The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-01-02
Hard Times and Country Papers.
The Boston Chronicle, in an article on
this subject, well remarks:

The Boston Chronicle, in an article or
this subject, well remarks:
II people only knew the difficulties news
paper publishers have to contend with, Just
now, they would never want to be dunned
halfa-doZen times for such small amounts as
two or three or four dollars. L. Dor, paper
| and ink have to be paid in cash; yet we
doubt very much il there are any establish
ments which could be more than selfsus.
tanning, if customers would only pay what
| they owe, without taking from one to two
years to do it in.
IF the press of the country gradually de-
ciincs both in numbers, ability, and respect
ability, those who have abused the leniency
of the proprietors in the matter of credits,
win be alone to blame for the unfortunate
issue. And that such will be the case we
can easily foresee. The storm in the com
mercial world will destroy the weakest, and
many of the best of our newspapers. Men
cannot perform miracles, and Printers have
as yet failed to discover any easier way of
satisfying the demands of paper-dealers and
the cravings of industrious workmen with
anything but the pelf And how they are to
get this. when people will not pay the Print
er, is a mystery, particularly as the banks
don't accommodate country newspaper pro-
prietors. Few people have any idea of the
labors of the edtor-his trials and difficult
ties-at all times, but particularly at periods
of monetary embarrassments. He is COM
PEELED, particularly in country offices, TO be
the general factotum of his establishment
Not only has he to write for the benefit Of
the public under all crcumstances-in sick
ness of body and distress of mind-to be at
one meeting in the daytime and another at
night--to leave friends and family at the bid
of every passing circumstance in the public
world of his own locality; not only has he
do all this, and sacrifice comfort, health, and
domestic pleasures, but he is compelled to
work at the cease" in every spare moment
to keep his own books-to DO his own col /
lecting; in short, from morning to night, |
from week to week, and from year to year,
TO laber like a slave to provide himself and
family with bread. And if he makes a bare /
living after ALL he may be we'll satisfied, for
hundreds do less. And how few there are
who do more. Work then establishments !
Is cheaply as possibie-lve as frugally and /
as they can-yet few country I
publishers secure as much property in do
zen years as an Industrious mechanic will do
n half the time. The very nature of the
newspaper business-with its long credits
md small profits, and bad debts-forbids
lnything like the accumulation Of wealth,
md we have very little hesitation in saying
hat, had our country brethren generally 1
aiken their means and labor-their patience /
md energy-to any other markes than the
,ne they have found for them, they would
nave this day been tenfo!d better off, in
point Of view, than they are, or
rave been, since they became newspaper I
Let the public ponder these few simple |.
truths well, and make up their minds to ease |
The laboiious occupation of the Printer, by !
paying him punc,ua!iy what he is honestly
entitled to.