Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-11-18
BUSINESS AFFAIRS.

The present high prices paid workmen and for
materials, we'll as for all means of living, render
indispensable that publishers of newspapers should
he more strict than heretofore in their collections
and should also insist something like fair return
from their advertising columns.
We have been advertising by the year at Gerry loao
ratcs; and we have found it amost impossible, I'M
der the rule which has governed u.s. to do justice to
our advertising patrons all round, inasmuch some
of the yearly advertisers will insist on occupying
much space than that to which they entitl-
ed thus crowdng others who arc content with less,
and interfering with transient CUSTOM which is most
profitable We have determined hereafter to adopt
a new plan, which will be by reference to our
terms above We will take contracts for six months
or BY the year. the advertiser being charged at the
regular rates for all that he inserts and deduct
ing, the close of the contract, thirty three and
third per cent. from the gross amount In this way
the advertiser may insert little as large guam
tity as he desres-may renew his advertisement
often he chooses and pay accordingly.
Our large and rapidly increasing circulation rem
dcrs the Standard advantageous vehicle to bust
ness for communicating with the public.
We have been annually paying from three hun
dretl to five hundred dollars in commissions to col
lecorS; ard there are many thousands of dollars
still due our books up to the 1st of this month.
All these commissions might be saved to us, if
subscribers would transmit the amounts due by
mail. We do not see why they may not do it. 1t
is not necessary that subscriber should wait for
collector, for his account to be sent him in his
paper; if he knows he is indebted to the establish
ment let him at once forward one, two, three,
four five or ten dollar bill as the may be- and
he may rely on being promptly credited and receipt
ed for the amounts and the receipt will show the
time paid for and to. We expect soon to adopt the
plan of notifying each subscriber, by printed slip
enclosed in his paper of the time when his year will
expire so as to enable him to renew, if he chooses
to do so, at the advance prices of 81 and 81
Again: We are frequently requested to deviate
from our rules and receive 50 for 81 so, and some
times for 49, or 81 when 81 so or So is due. We
say, most respectfully, cannot do this We
have reasons for it. They are good ones, and
we doubt not they would be regarded so by all our
subscribers if we deemed it necessary to state or
explain them at length. Then again, subscriber
threatens to stop his paper if do not agree thus
to depart from our rules and some do stop on that
account. We regret this, and would rather lose
a years subscription now and then than to appear
to give the slightest cause of offence to broth
er Democrat; but cannot pay regard to threats
or allow ourselves to be disturbed by orders, based
on such grounds, for disseminating the paper. A
vast majority of our subscribers however-and we
believe have the very best list in the State-are
liberal and cheerful, though some of them slow
payers. We not dunning, nor do we intend to
do So We ask our friends, however, to think of
these things; and to remember what we now tell
them, that there some localities in the State in
which our subscription list is dead loss, and we
continue nevertheless to send the paper; and that
our annual loss (by bad debts and the ike) on sub
s~rigtons is not less than thousand dollars.