papers were enterprising. But there was only so much business in a town of 6,000 population. Each received its share, but the wonderful plant of Sam Evans was expensive to operate. It could not survive on just half the business.
It went into litigation. The sheriff was placed in charge Deputies were there at all times. Evans made some financial arrangements, and through the quirks of legal channels, the Northwestern passed from the hands of the sheriff into the hands of the coroner. As a means of cutting costs, Hutchins and another employee were named deputy coroners and nominally in charge of the plant.
The struggling Herald had only a little three-column casting box when the flow of ads called for half-page layouts to be cast. (L. R.) Brooks (one of those rare specimens who excelled in all ends of the game) rose to the occasion by combining column rule, carriage-makers' clamps, and two-inch pine lumber to make casting boxes. One cast could be made from each such set-up-thereafter the lumber was chopped up to heat the office.
Dean Eric Allen, just starting his splendid school of journalism at the University of Oregon, came to Klamath Falls on a tour of Oregon papers. He expected to spend a day in the Northwestern plant and half an hour in the Herald plant. He spent the day with the Northwestern and two days with the Herald.
The greatest exhibition of creating something out o nothing I have ever seen," he declared, saying the devices created by necessity were more of an education to him than the opposition's well-appointed plant.
When E. J. Murray left the Herald he continued as a business partner with W. O. Smith in other enterprises. Finally, January 1, 1919, he purchased the Herald from Smith and carried it on until he sold to Bruce Dennis October 13, 1926.
In the meantime the Herald had done well under Smith. In fact, W. O. Smith's newspaper success had begun under his connection with the Republican. When his partner Hamaker sold out to him he let him have the half interest for $1,000, or half its original cost. Smith was easily able to buy it, for the paper had been swamped with land office and timber claim notices in those days of settlement and development.
As noted, Smith and Murray bought the Herald in 1908.
The east side-west side courthouse fight in Klamath Falls, in the course of which the city at one time had three courthouses—one half-built on the east side, an old one occupied on the west, and a new west-side one, which finally was occupied as the permanent seat
