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UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION urged buying at home. Conover's approach, though, was unique. In part, it read: "Are you a property owner in Springville? What is it worth and what makes it worth the value you place on it? If Springville slides back and becomes smaller, your property will be worth less. But if it grows, your property will increase in value in ratio with its growth. What, then, is the deciding factor as to whether Springville will grow or not? If we buy things manufactured and produced in Springville; if we trade with our local merchants, spending our money here, Springville is bound to grow. If, on the other hand, we take our money to some other city to trade, we are crippling our own city and cutting our own throats. Save your property." He initiated other editorial changes, as well. A page was assigned to social news. And space was designated for sports, which he understandably favored since he'd been captain of his high school football team and a freshman letterman at the '¥.' The re-designed Herald had a new, quite different, look -- the forerunner of his always progressive approach to typography. And, uncommon in that day, it was entirely home print with no "boiler plate." The new publisher, did, though, utilize a few syndicated features and for a time carried color comics. The paper trumpeted Springville's claim as the art center, boasting it had "the greatest art collection west of the Mississippi." A boxed "ear" near the Herald's banner asserted it was "dedicated to the growth, development and progress of Springville. " And the masthead, in addition to designating staff members, carried a Chamber of Commerce-approved message touting the community's virtues. It remained in place for years, repeating: "Springville is a city of 6,000population. It is particularly noted for its famous Art Exhibit and road building contractors. Springville has a greater concentration of these contractors than any other city in the United States. Its chief industries consist of a steel plant, cast iron pipe plant, creosote plant, canning factory, extensive farming and stock raising, particularly small fruits and lamb feeding." Conover's often-dry wit emerged from a tongue-in-cheek 660 |
