The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-04


NKwsPArER GAMERS AND THEIR TRADz.-
Perhaps there is no feature in our CIT which
sooner attracts the attention of a stranger, than
the number of boys which surround him on his
arrival-whether he come by land or by sea-in
omnibus or railway car-packet ship or steamer
He is assailed on all sides by crowd Of vocife-
rous newsboye, who lay siege to him with an
energy that will brook no delay, and an impor-
tunity that will take no refusal, until he is CON-
PEELED in self defence to purchase one Of their
papers. There are hundreds of boys who con-
trive to make an excellent living in this way; but
as they are outsiders and skrmishers, they have
not the same standing as those who belong to the
regular army of news distributors, nor are their
beats computed In the regular profits of the news
paper establishments.
There is large number, however, employed in
the regular trade, many of whom have, from time
to time, realized handsome independence, and
all are able to obtain comfortable subsistence.
The whole of the city is generally divided into
eighteen districts, to each of which news-car-
rier is appointed by each establishment; and some
idea may be formed of the value of this depart
ment of the newspaper trade, by the following es-
innate the value of one of the districts which is
not one of the most lucrative. Som, time since,
the proprietor of this paper considered it expeden
to dismiss one of his newsmen from the district
which he served, and to appoint another in his
place. The one removed felt dissatisfied in con-
sequence OF this proceeding, and, since that, he
has been endeavoring to 1atter himself with the
deluslon that the length of time he was in one en-
ployment, gave him kind of vested interest in
the situation. This appears ridiculous enough
upon the face oft; but to such an extent did the
foolish chap permit himself to be carried away by
the fancy, that he has actually commenced legal
proceedings against u.s. and has laid his damages
at $1,000.
Now, If this be an accurate estimate of the value
of this distrlct-whlch Is far from being the most
lucrative one IN the city-and no one is better able
to decide upon this point than one of the class of
whom we are treating-some idea may be formed
of the value of this branch of our establishment
throughout the city and elsewhere. If no higher
amount be taken for any district, we have the
news-vending trade alone of our establishment,
worth 900, IN the city OF New York. If no
higher average be taken for the districts in Brook
Ign, Williamsburg, Jersey City, Newark, Buffalo,
Albany, Rochester, Troy, Utica, Boston, Salem,
Providence, Richmond, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Pittsburgh st. Louis, Washington, New Orleans,
Charleston, Cincinnati, and the various other
places where we have agencies established, the
sum total of the value would come very little short
of $780, 900 for the news.vending business of this
establishment. This is branch of our business
which we regard with peculiar satisfaction, as it
enables us to give employment to an immense
number of hands, who are all able to procure from
it an excellent livelihood
We understand that complaints have occ aston
ally been made hitherto IN several districts, in con-
sequence of our subscribers not having been sup
piled In time with our paper This was not un-
frequently unavoidable, owing 10 our endeavors to
procure the latest news from all parts of the world
which, together with the immense number of CO.
pies required to be struck of, sometimes retarded
the issue. But with the powerful revolving print
ing presses we have now erected, and which are
universally admitted 70 be unrivalled in the world,
we shall not only be able to maintain the pre-em-
nence at the head of the American press in priority
of news, as we have always done, but also to be
The first In early delivery to our readers.