Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-22

in its development Quick to sense new
developments and possibilities for new
industries which would be for the
towns betterment, he kept up an un-
ceasing train of optimistic writing on
Libbys future No one had more faith
in the towns future than he, and his
paper stands today as substantial proof
of this.
In September, 1909, E. A. Southwick
formerly publisher of the Whitefish
(Montana) Pilot, purchased a half in
terest in the Western News. The an
nouncement in the issue of September
9Th describes him in this manner: Per
sonally pleasing gentleman to meet
Mr.. Southwick is an able newspaper
writer, one Of the forceful editorial
pens of the state, and his addition to
the News force will prove of great
value in making this paper one of the
best weeklies in the Treasure state"
With the issue of October T. 1909
the first after Mr.. Southwick assumed
the management Of the office, the ap-
pearance of the paper was quite
changed Until this time, it had retained
the seven-colunn sheet, with the first
and last pages being composed of ready
print 1t now changed to an eight
page, six-column publication, with
practically its present appearance
Local news replaced the worldwide
news on the front page. Columns were
devoted to the news of small outlying
communities, the news being furnished
by special correspondents. Much
larger and more detailed local columns
and more and better advertisements
testify to the towns rapid growth and
development
Editorials commenting upon current
problems were numerous. Road build
ing, development of the lumber in
dustry state game laws, the necessity
of incorporating the town, need of an
organized fire department, the need OF
water works, electric light and tele-
phone systems, new schools, county
bridges-these were some of the neces-
sites that the News fought for, long
and arduously, and with good results
The following editorial appeared Oc-
tober IA, 1909, when the town finally
had been Incorporated: "Now that
Libby is incorporated there will be
some system in the management OF
the towns affairs, and many improve
ments for the public good which here
tofore have been impossible will now
be of comparatively easy attainment
When it comes to such matters as the
construction of sidewalks, streets
grades, parks and sewers, an incorpor-
ated city can work to much better adj
vantage than one that is unincorpor-
ated E. Conservative, progressive
men, who are interested in the town
and who are anxious to see the place
20 ahead, should be prevailed upon tc
fill the offices, and there is probably
no likelihood of any other kind being
chosen, for the citizens of Libby gen.
erallv are of the progressive kind. The
people here want to see the town
grow, and they want officials who will
be on the progressive side of every
question
Prohibition, as early as 1908, was be-
ginning to interest the editor of the
News. Mentioning the fact that Ohio
and other states had done away with
saloons, the editor comments upon the
wisdom Of such action. Its suppress
sion will be but another step in ad-
vance. another step toward better
condition OF affairs. And the sooner
it comes the better it will be for ths
state" November IL, 1909
Concluded next week.