The Flour Mill's Reputation Fight
The owner of the Ritzville Flouring Mills attempts to convince a skeptical public that his local flour is finally worth buying.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
We are aware that a great many people have become prejudiced against Ritzville flour and not without cause. There has been times in the history of the mill when the flour was not good, and after trying it repeatedly with the same poor results people became discouraged and bought other flour. Now for Mr. Zinter’s proposition: He invites anyone to take a sack of flour as a present. If it proves satisfactory it can be paid for; if not, no pay is required. This seems to us to have the ring of confidence in his ability to give satisfaction. It is an easy matter to test it. If it is a fact that as good an article is manufactured at home as is imported from other towns, it is to the interest of the people to patronize the home industry.
“If it is a fact that as good an article is manufactured at home as is imported from other towns, it is to the interest of the people to patronize the home industry.”
Economic protectionism at the local level was a common refrain in 1890s Washington as small towns vied for self-sufficiency. The struggle of a local mill to gain market share against outside competition mirrors the modern challenge of supporting local agriculture against globalized supply chains.
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