The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-28
James Gordon Bennett and the New Ysrk
HeralA.

not probably contain recital OF deeds OF be
roism, or incidents t.nged with poetic romance;
but as plain account Of the persevering strug-
giles and ultimate success Of man OF energy
and worth, it would possess an interest which
is rarely surpassed. We make no apology for
presenting it to our readers. The moral lesson
it conveys is alone sufficient excuse for our
doing so; and though the subject OF our re-
marks is the proprietor OF this journal, we
trust that his absence may absolve us from any
scruples of modesty which might have prevent
ed our expressing candid opinion with regard
to the past course Of his paper, and rendering
due Justice to the uniform energy ana persever-
ance with which. under his management it has
invariably been conducted.
The New YORK HERALD was established by
James Gordon Bennett, Esq, in May, 1885. Little
or no capital was appropriated for the enter
prise; but what Mr.. Bennett lacked in money
he supplied in vigor Of intellect and industry
The new paper, hawked in the streets at one
cent, soon attained considerable sale. 1t was
rapidly rising into favor, when, some six weeks
after its first establishment the Office and all
its contents were destroyed by fire. This was
terrible blow to Mr.. Bennett. A man of less
perseverance would have seen his hopes ire
trievably blighted. Not SO. however, the editor
of the HERALD. On the 3lst August of the
same year. the HERALD once more made its APP
pearance, and Mr.. Bennett apprized the public
Of its resurrection in the following lively ar
ticle =
From the Herald. August 81. 1855
We again the field. larger. liyelier. better
prettier, saueier, and more independent than ever.
The Ann street conagraton consumed types presses,
manuscript, paper some bad poetry subscription
books-all the outward material appearance Of the
HERALD; but its soul was ssved-its spirit as exube
rant as ever. From the past we augur well for the
future. In the first six weeks Of its existence the
HERALD reached nearly the extraordinary circlad-
ton Of sesen thousand per day and corresponding
amount Of advertising patronage. We started then
to reach daily issue of twenty thousand in period
OF six or nine months-re re-siart mar to rise TO
tcenfs5fce hoisand daily circulation before tce stop.
This is no astronomical dream-no Herschell dscOv-
cry in the moon. 1t be done, and if industry at
tention, resolution and perseverance can accomplish
the feat under the encouraging smiles of kind pub
lie the HERALD shall do it. We are organized on a
better footing than formerly-have = entirely under
our control, and have arranged our carriers and
routes in such way that, as we think, week will
make us 60 like piece Of ingenious clock work.
In other respects we trust we shall please the pub
lie. ACoiding the dirt Of party politics shall get
freely and cdndidty express our opinion on erery
pUWN question ana TrlOftc man. w G mean also 10
procure intelligent correspondents in London, Paris
and Washington, and measures are already adopted
FOR that purpose. In erery specieS of hecS the
HERALD TW be cue Of the earliest Of the cariy. Our
Wall street reports which were so highly approved
by every business man in the city and copied extern
sively throughout the country shall enlarge and
improve to a considerable extent. The former
HERALD, from its large circulation among business
people down town, (being larger in that respect than
any paper in the city) had very rapid increase Of
advertising patronage. We expect that the reno
waited HERALD will far outstrp its predecessor. Our
position at 2O2 Broadway admirably cental-more
so than even in Wall street. several merchants and
anctioneers are preparing to advertise in the
HERALD.
The spirit, says he. truly enough was not
consumed by the fire and what though types
and paper were lost, money gone. and the
savings of years hopelessly absorbed, SO long as
the man remained as vigorous. as piquant, as
indetatigable as ever? He was determined he
told his readers, to conquer place second to
none in the newspaper world: nay, more-he
rouid persecere until the circulation Of the
HERALD actually reached twenty-five thousand
copies per day! This announcement which to
all save its writer, looked very much like bra
vado, Mr.. Bennett as our readers will see.
thought fit to qualify with sort Of quasi
apology, begging the public to believe that he
was not dealing in the marvellous, but that he
really meant what he said. We can well ina
CINE the scornful sneers Of his rivals and the
incredulity of the public as they read this
statement. Twenty-Five thousand day Twas
a fabulous number in those times-rathcr more
than the aggregate circulation of all the papers
in the city. Little did they dream of living to
see the HERALD print and sell forty.tour Aou-
sand copies dan
In March, 1886, the circulation and adver-
Using of the HERALD having reached very re-
spectacle figure. Mr.. Bennett, who knew that a
readable paper could not he Published at one
cent increased the price of the HERALD to two.
AS a natural consequence. the sale at first fell
off: but the deserters were soon supplied by
new subscribers The little dingy sheet-for
with all due respect to our infant merits, we
we're in those days very queer looking little
paper-be9an to find its way into merchants
Offices, ard drawing rooms, and reading rooms,
and in fact everywhere that papers were read.
People who could not afford time to grope
through the endless columns of type in the
larger papers. invariably bought the HERALD;
and every one was sure to find in it the latest
news as well as piqoant review of passing
events.
From that day to the present it has steadily
progressed. Jn less than eighteen years it has
risen from circulation Of nothing to an
average exceeding $4,000 per day as will be
seen from the following table which we print
for the information Of the curious -
CIRCULATION or THE NEW YORK DAILY HERALD
DURING TIKI PRESENT A0STn or MARCH.
Day. Month. Chc,lation.
Tuesday. eos. March 1.............. .39,540
Wednesday ...... 2.............. .40,s00
Thursday ........ 3....,...,.......4 40, 200
Friday .......... ,............. 1880
Saturday ...;... 5....,.......... 1880
Monday. ......... 1.............. II $40
Tuesday. ......,. 81. ......... ~ 0+0
Wednesday ...... 9................4I,0 4c