The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-22

primarily for the benefit and encour.
agement Of the carrier boys, secondiar.
lily to acquaint tire general public with
the real facts regarding the carriers
and their relationships both to the
newspaper and the public. and, lastly
and incidentally, for whatever educa-
tional value 1t may have in relating
the history and development of the
great modern newspaper. probably
have had more experience as news
paper carrier than any man in the
state, for worked in this capacity for
the Minneapolis Tribune and Journal
for about II years and saw the new
system in Its incipiency and was part
and parcel Of the longest continuous
service for the Tribune as carrier of
anyone tnat they ever had. I will re-
late the first thing that ever interested
me in newspapers. bu1 it was at time
when was still to infantile to take
part In it, but could not forget the
incident.
First Extra.
It was in 1881, when the message
was flashed over the wire that Gar
field had been assassinated by Giteau.
Newspapers in those days were not
accustomed to get out extras and 1t
was an herculean task and took some
time to do 1t. The Tribune immediate
~ got out a handful merely chron-
icalling the bare fact and saying 1t was
going to get out special edition Of the
paper as soon as possible telling all
about it. These bills were given out
to the newsboys for free distribution.
but the enterprising juveniles reaped a
rich harvest by selling them for five
cents apiece SO great was the demand
for information upon a subject Of such
vital interest to the American people.
Great was the sorrow, for Garfield was
greatly beloved by all classes wheth-
er political friend or foe. MY first real
experience was little later working
for the Minneapolis Sunday Call. Their
presses just printed the paper flat and
We had to fold them by hand.
The Sunday Paper.
Some little time later when l started
to work regularly for the Tribune and
they had a press which would print
and fold an eight page paper. but when
It was larger We had to supplement 1t
by hand and Sunday mornings we had
to supplement some times as often as
three times. A little while later l OBJ
A>S ~ Nd loa
evening as well as a morning route.
The Journal was four-page paper
then except Wednesday and Saturday
evenings. when they ran what we
called "a double extra or an eight
page paper. At that time there were
no counters on the presses. no colored
inks were used and such a thing as a
press run by electricity was not even
dreamed Of. sunday morning carried
two large routes with a total Of about
500 papers. and getting up time was
2:15 a. m. Other mornings getting
up time was $3.50 a. M, but later they
had q delivery wagon which took the
papers out to near the beginning of the
routes anu we did not have to get up
until 4:45 a. b. When the companies
Of collecting, they gave out territory
consisting Of several routes to men who
did the collecting and general manag-
ing Of the carriers and paid them
wages, but a little later this system
gave away to the plan of each owning
and collecting his own route. This Is
the system which The Muscular and
Sentinel are putting in vogue locally.
and Is a progressive policy which has
proven successful from every point OF
view wherever tried. We were all
bonded and had to pay for the papers
each week whether We made collec-
lions or not. In fact, 1t took quite a
little capital to manage several large
routes. One thing that I would like
to lay much stress and emphasis upon
is that any loss from failure to pay
bills Is a direct loss to the carrier
There are many fine features to the
new plan. It is a fine business and
educational training for the boys. Il
pays them better than wages provided
they are faithful and give close atten'
ton to every detail of the business. Or
the other hand, neglect Of duty ano
carelessness can and will soon result
in heavy loss. think and have al
ways followed the custom myself. tina
people should pay year In advance
for their papers. If you don't wan
to pay a year. at least pay some and
always keep In advance. The pape
itself Is responsible for advance pay
ments and protects itself by bondin,
the boys. I have never known anyon
to lose anything by paying in advance
But some people have amortal drea'
OF dying solvent, or ever having any
thing paid in advance SO you canno
collect all OF them In that way. Blu
you will find that most people are righ
and will gladly help you in every wa
possible. ~
Interested in Carriers.
In my time the very best. bigges