Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-08-02
THE JOURNAL.

The history of newspapers in this city is
similar to that of the same enterprises
elsewhere. Probably in no other depart
ment of business is there so many failures, |
compared with the number Of successes, as
in that of publishing newspapers. With |
indomitable energy and enterprise, there
is required such large cash expenditure
that but few receive the patronage neces-
sary to meet this demand. Whether these
numerous failures are from too great COM
petition or the impoverished condition OF
the people, we are not prepared to say.
We know that it is not from o lack Of abll-
ity or energy, as some of the failures have
amply testified
Since the publication of the JOURNAL,
in this place, beginning in the Fall of 1874,
there have been eleven other competitors
for public favor, only one of which-THE
CHRoNICLE-was published at that date.
All of these, from various causes, have
ceased to be issued ; and to-day the JOUR-
NAL is temporarily the only paper in this
city. That its prosperity, from the date of
its first publication, has been continued
and increased success, is remarkable In
view of the history OF similar undertakings
in our community. Commencing with a
weekly edition in September, 1914, and q
daily paper in 1851, with the exception OF
a short suspension during the terrible
scourge Of 1862, when editors and en-
ployces were stricken down with disease to
such an extent as to render it impossible
to issue the paper land even during this
time an % extra" was published daily for
local circuIation), and later, during the few
months following the fall of Wilmington
and its occupation by the Federal forces in
February, 1860. both editions of this paper
have been regularly issued. And to-day,
though business was never SO dull and
lmoney so scarce, the JOURNAL was never
more prosperous OF established on a surer
foundation. We make this statement with
pride and gratitude.
While most of the newspapers al the
South have, during the past twelve months,
given evidenceRf great pecuni"ry emb"r-
easements, on account of a want of mail
facilities and the impoverished condition
Of orr section. and many of them have
found it impossible to weather the storm,
we have been enabled, by a generous sup
port, to greatly enlarge our paper. Of the
fourteen daily papers published IN this
State since the war, but seven Of them are
issued now, having either entirely suspend
ed or are published less frequently. This
want of success is not confined to NORTH
CAROLINA, but is common throughout the
South. In Richmond, of six dailies, but
three now survive, and Mr.. WYNNE, who
had charge Of the Examiner for more than
wear before it was merged with the En-
0uiyey. stated in his valedictory that in say
ing that his editorial management was not
: profitable was but repeating the experience
of every newspaper publisher in VIRGINIA
during the same period.
The present proprietors, one of whom
; has been connected with the JOURNAL since
| it's establishment, took charge of the pape,
in January, 1866, and it's circulation now il
nearly double what it then was, and Il
, equal to what it was just previous to thu
: war. We know that our circulation i
lessened by the causes which operate
against other papers, but when postal mat
ters arc again in full operation and ou
, people less impoverished, the Journal
e will still further reap the benefits of it
/ popularity. While grateful for this liberia
support, we do not profess to be entireI.
. blind to our efforts to give the public al
9 enterprizing paper. What LAS been done
Ill Tie pi3I Will pe cOhUll1ue'' Al '-10 ho'"Ao
: We desire to make many improvements
e and inability has alone prevented. W.
trust the time is not far distant when in
=, creased patronage will enable US to make
G the JOURNAL all we wish it. In the mean
e time, we will e1,deavor to render it q wei
: come visitor to it's numerous friends.
> Davidson College.
. - lo,r,, &c A.,