Methow Valley News

July 10, 1903

AN EXCERPT FROM OUR VERY FIRST EDITION

SALUTATORY
by H.E.Marble

The Methow Valley News is presented for your consideration. It is probably needless, with the greater portion of its readers, to say that starting a newspaper this distance from transportation facilities is fraught with considerable difficulty, if not mental anguish. Therefore, while a critical reading of the paper is expected, we ask the generous people we have come among not to be uncharitable.

This paper has been started in Twisp much the same as any other of the many business ventures in the valley -- there was sufficient demand to warrant its liberal support in a pecuniary sense, and a beautiful valley, rich in minerals, agriculture, horticulture, stockraising and climate, to assure its bright and prosperous future.

The News will be published in the interests of the entire Methow valley. Its mission will be to aid in the settlement of one of the most favored sections of the state's undeveloped territory, believing this to be the issue of first importance to the valley. It will, however, studiously avoid lending assistance to "townsite promotions" or "real estate booms" of any character, fully realizing that all such inflated values are only productive of grief to all legitimate business enterprises.

It is our firm believe that, as there is a propitious time, a proper place and a correct manner for every proposition, the News here promises its patrons that it will refrain from taking issues in matters of a personal character. In this connection we will add, however, that this paper reserves the right to discuss all questions which we consider of interest to the valley, as a section, or to its people as its residents, or a whole; trusting that we may in honor and truth assist in the upbuilding of this famous country and the development of the wonderful resources of the richly endowed, self-sustaining, and luxuriant Methow Valley.

The News will, with the assistance of its score of correspondents, cover the news of the entire valley, from the Slate Creek mining district to Pateros, the natural outlet of the Methow Valley. Its news service will embrace among other features, mines and mining, stock-raising and dairying, horticultural and agricultural, and the county seat news. Its size will be five columns eight pages for the present, but at all times keeping pace with the growth of the country, and sparing no effort to obtain all reliable news of interest to its readers.

The subscription price will be placed at $1.50 per year. While some of the other county papers have placed their subscription rate at less than this, it has been the management's experience, after some few years of successful newspaper operation, that a good local country newspaper cannot be made to yield a profit at less than the price we have made, and in this prosperous community we believe such a course to be uncalled for.

As before stated, the News will ever keep a watchfulness on the development of the country. Its first issue will not be its best product. The paper will improve with age and its facilities of obtaining the news, and as it becomes better acquainted with the people and the needs of the valley.

It is the earnest desire of the management that our citizens will contribute their support to the paper, in making it a bright, newsy paper, wanted by everyone, by giving us the news of their several localities. For without the cooperation of our people the material value of the paper would be greatly detracted from.

Respectfully,

H. E. MARBLE,

Publisher"

1903