About The Eddy current. [volume] (Eddy [Carlsbad], N.M.) 189?-1899
Eddy [Carlsbad], N.M. (189?-1899)

The Eddy Current and the Eddy Weekly Current

Launched by William H. Mullane, the Eddy Current was published from November 15, 1892, through May 27, 1899. The paper's name was changed to reflect the frequency of publication. It first appeared as the Eddy Daily Current from November 15, 1892, to October 12, 1893; it was published as the Semi-Weekly Current from August 31, 1894, to May, 9 1895; and then it ran as the Eddy Weekly Current from October 20, 1893, to August 24, 1894, and again from May 16, 1895, to May 27, 1899. The Eddy Current was succeeded by the Carlsbad Current on June 3, 1899. The heading of the January 16, 1896, edition of the Current states, "Pecos Valley to the front, croakers to the rear," and it touted itself as the "official paper of Eddy County." The weekly subscription rates in 1896 were $2.00 for a paper delivered by mail for one year or $1.00 for six months. The weekly version of the Eddy Current was published every Thursday.

The Democratic Current was not the only newspaper to appear in Eddy, a town located along the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico. Among its rivals was the Republican weekly Eddy Argus, which was launched in 1889 by the Pecos Irrigation and Development Company. Louis O. Fullen served as editor and publisher of the Argus from 1895 to 1900 and also as the town’s postmaster. A postmaster's responsibilities were so minimal that one person could hold both positions rather easily. Reduced profits as a result of increased competition led newspapermen such as Fullen to search for ways to supplement their incomes. A postermastership was a reward for past political support as well as an expectation for future cooperation. Of the five newspapers active in Eddy during this period, the Argus and the Current were the most stable and long-lasting, representing their respective political parties.

Provided by: University of New Mexico