The New York herald., 1849-05-10
Progress OF the American Newspaper Press.

Progress OF the American Newspaper Press.
The enterprise recently and successfully under
taken, by which, on the arrival of the European
steamers at Halifax, the intelligence brought by
them is conveyed by express to this city, and from
this central point diflused all over the country,
has, naturally enough, attracted great deal of at
tention. 1t has received the favorable notice of
the Press on the other side of the Atlantic and its
importance and value have been abundantly felt
and appreciated throughout the United States.
Some of the smaller journals, however, have raised
quite an outcry against the arrangement, repre-
senting it as An "odous monopoly" wicked
"confederacy," and what not on the part OF the
influential and leading jouma of New York. OF
course, the prime mover of is terrible piece OF
immortality in procuring early intelligence is found
TO be the proprietor of the NeW York Herald In all
wickedness of this kind he is quite an adept and,
as usual in this fresh transgresson against all that
is pure, and lovely and of good report in the way OF
newspaper enterprise, he is the chief offender.
Well, we suppose that he must submit to his fate,
and be set down as incorrigibly depraved in all
matters of this nature.
These curious accusations against this new en-
teprise in journalism, suggest, however, the pro-
paper press of this country, and glance at its pre-
sent condition. When we entered on our career
in this city, twenty-five years ago, it was an easy
matter to publish newspaper. 1t was task
quite within the compass of the exchequer of a
loafer and the brains of blockhead. Neither ca
pial nor intellect, nor genius, were at all necessary
to establish daily journal in those times, just as,
at the present day, We see, almost every week, one
or two obscene sheets make their appearance,
under the name of newspapers issued from filthy
cellars by some desperate vagabonds. The news
papers of that day relied altogether upon their
changes for news, and, of course, the intelligence
which they gave the readers was meagre, stale,
and unsatisfactory new spirit shortly after
wards infused into the daily journals, and, for
the first time, Expresses" were introduced These
expresses consisted of the employment of relays
of swift horses, by means of which interesting in
telligence was carried from Philadelphia, Boston,
and other important points, to the city of New
York. Occasionally these expresses were extended
to very considerable distances, and the beneficial
effect was speedily acknowledged by the whole
community, especially by the mercantile and COM
mercial classes. Intelligence of an important ma
ture, exercising influence on the state of the mar
kets, and the general operations of trade, was thus
taken out of the hands Of monopolists, and dfused
throughout the whole community.
The construction of railroads opened new and
wide field to the newspaper enterprise, which had
then just begun to deveope itself. Locomotives
were now employed instead of the old "pony ex-
presses" and often at great expense to the news
paper establishment for whose benefit they were
used. The circulation and influence of New York
journalism were now rapidly augmented News
from all parts of the country conveyed to this
city with great industry, and at very heavy cost
Extras were issued with the utmost promptitude on
the reception of the intelligence thus obtained,
and circulated all over the city and country. The
result abundantly demonstrated the value of those
arrangements. great accession was made to
the circulation of the journals which conducted
those enterprises; and, again, but in still more
marked and extensive manner than ever, the great
masses of the commercial and business commu-
nifty were benefited and secured against the inju
rious effects of monoposts and spectators. All
stand alike in the advantages which the press ex-
tended.
BY the discovery of the electric telegraph, or the
application of that wonderful discovery to prac-
tical purposes by Professor Morse, another great
in the history of newspaper enterprise in this
country was introduced. At once availing itself
of this powerful agent and auxiliary, the press
ployed the telegraph TO the fullest exteAt. The
expenditure thus involved is very great. Not less
than fifty thousand dollars per annum is expended
by the assorted press of this city, in carrying out
those telegraphic and express arrangements, against
which the small journals, here and elsewhere,
rail with so much amusing bitterness. For
this large expenditure, the newspapers in ques-
ton receive an adequate return In the increased
and increasing patronage of the public. They
become more valuable and more necessary and
in this public patronage the best possible evidence
is afforded of the high value which the community
place upon these telegraphic and express enter
prises. Indeed, the public benefit which is thus
bestowed by the journals of this city cannot be
exaggerated. Talk of monopoly and exclusive
ness Why, this is the very arrangement which
defeats any and all attempts to obtain monopoly
of early intelligence. There is not business man
in the community who is not directly interested
and benefited by this arrangement. BY assocat-
ing together and expending sums which defy COM
petition the press puts it out Of the power Of indi
viduals monopolize for their exclusive bene-
fit the important intelligence which it gives to the
whole country in advance Of all other means of
obtaining the news All this is perfectly obvious
The secret of all the miniature tempest which
certain small obscure papers have attempted 10
raise about our express arrangements, Is found in
the fact-melancholy and incontrovertible-tha
the establishment of profitable newspaper, now,
requires an enormous outlay of capital. News
paper property has become valuable, in conse-
quence of the progress of journalism, and its
prompttudc in avaing itself of all the i'm
provements Of the age in locomoton and tele-
graphing. The simple reason why these small fry
call on, against what they term monopoly" is,
that they do not possess the means of making such
newspapers as are wanted nowadays. Publishing
newspapers has become costly business. The
expense of telegraphic news for a single week
would almost break down half dozen of the strug-
Cling little journals which denounce all those az
rangements by which the public interests are so
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