that he buy the Rogue River Courier, which had been on the market for some time. What with? was his answer. He might, the same friends suggested, be able to interest C. S. Price of Ashland, then living on his peach orchard, in a partnership. They promised, if this were done, to go on a note for the first payment on the plant. Voorhies rode to Ashland, forty miles or so, on his bicycle and succeeded in persuading Price to go in with him. Price, in turn, had obtained the necessary money by mortgaging his peach orchard to C. C. Beekman, Jacksonville banker. The new firm took hold July 1, 1897. Two years later Mr. Voorhies bought out his partner and has continued since as publisher.
It has been a policy of Mr. Voorhies to keep his plant fully abreast of the times. He installed a Simplex typesetting machine, the first in the state outside of Portland. Miss Maude Baber was operator. The Courier's first linotype was installed in 1907; it was replaced after 22 years of service, and three are now in use. The old Country Campbell of 800 or so an hour which succeeded the original Washington hand-press used by Stine has been replaced by a Goss Comet. A Kelly automatic, an offset press, and three Gordon job presses look after the commercial printing. The paper has a building of its own, replacing the old rented quarters. The plant is kept constantly up to date.
The Courier publisher is not one of those who believe it necessary or advisable to handle all possible details himself. One of his achievements has been a capable and loyal staff who free him for the thinking and planning that should occupy a publisher. He is not afraid to trust his helpers and finds time to make occasional long vacation auto tours. An early hobby of his was the National Guard, in which he rose to the rank of captain. And he has sung bass in the Presbyterian choir for more than 30 years.
Managing editor of the Courier is Mr. Voorhies' son, Earle Elliott Voorhies. Rex Tussing is news editor. Both young men are graduates of the University of Oregon School of Journalism. Noble D. Stanton is advertising manager, a position he has occupied for more than ten years.
On the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary the Courier issued a 106-page tabloid special edition (April 3, 1935) including a complete history of the paper and of Grants Pass and the southern Oregon territory of which it is the center.
In September, 1935, the Courier added its own photo-engraving plant, in which it was the pioneer among the small dailies of Oregon. At that time no daily newspaper outside of Portland owned and operated its own engraving plant. From the beginning its success has been remarkable. Personally operated by Earle E. Voorhies, man aging editor, the plant produced pictures which have been the envy of fellow-publishers and have drawn praise from professionalen-
