Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-07-22
The American.

I
/ This number closes the first half of the
9TH volume of the American, and we desire
to say word to our numerous readers, how
ever dlstasteful it may be to the public to be
subjected to an infection of matters personal
to editors and publishers of newspapers -
Nevertheless. having been rather sparing in
using our columns for the purposes of spread
+ ing out to the world all the minutia Of our
business, our hopes and our fears,--as well
as our private and personal matters, we VEN
ture to say our say There are occasions which
duty, when matters seemingly of a personal
and business nature should be given to the
readers or newspaper We therefore deem
the fJllowing the occasion when ,re may be
permitted to speak to Cur readers, and un-
fold to them something of the hopes which
inspires to exertion, and the fears which at
times troubles
When we assumed the responsibilities of
our present position, it was with many
doubts OF success. and with lively sense of
its exactions and Of the fate of all predeces-
sors. The american at that time was only
an experiment. and doubtful one at that,
with Il subscription list made up, in part,
from copying the names from the direction
book of defuuct newspapers. embracing the
god and the bad, political friends and po-
litieal foes, ana of the dead as we'll as the
living, with portion OF friends and paying
subscribers, and a part, who never were sub
scribers and hal tae paper forced on them.
At that time the paper was not year old.
and the Office was poorly stocked with mate
rial, and poorly located. Since then We have
irerded out our subscription. striking there
from hundreds OF names. and losing all their
dues, \. this time, our paying hist is larger
than ever before, and steadily increasing
The off &c has been stocked with new type
and materials, to the amount of near two
hundred dollars for each year since We have
had charge, and the paper has been enlarged
to the utmost capacity Of the press to work.
The type used now, is smaller in size than
formerly, thereby giving the reader much
more matter in the same space. We give
our readers at this time. with our columns
crowded with the fayors Of advertising pat
rons, more reading matter than any one OF
the four other papers published East of the
Penobscot Bat it is our wish to enlarge
again, and to DC 50 will involve an expense
Of about one thousand dollars. W" -
-, 1..,,,'s .sl4e mus ninth part Of this
in Our pocket. anu on ogr books and due
aow, near twic. the am }unt needed for the
change. To enable US to make the improve
ment contemplated a. the commencement of
the next solume-adding to the present size Of
the -imefiean, space eaoush 70 give full ship
pin. list and a price current and weekly three
full columns Of Agricultural matter, We
need four hundred more paying subscribers,
aud 4 balancing of old accounts. If we can
have this, our readers shall have as large q
paper as any weekly in the Safe We are
aware that no business now carried on, pays
50 poorly Tor tie money invested. and the Ia
''t at''4 ttteitioI required 10 iuiAe even
decent appearance, as the newspaper bust
ness. Another fact bearing upon this mat
ter Of newspapers, has become patent to all
in TIE business, and that is, that the Metro
politan papers are fast undermining the
country press. Their weekly sheets, filled
from daily editions. costing nothing only for
press work and paper, finds admittance into
many families, who ought to patronize their
local press, but do not, because Boston or
New York paper costs less, or only the same
money. Then to another class Of the d ear
public,a newspaper is a newspaper. no matter
where printed, or in what style, or in what
language. Some estray member of the
family sends home Western paper, filled as
it should be, with the doings of the people of
ts immediate vicinage, and that answers all
the purposes OF many down east family
This should not be 50. The home paper
should be taken for all others, though it
does not equal in size, or in giving detailed
accounts of passing events, or in giving full
and disgusting particulars of all the Grim con
cases before city courts, or in the extent and
variety OF its many 'tcmpests in teapots'' to
overthrow the world or its present institu-
tons, or in blood and thunder stories
the present popular city papers For in it,
T (though there will be found smaller variety
of matter) will be just the kind of local mat
ter which should interest all in the locality;
and at times, just the kind of matter that
is worth many dollars to know. But to re-
turn to the subject which now particularly
concerns US. the enlargement of our paper,
we shall only say in conclusion, that person
ally we intend to lay this matter before the
citizens of the county, and shall cbeerfully
abide their decision in the premises.
Saving at the Spigot" &c.
The Government has mail contract last