As of July 4th, 1919, Watauga County's Democrat Newspaper Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary

From the editorial page of the Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., Thursday, June 26, 1919, R.C. Rivers, editor and proprietor

The Democrat’s 30^th Anniversary

Thirty years ago, the coming 4^th of July, The Democrat, under its present management, made its debut to the reading public with many misgivings as to its first voyage on the rough sea of country journalism. It began under very adverse conditions, and the breakers rolled high, but with a steady hand at the wheel, and a determination to finally steer into calmer water with the frail little barque. It has often enjoyed, temporarily smooth sailing, only to be engulfed again by the tidal waves of panics, wars, etc., etc., but, backed by as good a citizenship as any county in the State can boast, she has succeeded in avoiding destruction on the treacherous rocks and is here after her 30-year cruise to celebrate her 30^th anniversary, with the boys “who have done their bit” in three great wars. It is not said boastingly, but to-day the paper is, by far, in the best shape it has ever been and has an equipment that is second to no country shop in the mountains. It has ever been its policy to live on its income and to help to the limit in whatever was for the betterment and uplift of the town, county, State and, last year when the Government made the appeal to “sacrifice until it hurts” The Democrat readily acquiesced, its idea being, aside from the danger the boys encountered “over there;” to do the part of a soldier, and we feel that we almost done it. All of this is preliminary to asking that when you come to town to celebrate the Glorious Fourth with the boys for their achievements you remember also the man who stood square back of them with every available dollar, and hand in a year’s subscription to the little paper that has always been your friend. If you owe the paper anything on subscription prior to Oct. 1, ’18, kindly settle it on that day.