The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-27
About Daily HeWspaperu


The New York Journal Of Commerce,
dwelling on the fact that during the
past thirty five years no less than flfy.
five daily papers have been started In
the city Of New York, lived for short
time, and then died for want Of ade>
quate support, after having sunk mil.
lions OF dollars, moralIzes In this In.
Htructlve vein:
The, reason why not more than one
out Of tBRy) llity daily ne Wspapers sue.
coed, are not generally understood. II
they were, instances would be fewer OF
the sinking OF fortunes In the unavaIl-
ing attempt TO found u daily-a waste
Of money rs literal aud complete as II
the owner had burned Il In his pRrlor
CRATE.
The flrst and greatest Of difficulties
Ia the want OF sufficient means. Upon
this point, which has been frequently
0luCldated, we will barely touch. To
run first class daily (and only such
stand the lsnSt chance Ut surviving In
the struggle for exiSLence) casts not far
from $1,000 Q day, even with a mode
rate circulation. This rate OF expeu-
dlture takes friGhtful daily bites out Of
the capital; and, unless tue protector
has the purse OF a Stewart, Astor or
Vanderbilt, he cannot stand the inroau
upon his funds for many months, or
weeks, or days. Among professional
newspaper men In this city the cash
In hand required to give first class
newspapers chance OF life is estimated
ut from halfto three uHrtsrs Of a mill
lion. It's failure, without such sum
at Its bAck-whIch It Is prepared 10 IN.
vest boldly and aaKaciously-is certain.
lis success after the money has been all
spent In the wiSASt and most judIcIous
manner, Ia still highly problematIc al.
Unless all tho circumstances favor tho
undertaking-if there Ia weakness or
want Of tact developed In any stage OF
lt-nO amount Of money can put u dai.
~ paper In profitable operation iu this
city, The failing newspapers are usu.
ally brought up with n round turn be.
fore many tens OF thousands have been
sunk. The hackers become alarmed
and back out. II the new concern Ia n
stock company, the subscribers 10
shares pay one or two OF The assess.
ments, aud then forfeit what they have
invested rather than lose more. Only
IN y few cases are men so plucky-or
perhaps we should say 30 foollsh-aa 10
70 on wasting o full half million be.
fore abandoning their ill.advlssd news.
paper scheme. Dlscouragement and
disgust commonly supervene by the
time that $50. 600 or 500, 900 haYe van
lshed In the yawning gulf.
The editor then goes on to show that
the newspaper business differs from
most others In the fact that when once
fairly established II can be indefi nltely
extended, with no risk and but little
extra troable, and then adds:
The most promising fields OF first
class daily newspapers being already
occupied, no new Journal cIr comm and
great success, except Ivy taking away
some Subscribers from other 4, papers.
This Is very difficult thing 10 do. II
never can be done except In Gases where
the paper to be supplAnted waulonly
and persistently neglecls the Interest or
abuses the confidence OF It's disorders.
So long Ra II pursues II Just, honorable
and judtctous course, meeting the wants
OF It's customers In all or most reapects.
the ties OF friendship between the sub
4crlbers and the paper are as hard 10
break by any outside third party "a the
links which bind old friends In busI-
mess or social life. Occasional defects
and errors, ifsuch there be, In a news.
paper, are overlooked by those who
have become attached to,it through It's
daily perusal for years. They may
somellmes become dissatisfied with Il
on account OF something which has
slipped. Into its columns, and may stop
taking u; but the absence OF tile Iamii
lar sheet ut their house or office for q
few .daya becomes an insupportRbIe de-
prlvattOn, aud they hasten 10 take It
again, Iand possibly 10 apologize for
having stopped 1t. This We believe TO
be q common experience III the history
or all ,establlshed Newspapers, M
friendship on earth Is more constant
than that contracted by the reader for q
Journal which makes AN honest and
earnest effort 10 merit his continued
uuHH9tk .