The Calico Print
Calico's newspaper, the Print, was almost as responsible as the mines for putting the district on the map. The chief founder was John G. Overshiner, 31, an itinerant printer. Overshiner was well prepared, arriving with two typesetters, two pressman, and a job printer named E. E. Vincent, his partner. The plant included type and a Washington hand press. Because the type arrived “pied,” or mixed up, the first issue totaled two small pages and, though dated July 8, appeared four days late. The paper then grew to four pages, 24x36 inches. The name was displayed in bold letters with a reproduction of the seal of California inserted between the two words. The first page was devoted to advertisements, boilerplate features, and poetry the second page given over to state and local news, the third devoted to local news, and the fourth to ads. One-year subscriptions cost $4.
Overshiner's editorial was a model of clarity and humor: “. . . . Apprehensive that the casual observer of the heading of this sheet might think that it was a piece of common fabric sold at fourteen yards for a dollar. . . . --we simply say, ‘This is a Newspaper.’ It is not an organ. It will not be used to grind out some favorite tune or hobby . . . . We shall endeavor to furnish our subscribers a paper that they will be proud of, and take pleasure in sending to distant friends. . . We will assure you its colors will never fade so long as we receive a generous supply of the ‘color’ that is being daily taken in abundance from some of the many rich mines of the district.” During the next five years, the Print would serve as the community newspaper of the Mojave Desert, faithfully reporting the news of Ivanpah, Mescal, Providence, and other districts. For reasons that are not clear, Overshiner moved the Print several times between Calico and Daggett. The publication day was also moved to Sunday.
