The Portland daily press., 1864-05-28
The press--Proposed Changes.

In pursuance OF notice already given, the
Press will be issued Wednesday morning,
June LIST, on sheet % per cent larger than
the present size, at an advance in the paper of
only 81 per year, or eleven and one-half per
cent.
So far, We are happy TO state, not five sub
scribers have made complaint to us on &C
count OF this proposed arrangement. The
truth is, the increased price OF the paper is
necessity. Even rtthout the enlargement we
should have been compelled to increase the
price, or to work hard and receive in return
no remuneration. Reasonable men would not
demand this Of us; unreasonable men only
will find fault. We are aware that fifteen,
twenty or twenty-five years ago. daily papers
were published in this city for about half the
price we propose, but when the size of the
papers at that time, the amount of reading
matter contained in them, and the cost of
making them are considered, it will be found
that the Press, even in its present small form,
would be cheaper at IS or even $40 than were
the papers referred to. Their size was only
about half the size Of the Press; the amount
OF reading matter was small in proportion;
magnetic telegraphs were things Of the fu-
ture, and with labor low and materials of all
kinds and rents cheap, it cost comparatively
Asmall sum TO make daily paper. In all
these respects time has wrought wonderful
changes, SO that the Press to-day, at its pres
ent size, at IS would have less margin for
profit than 1t would at IS when it was started
in 1852.
Now II these things are so-and they are
certainly so or our word is not TO be believed
then 1t Is no more reasonable to expect to
keep the price of newspapers at the old rates
than II would be TO look for sirloin at ten
cents pound, or butter for seventeen or
twenty,
But, as we have before had occasion to say,
the increased price of the paper is not because
OF the Increased size. The space added will
be equal to about seven of the present COL
umns. Three sevenths of this increased
space we intend to devote to reading matter,
while four-sevenths OF it will be allowed for
the accommodation Of increased advertising.
III our Notwithstanding our wholesale
merchants-will be true to what we believe
Is their own interest, and become inspired
with desire to make the daily paper a mir
ror OF the city's business, so that it shall at
tract the country here for market purposes.
they will ill this additional space with pay
Ing advertisements. and the expenses of the
enlargement will be met by the increase of
business. In word. we have been compelled
to add to the price Of the paper; we make the
enlargement that the subscribers may have
an equivalent for their extra dollar.
Remember, those who pay in advance get
one dollar discount, and present subscribers
will be considered as paying in advance any
time previous to the 4th Of July.
Under the new arrangement we hope to be
able to give larger amount and variety of
news, and to publish acceptable articles with
more promptness. Hitherto we have been
cramped for room, but have done the best we
could, and those who have found fault in this
regard viii confer favor il they will inform
US how TO crowd gallon of material into a
half gallon measure.
We have engaged additional talent; we
have stipulated for regular financial, literary
and other articles; we are improving our ma
rine reports, and we pledge ourselves to spare
no reasonable effort to make the Press worthy
OF liberal and even generous support.