the Office in the
beginning, was, besides the
editor, Mr.. Aubrey Watkins and
Mr.. w. B. Leslie, both young
but knowing a good deal about
the business, MIR. Bland Leslie
having been with Mr.. Wright in
the office year Or SO before |
bought the plant. Later we hired
Geo. Terrell, a good job printer
Wto sta.d with us sometime.
These were the days of the
Journeyman'' printer, and
scarcely week passed that one
of those wandering sons of the
art preservative" did not blow
into town and work few days,
collect his money, strike a
freight train for Bluefe,d, and
then-the town treasury there
got what was left Pho Na,ye