GEORGE W. BURROUGHS

Both in the field of journalism and as a citizen George W. Burroughs, the subject of this sketch, has represented the interests of Cloud county. He has championed with his pen all measures promoted for the advancement of education, morality and religion, without regard to political issues, public opinion, or denominational societies.

Mr. Burroughs came to Concordia in 1900 to take possession of the Blade, which he found low in the scale of prosperity. In the spring of 1902 he formed an association with George A. Clark, ex-secretary of the state of Kansas, and purchased the Empire, which they consolidated with the Blade, under the title of the Blade and Empire. On an unhopeful foundation, success due to untiring efforts and journalistic qualities made it possible to conduct a daily paper in connection with the weekly, which is steadily gaining in popularity, not only because its local columns are replete with items of interest, but as an advertising medium for the business people of Concordia and vicinity. The large subscription lists afford substantial evidence that both the Daily Blade and the Blade and Empire are largely distributed among the reading public. The equipment of the mechanical department of this office is one of the most complete in northwest Kansas and is an item worthy of remark. The new press on which these papers are now printed, is the latest improved Babcock Reliance, a machine largely used in the better class of printing offices. It is built to cover a special field - newspaper, book and job work. The press can be run at a speed of two thousand an hour, as noiselessly as a bicycle, and so smoothly that a full length lead pencil set on end on the frame is not jarred off. It occupies a floor space of five by eight feet and weighs three and a half tons.

The Eclipse is a machine that abolishes the old method of hand folding; folds, pastes, trims and delivers either four, eight, ten or twelve pages with a speed and accuracy that is wonderful. The presses of their job department are also complete to a degree seldom found in the smaller cities. This conveniently arranged office is located on Sixth street, between Washington and State streets.

Mr. Burroughs, the editor-in-chief and manager of this enterprise, is a native of the "Hoosier" state, born in Lafayette in 1858. He was reared and educated in that city and began his newspaper career on the Lafayette Times shortly after leaving school. From 1881 until 1888 he was city editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal and later was identified with the Louisville Commercial as editorial writer. After having been connected with various papers in the south, Mr. Burroughs established the Central City Republican at Central City, Kentucky, the only Republican paper in the thirteen counties that comprises the third congressional district. He came to Kansas late in the 'eighties and located in Dickinson county where he became the first publisher of the Hope Herald, and subsequently the Abilene Daily and the Weekly Chronicle. Mr. Burroughs was married in 1881 to Miss Clara Covert, of Lafayette, Indiana. Two children have been born to them: Covert G., who is a druggist by occupation, and a little daughter, Dorris, aged eleven. Mr. Burroughs has pursued his chosen field with a rare singleness of purpose and takes a pardonable pride in the success he has attained, and more especially in Concordia, where he practically resurrected one paper, and through the combination of the two sheets has developed a paper thoroughly alive.