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THE PRESS.

     No more infallible index to the state of society or the thrift of a community can be found than the press it supports.

     Decide the question as you may, whether the press is the power behind the throne, or simply the mirror of public thought, the newspaper does not

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thrive in a virgin soil, but prospers only in a well cultivated garden. In countries, districts, or localities where educational interests are at a low standard, and the masses of the people think more of amassing wealth than they do of general education and enlightment, [enlightenment] and become almost wholly absorbed in the groveling persuits, [pursuits] the press must toil incessently [incessantly] with renewed zeal to give a stable foot-hold, and patiently wait for many years to witness the benign influence of a virtuous sheet on such communities; but where intelligence exists, and the spirit of enterprise and enlightenment prevails, the press has a healthful growth, which increases in influence and power from beginning to end; and if this influence is wielded on the side of purity, equity and right, the people grow, mentally and prosperously, with its growth, and strengthen with its strength. In every country or community, where it has any extended circulation, the influence and character of the press has a mighty power in shaping the morals and manners of the people for good or for evil.

     The history of the Dallas county press is not so extensive and varied as that of the older counties in the State; but considering the age of the county, the press supported makes a most creditable showing as compared with any of the neighboring counties.

     In all, at least nine newspapers have been in existence and caused their influence to be shed abroad in Dallas county, within the last twenty-two or twenty-three years, and a. marked progress is shown in this respect.

     The first newspaper established in the county was the Ship of State, a Democratic organ, published by Rippy & Reed, in 1856, at Adel.

     This paper continued only about a year under the original management, when it passed into the possession of a joint stock company in 1857, and came out under the name of the Prairie Flower edited by William Henry Dodge. It became neutral in politics and continued in existence only a few months.

     Next followed the Dallas County Union, some three years afterward, being established the summer of 1860. It was edited by E. W. Fuller, and was the first Republican organ in the county. It was discontinued in the fall of 1862, when Mr. Fuller went into the army as sutler of the 39th Iowa Infantry.

     The Western Journal then followed, which was started that same fall, 1862, edited by Harmon Cook. It was also Republican in politics, and was sprightly and flourishing for a time, but did not continue for a great while, and the. county remained without a paper again for some time.

     In May, 1866, another Republican organ was issued by Luther M. Holt, called the Dallas County Gazette. He edited it ably for a little more than a year, and August 1, 1867, sold out to G. A. Atwood, who published it for about three years in an efficient and commendable manner.

     In 1870 he sold it to J. E. Williams, by whose efficient and judicious management the circulation, influence and usefulness was greatly increased, gaining a much larger circulation, perhaps, than any of its predecessors.

     During all the various changes and transfers it was issued as a Republican organ from its origin, and was decidedly so under the management of Mr. Williams, who continued to conduct the enterprise for more than six years.

     In last of June, 1876, it was purchased by J. & O. M. McLaury, and was published by them as a Democratic organ until January 5, 1878, when it was discontinued.

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     The Dallas County News was established in Adel, as a Republican organ, in November, 1872, by Amos Dilley, under whose able management it flourished as a neatly printed sheet until in October, 1873, when he sold it to J. M. Landis, who issued it for some time as an Anti-monopoly sheet. On July 15, 1875, it went into the possession and under the editorial management of S. H. Greene, who issued it as a sprightly, attractive paper under the same political belief until April 15, 1876, when it was purchased by the firm of Noel, Newton & Noel, and again changed its politics to Republican, as it had commenced, and still continues. January 1, 1877. Mr. Noel, Sr., went out of the firm, leaving the enterprise in the hands of the present proprietors, Noel & Newton, under whose editorial management the former creditable reputation of the paper is being well sustained and the circulation and influence gradually increased. It is an eight-column folio, and a lively, enterprising sheet, with a circulation of something over seven hundred.

     The New Era, holding the Greenback belief in politics, was established February 28, 1878, by the New Era Publishing Company, edited by John McLaury, at Adel. It is a seven-column folio, with a circulation at the expiration of the first year, as the editor informs us, of 786, and is a bright, attractive sheet.

     The above-mentioned papers were all published at Adel.

     The Dexter Herald, a live, Republican organ, published at Dexter, in the southwest part of this county, was established in January, 1871, by J. J. Davies, the first sheet being issued about the middle of the month, and continued under his editoral [editorial] management until the summer of 1876, when he sold it to Grant & Lawrence, who only kept it for a few months and sold it back to Mr. Davies, who kept it until March 24, 1877, and sold it to the present proprietor, J. O. McManima, who continues to conduct it in an able and acceptable manner, and is gaining for it a high reputation and an extensive circulation. It is an eight-page, six-column sheet, with a circulation of 748 at present, and being in the southwest corner of Dallas county, so near the corners of four counties, it has the advantage of circulation not only in its own county, bat also in the adjoining counties, Madison, Adair, and Guthrie. It is the oldest paper now published in the county, and though Republican in politics, it is especially devoted to local and county news. No other paper has ever been started in the town. It is through the kindness of the present editor, we have received the above statistics.

     The Perry Chief, an eight-page, five-column paper, now published at Perry, In the northern part of Dallas county, was established September 19, 1874, by J. W. Jones & Ed D. Lunt, editors and proprietors. January 1, 1877, it was sold to George Harlan, who conducted it until sometime in March of the same year, when he sold out to E. D. Lunt, and in July, 1878, the latter sold an interest in the paper to his brother, Wm. L. Lunt, thus constituting the firm of Lunt Brothers. February 8, 1879, Wm. L. Lunt sold his interest again to his brother, E. D. Lunt, who still owns and conducts it ably and successfully. Being near the north line of the county, it has the advantage of circulation not only in its own, but also in Greene county, and is in a prosperous condition. The present editor has done nearly all the editorial work on this paper ever since it had an existence, and has fully displayed his especial adaptation for the work. As the editor informs us—who has kindly favored us with these statistics the paper was started under very unfavorable circumstances, without any capital, having

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only such old type and material as could be had here and there "on time"; it now has an outfit worth, at least, $1,200, which was new last July, a good job patronage, and the best job outfit in Dallas county. It has a good circulation, both at home and in the adjoining counties of Boone, Greene, and Guthrie. Though Republican in its politics, it is especially devoted to the local interests of the town and surrounding county.

     The Dallas Center Globe was established by Samuel G. Sloane, its present editor and proprietor, in December, 1875, the first sheet being issued on Thursday, the 31st of that month. Politically, the Globe is an independent Republican paper, with a circulation at present of 300, or upward, and is an attractive, wide-awake, eight-page, six-column newspaper, and its publisher fearless and outspoken in his sentiments; devotes his energies principally to the advancement and welfare of the community in which his paper is located. Just prior to the establishment of the Globe another sheet was started, called the Dallas Center Mail, edited by J. W. Jones, who at that time owned a partial interest in the Perry Chief. The press and material were owned by a joint stock company, composed of the citizens in and around the town, and the intention was to make it neutral in politics, and devote it chiefly to the interests of the new town and surrounding community. It was only issued for a short time by Mr. Jones when it was discontinued, and the press and materials were disposed of to the present editor and proprietor, who established the Globe, as above stated. We are indebted to the present publisher of the Globe and Mr. Cole Noel, of Adel, for the above facts, the latter having been a stockholder in the original company.

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