Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-12-15
To nen der, mnd Publlsher,i

There is matter in the following article
from the Cleveland Leader, worthy Of con.
sideration. by all parties concerned, just ..
this time;
We are informed that the paper makers
Of Ohio have held meeting at Cincinnati,
and resolved 10 make large advance on
white paper for newspapers. The contem-
plated increase will put the price Of paper
above the ability Of many establishments
to pay. and will be severely felt by the
strongest Offices in the State. The pres
ent prices arc at high water mark. Under
the circumstances, what should the press
do in self protection? We would make
these suggestions:
lst. Let every paper in the State (which
has not aready,) reduce its size. The large
sheets should drop column on the page
at once; the others should narrow their
columns to the extent Of an 'em," or more.
I'd. Let every paper boldly face the mu.
sic and demand advance payment on and
after January lst, 1855.
Sd. Prune down "dead heads" and ex-
change lists. Every Office will be found to
have more exchanges than it really wants
and as for "dead heads" il wants none Of
them.
The immediate effect Of these recon-
mendations, if practiced, would be 10 re-
duce the consumption Of white paper, and.
consequently increase the ability Of the mills
to supply the press. without advancing the
price SO enormously. A reduction Of 10
10 per cent, in the consumption Of paper
would have the desired effect The saving
on smaller sheet would make up, in part,
the increase per pound in the price of pa
paper; besides, a smaller sheet would effect
an economy in the composition bills, not to
be ignored.
Secondly: the advance system might ai
FIRST cut off some, or even large number
of subscribers; but it will be sure TO rid the
printer of the pay-nothing ones, and the
slow-pay ones, which would be a blessing.
Whatever number he retains will be good
and be will come out far better at the end
of the year. A large portion Of those who
may at first neglect TO pay in advance. af-
ter their paper is stopped, will come in be-
fore the next summer, and cash up old ar
rearages and year ahead. The country
papers kave only to make the experiment,
never to abandon it.
Five hundred cash in advance subscri.
bers are better in a country paper, than
one thousand on the credit system--ays,
four hundred are better. Twenty per cent
Of the whole Lists Of country editors are
never collected. Deaths, removals, dishon.
esty, bnnkrupcy, poverty and neglect, chea,
the editors out of almost the whole profits
Of his observation-disclosures, far more thar
his profits.
Some reform and retrenchments are ab
solutely necessary. The paper makers say
they cannot get rags enough to supply the
demand for paper. An increase in the
price of paper will not supply the deficit
it will be followed soon after by another
and then another advance, until the enor
nous cost of paper bursts enough printing
establishments to reduce the demand with
in the capacity ofthe supply. BY the lswl
of trade, this must be the inevitable conse
quences. unless the press guard against i
in time, by adopting the plan above sug
gested, until some substitute for rags is dis
covered.
We wish that our patrons who are 10 ar
resrs would reflect little on this matter
There are many who are indebted for twt
years Of the Journal, and we are greatly il
need of the money which is justly our due
1t would much oblige us if those living ii
the immediate vicinity would call and &c
the receipt for their paper, which we are a
all times ready to make out, and those VIII,
receive their paper by mail can send tn
money TO us by mail, at our risk. Should
our friends do this we promise not to in
crease tho price of our subscription. no
cut down the size Of our sheet, but on th
contrary will improve il still more.