The Atlas, first paper in the county at both Ontario and Vale, was printed on an old army hand-press. Mrs. Cuddy at times assisted her husband as printer and typesetter. The Gazette was printed on a Washington hand-press. Miss Ida Roberts, who at times assisted her brother, J. E. Roberts, as printer and reporter, appears to have been the first woman employed on the Gazette. Miss Velara McPherson, who later married William Plughoff, and her sister Veronica also worked as printers on the Gazette.
An issue of the Gazette for September 20, 1894, was found under a house in Unity by the contractor who was moving the building. S. H. Shepherd was still editor. (165). Sports looked large in this issue. The principal item concerned a three-day horse-racing meet to be held late in October. This was right in the middle of the depression of the 90's, but the purses amounted to $500. Bets on the races were not allowed, the announcement said. A baseball game was played each day, with $5 to the winner each time. Dividing this by nine or ten gave each player 50c to 55c—which is a bit more suggestive of depression.
Advertising indicated that shoes were selling from 25 cents a pair up. One store announced it would be open on Sundays from 5 p. m. to 7 p. m. only. Other stores apparently remained open all Sunday. Will R. King of Baker advertised as a lawyer.
The county's third paper was the Ontario News, seven columns, four pages, started in November 1892 by W. E. Bowen, who came to Ontario from Weiser, Idaho. The News was first Democratic, then Populist, in politics. Circulation, 675; $2 a year. In 1896 J. R. Gregg, who had been reporter and printer on the paper, purchased an interest. The paper was moved to Baker by Mr. Bowen in 1897 after running for a time as a semi-weekly and was suspended the next year.
Malheur's first papers were ready-printed on one side. The Gazette and the News each started as six-column and enlarged to a seven-column size.
The first paper all printed at home and the fourth paper to make its appearance in the county was the District Silver Advocate of Vale, which appeared in the field January 6, 1897, as a Wednesday weekly. Bert Venable was the first proprietor, and John E. Roberts the first editor. Later Mr. Venable transferred his interest to E. R. Murray. All these men are now deceased. The paper was what its name implies—a champion of Bryan and the free-silver movement. W. E. Lees, now an Ontario capitalist, acquired a controlling interest and for a time acted as editor. During its last year as the Advocate the paper was published at Ontario by J. E. Roberts, who moved it there from Vale and ran it as a Democratic organ. Don Carlos Boyd, formerly of Baker, later associated with several Oregon newspapers, purchased the paper November 28, 1900.
