French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1918-01-10

Knowing that a brief sketch of the early history of the Hustler would
1e of interest to its readers, the publishers sought information from the
OUnder' the Hon. N. l. shipman of Raleigh, where he occupies the office
la State Commissioner of Labor and Printing, and he responded with the
interesting history herewith.
MI. shipman was sole owner and operated the plant in person for many
years, until official business took him to Raleigh About ten years ago a
stock company W "a organised and Mr.. shipman vas h majority stakeholder
in the French Broad Hustler Incorporated. The present publishers have
fOr'fOur years been operating the plant If the corporation under lease.
1t will be interesting in this connection to note that Mr.. shipman. who
established the Hustler in Brevard and moved it to HendersOnvnle. last fall
purchased the Brevard News. of which he is sole owner.
Mr.. shipmans history of the shop. which was hurriedly prepared for
The paper Is twenty-six years old, having been established at Brevard
in 1891. Was moved to Hendersonvfe in 1895 for service in the Bryan
of that year, the intention being to return to Brevard after the
But the field appeared to be more inviting han at first anticipated
and, VIII nan assurances OF support ron tn Democrats OF the county, l
decided to remain. The equipment consisted of a Washington hand-press,
Office occupied two sman rooms OF the second noor of the State Bank of
Commerce building, then owned by DR.. Geo H. P Cole, at a rental of four
dollars Der month. Che Rose Pharmacy is o conducted in this buldtng)
Only a few months elapsed before We realized that III facilities were made
quate to meet the growing demands of the business and a small job eQup-
ment "a added which enabled the paper to survfve the usual trying period
a paper in a new town The Democrats, generally, rallied to the
support of the paper and their cooperation made possible the permanency of
the Hustler in Hendersonvrle, the only Democratic paper to survive there
after repeated attempts had been made to establish n From the outset
the paper took a firm stand fol the moral educational and industrial upit
of the community and quite a few Republicans of the more progressive type
Thos. j R4ckman,D Dr. I: A Allen, Capt. M C Toms, q P. Hickman, Maj
Cole, J. A. Maddrey, r. L. Fletcher, M. M. shepherd, W H. Justus, W A. Smith
Capt. J. w wOfOrd, Dr. C. Few, W. F Edwards, and others who not only
presented itself.
The paper made it's first enemies by advocating the adjustment of the
saloons two o which were then operating in the town This was in 1897
The election was close, but the "drys" wn and this contest ended the legal
sale of liquor in Hendersonvnle, Notwithstanding two or three feeble efforts
of the opposition to revive the issue afterwards. The people had realized
the beneficial effects of closing the saloons and determined to keep them
closed
Next came the fight for street improvement and again the Hustler was
found contepdng for community betterment, Many of the larger taxpayers
fought the proposition bitterly and again the result was close. But the pro-
eSfves won and right then and there the people of Hendersonvile set
their faces ito a future replete with glowing possibilities. Today the tow is
recognized, far and near, as one OF the pretuest and most progressive mu-
inequalities of the South Atlantic country. Wooden structures (many of
which we're mere shacks) have given place to substantial business blocks
constructed OF brick and granite, and the pedestrians are n longer con-
fronted with red mud in moving along the prcipal thoroughfares of the city
Educational facilities we're a crying need of the town, when the.
Hustler began its activities in Hendersonv1ne, and following street better
ment can the efforts o establish graded schools This called for NOR.
of the voting population Of the town. A few of the leading property owners
campaign was launched. However, the "progressives" once again carried off
an actually. This broke the fighting spirit of The opponents of perma-
nent improvements in the city and recorded the ral beginning of a Greater
Eendersonytne Pluck, perseverance and achievement constitute the slogan
which has since served as a guiding inspiration to the cfys progressive
citizenship and recent years have recorded many accomplishments of in
terest and magnitude. The porteniOus public buildings, the magnificent
church edifces, the splendid educational institutions, the mammoth bust
blocks and fine thoroughfares tell a story of progress that no patriotic
citizen O the modern HendersCnvile fail to appreciate
1.-The Hustler does not claim the credit for changed n changing condi-
tons in Hendersonvile The paper is only M of the many influences that
have been active in pressing various progressive movements inaqgurated for
the citys upthe and development The Board of Trade is of course, the
guiding spirit in activities of this character and is entitled to the active sup
Port and cooperation of the press, and people If every class and condition in
the community. Building a city is q mans job"