respecting the propriety of separating the district of Kentucky from Virginia, and forming a separate government, and to give publicity to the proceedings of the convention, it is deemed essential to have a printing press."[1] Here, in the wilderness, we see how strong was the idea that "publicity" was an essential of popular government.
Lexington, the most important town west of the mountains, offered inducements in the way of free land to the printers. John Bradford brought a printing press down the river on a flat-boat, had some type cut out of dogwood,[2] and on August 11, 1787, the Kentucky Gazette was issued, with the following editorial apology:
"My customers will excuse this, my first publication, as I am very much hurried to get an impression by the time appointed. A great part of the type fell into pi in the carriage of them from Limestone (Maysville) to this office, and my partner, which is the only assistant I have, through indisposition of the body, has been incapable of rendering the smallest assistance for ten days past."
Despite the wild condition of the country, the demand for newspapers increased to such an extent that, in 1793, as we have noted, the state was manufacturing its own paper. Newspapers were started in every part of the state where there were a few civilized beings. The rage for journalistic expression is shown in the way the papers sprang up in these towns and hamlets:
1798The Palladium, Frankfort
1798Guardian of Freedom, Frankfort
1798Kentucky Telegraph
1803Western American, Bardstown
1803Independent Gazette, Lexington
