Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-08
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS REPORTS.
The following card has been issued byJ s. ThraSher
General superintendent of the Press Association:

General Superintendent OF the Press ASSOCIATION:
TO Tx PUBLIC.
The earliest efforts of the Press Association have
been directed to the organization and extension Of q
system Of daily reports, commensurate with the
high mission it is called upon to FILL and with the i'm
portaDce of the events nov transpring. At the very
outset of this undertaking. great labor and large expen
ditures were incurred, and those will necessarily in
crease the enterprise attans wider sphere OF oTganl
zlon and action. Although the Association has barely
entered upol the second annual quarter of its existence
its outlay for collecting news and transmitting it 10 all
parts of the country for publication has attained rate
of expenditure very nearly eqlal to $40 900 annually,
with every indication of continued and pereaps rapid
increase.
The only field from which the members of the Asso-
citation can hope to reap return for this outlay is the
field of publication for their spective journals and
indeed this would be sufficient if they we're permitted
10 reap the harvest which is offers. Unfortunately the
interest which has been excited in the public mind by
the daily transmission Of news from reliable sources
has called into existence practice adverse to the Press
aud which seeks TO gather the harvest Of publication
without bearing any portion of the cost OF collecting
and transmitting the news reports. Inc aid OF the
magnetic telegraph, which has enabled the Press
Association to transmit to every great centre of
publication from the Potomac TO the Mississippi daily
reports of events in every quarter has been invoked
to deprive the members of their just reward. -
As soon az the news has been made public copies Of
the daily journals taken to the telegraph Offices, and
the contents OF the news reports are sent az small
cost OF tolls to clubs along the line Of tee
graph, and published by bulletins tor the profit of the
parties engaged ia the business.
Ia this way the main value OF the journals is des-
royed as the portion Of their con ents OF greatest in
erest is communicated 10 the public before the paper3
can be transmitted by the mails. One of the great
telegraph companies has lent itself TO this practice,
njuT Gus and unjust to the Press and ndca-
tons exist that the evil is being daily extended So
great have its effects already become in dmnish the
circulation of journals that the question was seriously
presented whether the system OF daily reports by
telegraph should be abandoned, measures taken to
protect the rights of the Press.
To abandon the system would be to deprive the pub
lie Of much OF the early information of events for
which it naturally looks the Press IL has therefore,
been determined to continue and to extend the system
as far as practicable and to protect the Interest of the
members of the Association in the reports which
their labor and expenditure have called into existence,
by seeking the de ence offered by the laws The Tel
egraphic Reports of the Press Association" have there
fore been copyrighted.
They will be published in monthly parts in neat pam
phle form, and limited number of copies only will be
printed for distribution TO subscribers. The work will
be valuable book for reference, 1t will contain
daily record of history in a form convenient for
binding and for the library.
The first volume will comprise the reports from the
present date until the end Of the year. and will be sent
by mail 10 subscribers at the prcs Of five dollars, pay
able in advance. No subscriptions will be taken for
less than one volume. j. S TnRAsHER,
Supt Press Association