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ASTUKlA. OKE'JOti:
SUNDAY..
Fh.BUU.iltY :3. 1&57
COMPLAINT OF A NEWSPAPER.
A somewhat distant contem
porary, in writing of the relation
of the newspaper to the business
activities of its town, complains
with some bitterness that there are
business houses in its community
which, though amply able, do not
contribute to the support of the
local press, even to the extent of a
five line card, and adds that this is
reaping -without sowing, and -gathering
without planting. The sub
ject is one.of importance, since it
relates directly to the capacity of
one of the most powerful agencies
of modern times. As this journal
enjoys the liberal support of the
people of this community, and has
reason to commend generally the
public spirit of the people of this
locality, it is in the attitude to con
sider without prejudice the com
plaint of its less fortunate contem
porary to whom we refer. It is
perfectly well aware, however, that
that paper is not alone in its cause
for complaint. "Unfortunately
there are a good many journals
that might contribute of their ex
perience to the discussion of the
question. There are communities
where, to some extent, the senti
ment obtains that the press is un
der constant obligation to the ad
vertiser and the people of its
bailiwick to such an extent that it
cannot discharge it. But the fact
of the history of newspapers is
that in ninety-niuo hundred cases
out of ten thousand, precisely the
contrary is true. The community
newly always owes its local press
very much more than the press
owes -it. Let us suppose, for a
single moment, a town or city in
the United States of any consider
ble business pretensions, without
that convenient and powerful
agency, the newspaper. To what
extent would the place be heard
of? To what extent would trade
invitation to its markets be ex
tended? How far behind in the
competitive race would it not fall?
The truth is, that towns and
cities owe more of their- promi-
nence ana prosperity, as a ruie, to
the publicity they gain through
the local press, than to an
or all other mediums or agencies.
If there is any one thing demon
strable about newspaper publibh
ing, it is this, that the business
man of any place owe to the local
press fair support. It is, indeed,
a debt that cannot be discounted.
It is all well enough to rail a
newspapers and lay down in the
ory the law of their management,
if only their critics could once en
joy the opportunity of running
them. But it remains that the
average newspapers have, by all
odds, the broadest margin to their
credit for the upbuilding of towns
and their business. There are
oities and towns with business
houses, like that cited for instance,
that do not so much as keep a sim
ple card in the advertising columns
of the local press. They assume
aa independence of the newspaper
that is false, dangerous and un
generous. The local newspaper,
by the very fact of its existence,
helps make the business of every
business man. It rrives the chief
importance . to the locality, and
without it the town would be
heard of and known only by great
misfortunes and phenomenal acci
dents. Ihe business house that
refuses flatly to give any support
to its local press, though profiting
by the publicity the place gains
through it, fattens at the expense
of others. There is no gainsaying
this truth. Advertising may not
yield immediate returns in all
cases; it may be difficult occasion
ally to trace direct and clearly de
fined business as specifically due
to a given advertisement; but the
man is living to small purpose
who does not know that the gen
eral beneficial result is as certain
as the rising of the sun. In nine
ty "cases'out of a hundred, the re
lation betweea-fidvertisement and
trade gaui is clear, .direct and- im
mediate. But however this may
be, as any given locality is de
pendent for its prominence in so
large a degree upon the newspa
per as the medium between it
and the world at large, it logically
follows that there is duty to con
tribute, by advet tising to the sup
port of that medium. The rich
nouses that "do not advertisp," as
we are told by our contemporary
they reply, may believe that they
are not directly injured by their
short-sightedness; but . the com
munity is, and they must share it,
and the time comes,.as surely as
does death, when this is made ap
parent to all. :
It is a bad sign for the business
of the place when one take3 .dp
the local press irrany state and
searches in vain in its issues for
the announcement or card direc
tion of business houses. Inter
preted, the omission means that
the business man who practices
tliis disuse declares that the press
is not necessary to his community
a judgment which, if experiment
ally out into practice, would leave
the place high on the banks of a
dry rot.
Wherever there are business
houses amenable to these re
marks, they ought to take the
thought into the counting room
and ponder on it. Of course the
newspaper- man does his best in
every state in sojiciting advertis
ing support, and expects, to meet
with some rebuffs, and will. But
away above and beyond this spe
cial urgency is the eternal truth
that his claim to recognition is a
sound one, on the consideration
that tho newspaper, if it be fair,
honest and high-minded, does ines
timable service for its community,
for whioh it cannot bo recom
pensed. "We can not fancy towns
and cities to-day prosperous, de
prived for a considerable period,
of newspapers, and it calls for no
vigorous exercise of the imagina
tion to picture the business condi
tion of such places. Let our con
temporary state the living truth
.that every man owes something to
the community in which he lives,
and to every agency that makes it
desirable for htm; that this is a
continuing pbjigajtipn, .reciprocal
in nature, and upon which com
munity prosperity is dependent,
jnd it will find that the people are
responsivo to these truths.
The discussion of projects of
national defense, says the Bulle
tin, has brought out the fact that
it will be the work of years to pro
vide our ships and forts with mod
ern steel rifled cannon. The
plants must first be prepared, after
vhich the manufacture of the guns
viil be a slow and co3tly process.
It would be too bad if after doing
til this the result should prove
defective, especially if better re
sults could have been obtained in
a shorter time for less money by
other methods. Some statements
have been lately made public re
flecting on the trustworthiness of
the "built up" steel guns. A cor
respondent of the New York Her
ald mentions four instances of
steel guns bursting on British
ships, besides the failure of sev
eral of them on the iron-clad Alex
andra during the bombardment of
Alexandria. One 100-ton Arm
strong burst on the Italian iron
clad JDuilio, and all the similar
guns furnished the Italian govern
ment by that firm have been con
demned. Two 100-ton Krupp
suns failed while being proved at
Spezzia. A 100-ton steel gun re
cently blew off its muzzle on the
proving ground at St. Chamond.
An 8-inch steel rifle, made at the
Washington navy yard for one of
our new cruisers, was condemned
for a defect found in its
bore, and two others, out of a lot
of five guns of the same class, are
said to show similar defects. The
new 8-inch rifle recently made for
the ordnance .department showed
enlargement of the bore after fir
ing twenty-four rounds, and is to
be reinforced. During the Fran
co-Prussian war more than 200
Krupps are said to have burst.
Against these facts are placed the
records of a number of American
cast-iron rifled guns ranging from
8 to 12 inches bore, which, it is
claimed, have within the last few
years stood the sternest tests in
the most satisfactory manner.
Such guns could be turned out
rapidly with the means now at
our command, but it seems rather
a bold claim that cast-iron is a
stronger material than either cast
or wrought steel. The cast-iron
Parrott rifles used during the war
often burst. Possibly the "built
upV steel guns' .which have been
recently manufactured may yet
give place tcf- oast -steel. At any
rate, "the matter .-s'eem's to'.be'in the
experimental .stage. . .
Seven million jdollaw in &l-sil-ver
certificates have been issued
since October 4th, and aboufl,
000,000 in the $2 certificates since
December 6th, and the supply is
not equal to the demand. This
does not look as though the people
were down on silver as a security.
FitOii the sarcastic criticism in
our exchanges on the ajitics of
their local legislatorsat Salem, it
is evident that the adjournment of
.the legislature this week will be a
relief to the people of the entire
state.
The Marion county treasurer is
out in a card saying that he doesn't
want his salary raised. They do
say that theg M. o. t. is the most
lonesome man in the state.
The N'eioNorthwcst thinks the
only way for the Republican par
ty to win in '88 is to nominate
Mrs. J. A. Logan for. president.
I
TWO NIGHTS ONLY.
Monday and Tuesday, Peb. 14 and 15.
Return of the Favorites, The
Thompson Opera Co.
40-ARTI8TS-40
Under the personal management of Wm. A.
1HOMFm)N. who will ou the occasion,
give a, thorough and comitate Pro
duction of the follow Inc Comic op
eras, with full and complete
imported Elaborate Cos
tumes, Sceclc and other
effects.
Monday, Eve., Feb. 14.
THE MIKADO.
Which will be .produced, for the First Tlmo
uexe witu an the wiiin.u uusmess or
Gilbert & Sullivan.
Tuesday, Eve., Feb. 15,
The Great London Suece33,
Robert Macafre,
Now la Its 300th Msht, at the Casino,
New York.
Box Shpet now open at he Crystal Palfcce
ucok store.
Prices j
Parquette. - - St W
Lresi;ircie, 75
OBilcrr ... - 00
MTJKRAY & CO.,
GROCERS
And Dealers In
Cannery Supplies !
Special Attention Given to Filling
Of Orders.
A FULL LINE CARRIED
Ana Supples furnished at Satis
factory Terms.
Purchases delivered In any part of the city.
Office and "Warehouse
In Hume's New Building on T?ater Stic.
P. O. Box 153. Telephone No. 37.
ASTORIA. OREGOIV.
Frank L Parker,
Dealer in
Mci and Staple Groceries.
Flour Feed Potatoes
Headquarters For
ASTOBIA WOOD YARD.
JOB PRINTING.
Neat, Quick AnoCheapat The
AST0BIAN: job airioE.
Boss
Opera
ComicT Long Jokers, Fault Finders, Hit 'Em Hards.
Trade Comics, Sharp Darts.
Xew Lace Valentines, Gems of Lovt, New Sachet, Love's Arrows Cupids
Darts,Satin Novelty Valentines and Valentines of all descriptions in laitje variety
A'l
The Crystal Palace.
OAEL AEXiEn, Manager.
PacificFislvertef
We beg to renew our notice to the Fisheries of tho-upper Pacific,
of the full preparation we have made and are making to manufacture
good wares for thuir use, of every kind, except double knotted Salmon
Nes: Pounds and Traps, Gill Nets, Seines, from sardines to porpoise.
Ye advise the practicability of using
For outside fishing. One can be made verv strong and very light, and
can be handled QUICK LOW IN CO&T. In the New England
waters are over four hundred large Purse seines for mackerel, herring
and menhaden, 200 fathoms long, 25 fathoms deep, any fish that move
in compact bodies can be taken in these seines.
"We offer tho
Stow Cotton Salmon Twin
with a full belief that Its strength is ample for tho hardest service, of more
durability than flax, and no more expensive. Our energies, with a lonjj experi
ence in nettings, and a desire to send good wares to our patrons, Ave hope will not
disapolnt any reasonable expectations.
GLOUCESTER NET & TWINE CO., Gloucester.
Boston Office, 96 Commercial Street.
A.V
m
Wholesale and
FANCY AND STAPLE GROCERIES,
PROVISIONS. AND MILL FEED,
Crockery, Glass and Plated Ware. Teas, Coffees, Spices, &c, &c.
Fresh, California Butter,
Swiss, Holland and New Cream "Cheese; Smoked-Herring, Holland
Herring, Cfiviar, Anchovies, Tongues and Sounds, White
Fish and Mackerel, Schrimps, Lobsters;
. French Sardines and Oysters.
Shrewsbury Ketchup. Ohlli Sauoe, Tobasco Sauce, Celery Salt. Franeh end
Gennaa Mustard, Lelbia'a Ex Beef, Sea Foam Wafers,
Van Houffhton'e Cocoa. .
Trtticn, Gerorea, Epicranloofl; Oat Porridge; MM- Oats.
Orangesj Lemogs, Nuts, Figs, &c, &c.
BOOTS and SHOES.
Genuine English Porpoiss Shoes Tor Gents.
Ladles Flexible Sole Shoes in French, Kangaroo and Dongola Kid
Boys ai d Youths Shoes of all Kinds, Mis-es and Chlldrens and Infant heela, and
Spring heals. WJ3 1EAL, IX BOOTS ASD SHOES ONLY.
P. J, GOODMAN.
Just Received
1,500 Soils Mjajer and Decorations
Of the Latest Designs and Shades. Also to Arrive
THIS WEEK.
50 Leather, Plush and Carpet Rockers,
In Elegant New Styles: Just the thing for
-3l imioliclfvy Present.
Call and See Us. CHAS. HE1UBORN.
"25
BOOK S
FULL
Lace, Comic
ALL NEW STOCK.
ALLEN
Retail Dealer in
LINE.
and Sentimental
OKlPPIN & REED.
... i
hoes! Shoes! Shoes!
At The
Fall and Wintei Stock Complete
IN ALL STYLES ANB GBADES.
No more need to send asvav for a Fine'Shoe, as we have a Full
Line of "the Celebrated DRIAL& CG.'S FRENCH' SHOES, and
LAIRD, SCHOBER & .'MITCHELL'S FIFE SHO&S:tf
which we are Sole Dealers in Astoria.
We also handle BOOTS and SHOES from all the Leading'
Factories in America.
Men's Heavy Boots and shoes a Specialty.
LOWEST PRICES and SATISFACTION Guaranteed.
T3T. T. PAHSS,, Manager. .
H, B. PimiOSR
XKAtKR I?.
Hay, Oats, and Straw, Lime, Erici Cement, Sana" and. Plaster
Wood Delirered to Order.
rER apply to the Captain, or to
Furniture and Upholstering,
''Mattresses Made and Repaired.
Paper Hanging, Carpets Sewed
and Laid.
Furniture Sold on Commission.
Shop, corner M&ln and Jeersoti Strata
MARTIN OLSEN.
J. G.
county
Coroner's Office, Undertaking Kooms next to
BKJHCMBCTMBiSrj'-' ' t 'W
J. R LEES0N & CO.,
BOSTON,
SOLE AGEST3 AND IJIPOKTEKS.
- Tie Jotatone (Scotlaml) ai Men (Mass,)
Prize Liner Threads
-AND-
ji it
jooNfe o"!,
The only Linen Threads awarded a Prize Medal
London 1851 and New Orleans Worlds Exposition 1881.
Did not exhibit at Philadelphia 1876 or Paris 1873.
First Prize Awarded Wherever Exhibited!!
Koferencea for tho Scotch Salmon Net Twines:
EVERY CANNER or FISHERMAN who bought
it last season.- IT GAVE UNIVERSAL SATIS
FACTION. Agents for the Pacific Ceast:
KITTLE & CO.,
2tf Calif a St., San Francisco, Calai
Drajins:, loitmla? and Uprw Baslam
VTlSAIIIKR
f-WRA I1
tbn P. Piirker.ltfaszet.
For TOWING. FEEIOHT erCJIAi:
n. B. PARK EH.
American News Depot
ON SALE
The latt Magazlne3 aud Illustrated
papers of tho. day.
Swedish, lanfsh and Uerman papers,
Books and Dictionaries.
Lovell and Seaside Libraries. School
Books, Stationery, etc. A BALMANNO,
Gnenaraus Sr. sear Main.
5B
BOSS,
oosiosfsm,
First Olasa Undertaking Establishment
A FINE HEARSE,
Newest stjIetJaskets and Funeral Material,'
ETerjt&Io; Neat oad Well AmagfcA. -'.
Astonan office, (B. B. Franklin's old JtaadJ
t
xtiagSrtgSiSt