The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1914-06-26
VOLUME y

! With this weeks issue the Gazette
enters upon it's tenth year. de-
cade is not a very long period in the
life of any business enterprise, but in
the newer west, or rather the last OF
the rawer west, changes are frequent
and rapid. and the accumulation of
nine or ten years entities business
venture to be classed among the old,
staid and well established institutions
of a community. Although only nine
years of age the Gazette is one of the
Oldest business establishments of Oro-
Vile, which would indicate that Oro-
Vile is still a youngster in point Of
years. The Oroville of today is very
different Oroville to what is was when
the Gazette first saw the light. From
practically nothing it has developed
| into quite a pretentious town of con-
siderable commercial Importance. And
| like the town the Gazette has not stood
still. 1t has not only kept pace with
surrounding developments, but has
kept far in advance, being now equip
| ped to meet the requirements of a
city many times larger than the Oro-
Vile of the present day. The pub
fishers have gone to the large ex-
pense of installing a first-class plant
because they had confidence in the flu
ture, and felt the outlook justified pre-
pairing in advance for the demands
of that future. Without any intention
of trumpeting it's own cause it can be
said that the Gazette is one of the best
equipped print shops to be found in
any of the smaller towns of the state,
and the publishers at least feel that
il is a credit to the community so far
as it's mechanical arrangements are
concerned
Nine years ago this month Oroville
was in the formative stage. There
was so little OF it that a stranger
would have to look we'll about him
before discovering where the habit
ants were located. 1t was better
known by the abbreviation name of
Orc, and all that constituted the place
was about as abbreviated as the name.
Even at that time people who were IA
miliar with the country felt that in
| the course of time Orc would become
something in the way of an inhabited
| place far better than a mere village.
The location at the head of the Okla
hogan valley was recognized as most
admirable and advantageous, and it
was felt that with transportation it
would forge to the front and become
a vigorous and lusty city. And nine
years ago railroad was heading to-
ward Orc, people began to cast their
eyes this way, and the throb of a new
| life commenced to be felt.
Among those impressed and slim
ulated by the prospects of Oroville
taking a squirt with the advent of a
railroad was Fred J. Fine then living
in Chesaw Mr.. Fine was a practical
printer, an able and vigorous writer,
and had experience in the newspaper
| game. His one handicap was a pau
city of means, but where there is a
will there is a way, and Mr.. Fine
| gathered together what little material
he could assemble, invaded the field
| the Oroville Gazette first saw the
light. Naturally the first number was
scant in dimensions, and the ingenu-
ity of the publisher was taxed to make
the material at his command fill out
the limited sheet that was issued. The
first numbers of the Gazette were
printed in small, cramped quarters in
the old town, which were made to
answer the purpose of both residence
and print shop. For the first few
months it was no holiday diversion to
get out the paper and make the ghost
walk Mr. Fine was in earnest, how
ever, in his aim to build up a news
paper, and he applied all his reserve
force in making the venture stick.
Soon the railroad doomed in sight
there was the dizzy swirl that ac-
companies railroad building in a new
country, houses sprang up like mush-
| rooms, and a scene of feverish activity
broke the old monotony of sameness
a flimsy variety, built for temporary
use, but they Accommodated business
firms and people. From that raw be-
! ginning Oroville began to grow apace.
The business of the Gazette expanded
with the town, and the plant was NOV
ed into larger quarters, Mr.. Fine add
growing demands. Something over
| five years ago Mr.. Fine took in the
present editor of the Gazette as a
partner, and the Loomis Prospector
plant was consolidated with that of
the Gazette, greatly increasing the ia
cilities of the office. Material and ma
chinery were steadily added, includ-
ing a standard linotype. Two years
ago Mr. Fine sold his interest in the
Gazette to the junior member of the
present firm.
That is the way the Gazette came in
to existence nine years ago, and a
brief resume of it's career. From a
crude beginning it has been built up to
its present excellent condition, oc-
cupying roomy and convenient quar-
tiers, with a circulation close to a
thousand covering we'll the field in