Essay by Ed Quillen
Correspondence – March 1995 – Colorado Central Magazine
The Postal Service delivers, an on-line repository can wait, and readers like history.
In our first annual subscription renewal notices, we asked three questions:
1) Are you getting the magazine in a timely manner?
2) Would you like to see back issues of Colorado Central available via computer, and if so, where?
3) What do you like and dislike about the magazine, and what would you like to see more or less of?
Many of you took the trouble to respond (thank you especially, and thanks in general to all of you who renewed — circulation income is vital to this enterprise).
Now, to your replies. The Postal Service may be the butt of many jokes, but it seems to be doing the job here, and we mail third-class (a/k/a “junk mail”), which means we’re hardly a priority.
There wasn’t a single complaint about late delivery. The idea is to get it to you by the first of the month, and we usually mail around the 20th of the preceding month.
Only once in the past year have we received a complaint about a mangled edition (if some pages are shredded, let us know, so that we can send you a new one).
One thing about third-class mail is that, unless we pay a lot more postage, it doesn’t get forwarded if you move or if your address is not perfectly accurate.
So, let us know if you’re changing addresses. We’ve also started printing “address correction requested” next to the postal imprint; each correction that comes back costs 50¢, but this should insure that we’re putting the exact address on each label.
Now, to computers. Some of you said you don’t own them and don’t want to. Others wrote to the effect that “I have to stare at a damned screen all day at work, and that’s the last thing I want to do when I’m relaxing. I prefer to read stuff on paper.”
Dr. Walter Stewart of Greeley said we might as well publish on Mars for all the good computer accessibility would do him, and Eric Abraham of Denver said he was “road kill on the information superhighway.”
From those who thought an on-line Colorado Central would be worthwhile, no particular method stood out among choices like Internet, Westnet, America Online, CompuServe, and perhaps a local bulletin-board service.
Given that response, we may go on-line sometime if it’s convenient, but it’s not a priority. If we do, the most likely candidate is a local bulletin board, because that’s the cheapest method.
AS FOR THE MAGAZINE in general, lots of you wrote that we should “keep up the good work.” Well, we’ll try. Here are some more detailed replies:
Jim Forrest, Buena Vista: I love the regional historical stories (e.g., Climax Mine)… I always look forward with great anticipation to receiving each issue (like waiting for Santa). Unlike Santa, however, I am always rewarded beyond what is anticipated.
Jack Whiting, Denver: I enjoy the pithy political commentary on the local scene.
Hiram Wolgemuth, Englewood: More book reviews.
Jeanne Englert, Lafayette: Explain why Il Vicino’s wood-fired pizza is better than Domino’s. And what goes into the home-made fudge [at Waggener’s].
Michael H. Hudson, Arvada: I have particularly liked articles about the history of the area, most recently the one about Leadville and Climax and the impact of molybdenum mining.
Peggy Godfrey, Moffat: You are one of my three read-from-cover-to-cover subscriptions.
Robert D. Coleman, Northglenn: I like your magazine because of the eclectic variety and clear-eyed approach.
Beth Nemoff, Glenwood Springs: How about a column on what the locals are talking about over coffee at the café? Include all types of concerns and comments, whether you think of general interest or not.
Elizabeth Kellagher, Salida: More history and people from the past.
John Walker, Coaldale: Thanks for covering regional news topics.
Joe Sands, Dillon: Don’t make it slick!
Bonnie Wiesel, Salida: I most enjoy the humor in many pieces and the historical pieces that are specific to this region, as well as the controversies about the proposed pyramid in Crestone and the paving of Cottonwood Pass. I’d like to see more dirt and less pavement.
Frank Delay, Salida: I hope you continue highlighting the history of Central Colorado, whether that history is from 100 years ago or five years ago.
Jeffrey Keidel, Buena Vista: I’d like to see more Arkansas Valley history, the changing west, local cowboy stories, and resource-related stories.
Kenneth D. Yeager, Granite: We really look forward to each edition… we have a lot of history up here in Granite.
David A. Noble, Houston, Texas: I particularly enjoy the historical articles, such as the Climax Mine series. Also, I would like more articles on local recreation and attractions, such as good hiking trails and interesting day trips.
Ross Baird, Aurora: Your magazine is the only one I read from cover to cover. This may not be something you want to hear from a flatlander, but my wife and I really want to visit the Salida area next summer.
Larry G. Carter, Denver: Would like more Park County information.
Maryo G. Ewell, Boulder: About the only thing I subscribe to that I actually read the day it comes.
M.B. Bradley, Denver: Originally I subscribed because you promised coverage of Lake County events and issues. Such coverage has been spotty at best, although Steve Voynick’s articles on Climax were very good. I will not be renewing.
So we didn’t please everybody, and there are areas that could stand some improvement. But overall, we seem to be headed in the right direction.
— Ed Quillen