Appeal's index should return to front page

This is the season to revise the newspaper format, and the Nevada Appeal is not one to be left behind in this bold move. They've referred the reader to page 4 to ferret out the internal features of their newspaper.

This reader, in his crusade to have the index returned to the front page, has increased the number of bows in his quiver to the extent of conducting a mini-survey of the practice of some of the more mature newspapers in our midst. These sterling publications do print the index on the front page: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun, Record Courier, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, Reno Gazette-Journal, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

They all use "Index" as the title of their listing on the front page except the USA Today "Snapshots," the Wall Street Journal "Today's Contents" and the Olympian New York Times gently whispers forth with "News Summary."

Now this matter comes to a head as the foam on a Miller's light when the Appeal Index in the Oct. 6 edition directed us to the crossword puzzle on C4. Well, there are obviously some uncontrollable spirits padding about the halls of the Appeal. Why? Because during the night, the eventual site of the crossword in the same edition became B4.

We were dismayed for this is a matter of importance that leaves in the lurch any news of the local bypass, the Costco opening and pro-choice. We wouldn't be exaggerating if we were to say that it is the most serious transgression of journalism since newspaper legend Horace Greeley employed the revolutionist Karl Marx as a European correspondent in the mid-1800s.

However, we'll not pack a few things in our luggage and fly off to Moscow but rely on the adage "Hope springs eternal."