Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-20
31li5rrlloucol(s.
From the Camden Journal.
FEW MORE WORDS ON NEWSPAPERS.

n
There are but few, comparatively. of our rea-
dcrs, who will feel any interest in this subjcct,
but there are others to whom it must appeal with
considerable force and to these we desire esre-
cci;,lly to address our remarks. We mean Of
course the conductors and p.oprictors Of the
press of our State Our remarks are intended
10 0r general in their character, and if, in the
application Of the subject, we should touch too
closely upon some individual case, we hope it
vii; be regarded rs necessarily incidental TO u
candid discussion of the matter and not be at
ttibutrd to any unworthy motive or unkind tenn
per on our part We have too much respect
for the press of our State and for its conductors,
with the most Of whom, we have the pleasure
of Il pcrsnlr,l, and in some cases, an intimate
acquaintance, 10 make inviduous Determinations
We disciaim any such intention; yet candor
cnmprls us to treat this subject with much plaltl-
ness and freedom of thought.
We minated on recent occasion, that we
attributed much, and VIC might say all. OF The
i'll success ut newspapers now, to that miserable
sYstcm of half. priced terms for subscription, and
merely nominal rates for advertising, which has
been introduced within Il few years past in our
State. We leave this thought just here, for we
have not time to dwell upon it,
The income Of newspaper offices consists
mainlv in advertising and the subscription lists.
When these two (and sometimes "nly) maln-
sprnrs are so weakened and embarrassed MS
scarcely TO answer the purposes of the machine,
It cannot, of course, be long before the whole
li;,i: will get out of order, aud unless promptly
repaired or strengthened from some other source,
must cease altogether. 1t is impossible, nova
DAYS to do anything without money-it IS one
of those necessary evils which cannot be dlspen-
scd with The time was when man might
work almost for nothing, and yet, by proper
diligence aud economy, get along, and poss'bIy
grow rich Not so in these latter days-the
whole nature Of things has undergone Il COM
picte and thorough change. The time was
when good, even first rate Journeymcn Printers
could be employed in country offices at from
seven to eight dollars per week-now, titty per
cent increase on those rates is hardly too great
! nj estimate. Paper has risen in The same ratio,
or certainly twenty-five per cent upon former
prices In fact the demand having so largely
increased, the mills complain Of scarcely being
able to supply the market. These fact, taken
in connection with another most lamentable one
the want of disposition on the part Of sub
scrbers to pay-show what the chances are for
money being made upon the subscription lists
Did our one dollar friends ever make close cal
cnarion Of what it costs them to publish their
papers? Let them do so, and with all their
sriclncss IN idea only, in South Carolina: about
advanced payments they will find at the end OF
each year, 4 large number who come up among
the dclinquents-it is so, and it is folly to con.
ccal the fact from our own eyes. The unusual
increase of newspapers all over the States has
produced these enormous prices of labor and
materials, without corresponding increase or
adherence to old prices for work. The conse-
quence is, many are obliged TO struggle on,
droop. and finally die.
Advertising constitutes the handspring Of
vigorous action to aprinting office in our State
if therefore, the rates be cut down and lessen
cd, how is it possible, with all these accumula.
ting difficulties that paper can be made protita-
bic which must rely upon chance for its patron
age. 1t is Il mistake, gentlemen of the press, to
work any longer for nothing. You will find, we
fear, by bitter experience, that this course will
injurc, if not bankrupt many of the papers in
our State. Let it be persisted in no longer
a%sk reasonable prices for your labor, and do not
compromise the dignity of the press, by accept
ing the poor, pilful contributions of half priced
patrons. We allude now particularly to advcr.
tsipg question of great Importance here
presents itself. Is it right, editors and propric-
tors, to pursue course which is not only suici.
dal, and unjust to ourselves, but absolutely
wrong in principle, false in policy, and, to say
the least we can of it, hardly honest, in publish
! ing our terms and then make contracts which do
not approach within the rcmotest range OF those
terms. To make ourselves more distinctly un-
derstood, ought paper which advertises its rates
10 be seventy-ive cents per square for the first
and half that sum for all subsequent insertions,
contract at one tenth part of these rates! Or,
in palmer words yet, is it right to do in the
neighborhood of fifty dollars worth of adrer-
tising for fee dollars! Strange things do hap
pen sometimes, and strange rs it may appear, 1t
is nevertheless a fact, that there are newspapers
in South Carolina which advertise equal to five
squares for six months, for the poor, ptiful, con-
tempthe sum of five dollars, worth almost ten
times that amount, to follow published terms
SO far as we are concerned, we would infinite
y prefer advertising for nothing, for then we
might possibly hope TO have some slight claim
upon the charities of the public, without the re-
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