The Portland daily press., 1864-05-24

The Press-Proposed Increase of Price.
It is not necessary for the intelligent readers
Of the Press to be informed that the changes of
the last year and a half, and the enhanced pri-
ces of labor and material which affect almost
everything else. bear with crushing weight upon
the publishers Of daily newspapers. When the
Press was started in June, 1862, printing paper
such as was then required for its publication,
was worth about nine and a half cents per
pound. Soon afterward, owing TO the scarcity
Of stock, the paper manufacturers began to adj
vance their prices, SO that by December follow
ing the cost Of paper had quite doubled, and
the white sheets necessary 10 supply subscri-
Der year, cost, before a type was used upon
them, almost or quite as much the subscrip-
ton price of the paper. Reluctantly we were
compelled to advance the price Of our paper to
six dollars in advance, seven dollars at the end
of the year. This was done on the LIST of Dec,
1862, and il was creditsble to the good sense and
juds ment of the subscribers TO this paper that
they 80 far appreciated the necessity laid upon us
49,. -...-~r duzcn persons, in a circula-
ton of about 1900 at that time, withdrew their
subscriptions in consequence of the advanced
rates. That necessity was imposed upon us
simply by the increased price Of paper,-ink,
labor, types, fuel and the cost of subsistence
not at that time having advanced.
But to-day very different state Of things
exists. Paper is higher than ever, and still on
the advance. All bills for labor-and We en-
ploy about fifteen or twenty hands upon the
paper alone-have increased from 20 to IS per
cent. Fuel--and we are Obliged to burn coal
the year round TO secure motive power-has ad-
vanced so per cent. Ink, types, presses, Office
Enthusiastically wearing out and needing
renewal all advanced in about the same
ratio Us the other articles named. Add to all
this, that the publishers are subjected TO the
same inconvenience as other people on account
Of the increased rates of rent, taxes, insurance,
household expenses, etc.
In view VI the increased expenses referred to,
the publishers Of the Press, after the most ma
ture consideration, and counsellng with many
Of their fellow citizens, have, very reluctantly
Il Is true, to feel that absolute necessity
exists for increasing the subscription price of
the paper. and commencing with the first day Of
Jans the invariable price of the Daily Press will
Be Eight Dollars per annun. III paid absolutely
In advance discount of tlceirs and half per
cent will be made, which will amount to one
dollar on years subscription. That no one
may feel that advantage is taken Of him, and to
allow all an opportunity TO avail themselves of
the discount, We viii consider all pay ents made
by old subscribers previous TO the 9Th of July,
- CON ng within the rule Of strictly adpance
payments.
Ssmi-annusl and quarterly subscriptions at
the same rate as by the year. For less than
three months sixty cents per month, or fifteen
cents per week. Single copies three cents
News dealers supplied at the rate of two and
one-third dollars per hundred.
Up 10 the LIST of June the bills viii be made
out At the present rates, but to all subscribers
indebted for less than one year. the arrearage
will be reckoned at the advance rates, provided
they continue the paper, and pay years ad-
:. vance under the new rates.
We wish 1t particularly understood that no
claim for the paper at less than the published
rates viii be recognized. except where advance
payments have actually been made. The fact
that person subscribed when the terms we're
six dollars viii give him no privilege beyond the
FIRST Of June, unless he has actually pad beyond
that time.
ENLARGEMENT OF THE PRESS.
Having made the foregoing, unpleasant
revelation to the reader, we take especial pleas
ure in announcing that, on the first day of Juns
the Daily Press sciH be enlarged Twenty-Five per
cent, with an addition of one column to each
page and the length of the columns proper
tionally increased. The enlargement will be
equal to one full page of the present size, anc
will make paper triie larger than the Boston
Journal. though at much less price than thai
paper. In fact, even at the increased rates, tbs
Press will be the lowest-prced paper in New
England when its size is taken into account
Besides the increased size we intend to spare
neither labor nor expense to make the Press
worthy the patronage of the State, and such Q
paper as the people of Portland will feel it {
privilege to encourage by their continued favol
and support. A large addition will be made t.
the reading matter, and we shall make ever,
reasonable effort to add to it such features an'
to make it the vehicle of such intelligence a
shall render il welcome visitor in every coun
ting house and at every fire side. 1t will requir
time to make all the improvements contempla
ted, but they shall be forthcoming.