The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-08


contract Of som kind. There is the money, ana
il must come t.
NEWSPAPER DIsTRIBUTIoN IN THE UNITED
STArEs-Among the revolutions which have
taken place during the last twenty years, none
is mere remarkable, or more worthy of
consideration, than that which has marked
the Development of the newspaper press
Of the United States. The daily press for
nearly century had remained almost
stationary, and hut little or no progress
was visible until about 1885, notwithstanding
all the agitation and excitement which had con-
vulsed the Old World No attention wa paid to
the stirring events of the day, and no efforts
were made to diffuse intelligence of passing
events among the masses-everythi appear
ed to drag on dull and monotonously, without
life or energy.
The aggregate circulation Of all the daily
journals on this continent at that time, was not
as large as the daily issue of the New York
HERALD is at the present day Many reasons
might be adduced for the apathy and want of
enterprise manifested by the managers Of
the different journals-they appear not
to have had single progressive idea. Their
system Of management was radically wrong.
We will name one instance in support OF our
argument, which is that Of the delivery Of p
p,rs. The custom was to hire carriers at three or
four dollars week, to serve their patrons, when
blest with any. Thesemen took no interest in
the welfare of the stablishment-there were no
inducements to increase the circulation, as they
merely increased their own work in their eff
forts to do SO; and matters went on in this
way until the advent of the "cash press" Yhe
element of progress now developed itself, and a
new system Of delivery became Indispensable
The credit system being abolished the papers
were delivered to carriers and newsboys, Ga
class which then sprung into eXistence) at so
much per hundred. The effect was Immediately
apparent in the great sales of the ''cash press"
as the carriers were Immediately interested in
its success, and exerted themselves accordingly.
The agency system established by the New
YORK HERALD rapidly spread throughout the
land, and depots for the sale of newspapers and
periodicals sprung up at every available point.
The book trade, also, which was in languish-
ing condition, at the same time received new
life, and magazines and cheap literature of
every description found their way into the re-
hottest corners of the Union. To this system
introduced by the New YORK HERALD-and to
this system alone, may be ascribed the immense
fortunes of the Harpers, the Appletons, and
Others all achieved through the influence and
energy of the "cash press" The system of
agency, established originally for the country,
is now beginning to react upon this city, and
the necessity for its adoption here is daily felt
more and more, and struggle is now going on
between it and the carrier system, and in which
the latter must eventually succumb.
Our contemporaries all fell into the grave
error Of selling routes to carriers, thus de-
stroying their own independence, and placing
the control Of the circulation of their journals
entirely out of their own hands. We early saw
the effect of this system, and from the first
firmly refused to sell single route, preferring
to preserve our own independence. We hold
carrier on his good behavior, and will remove
him whenever necessary-which our neighbors
cannot do.
The agency system is increasing SO rapidly
that in nearly every street in this city depot
may be found for the sale of newspapers and
periodicals. The great value of these agencies
consists in their ability to supply customers at
any hour in the day-the majority of readers
not being willing to wait for the carriers in the
morning. This system will eventually break
up the whole carrying business; and we would
advise our carriers at once to adopt the plan of
establishing permanent agencies in their re-
spective districts; for if they do not, somebody
else will. This will be found the proper sys-
tenn for the distribution of papers, and when
once adopted, we shall hear no more complaints
of the late delivery of the HERALD
The HARD SHELLS AND THE SPons-The
hards are great upon principles-very great
but they are greater for the spoils. The spoils
are the great fundamental cardinal principle
of the hard shells Anything for pure democ-
racyLany thing for the Union-but every thing
for the spoils. The hard shells are remarkably
great and somewhat peculiar concerning the
spoils If they cannot get hold of them tor
themselves, they are generous-they are liberal
and they are ready and willing to cooperate
in giving the spoils to somebody elsa good
wing or bad whig-or anybody but msera-
BILE soft shell. For example, and it is striking
example, very singular example, we may say
the hard shells in our Legislature, not being
able to get the State printing for themselves,
but being unwilling that SO large dish of the
spoils should be lost, generously, magnani-
mously, and humanely, voted to give it to
Thurlow Weed. Could anything in this world
more forcibly illustrate the peculiar liberalty
Of the hard shells concerning the spoils? Long
live the hard shells! ITO the victors belong
the spoils." Thurlow Weed is the victor. Let
Marcy and the hards rejoice.
THE WASHINGTON MoNUMENT.-The trustees
of the Washington Monument Association have
offered reward of $500 for the detection of