The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-03
ABOUT NEWSPAPERS.
Their Ups and Downs In the city OF New
York.

The Journal of Commerce, dwelling on the
fact that during the past thirty-fve years no
less than ffty-fve daily papers have been
started in the City of New York, lived for a
short time. and then died for want ofadequate
support, after having sunk millions OF dollars,
morahzes in this instructive vein:
The reasons why not more than one ont
OF (say) fifty daily newspapers succeed are
not generally understood. II they were, IN
stances would be fewer OF the sinking OF 1or-
tunes in the unavailing attempt TO found
daily waste OF money as literal and COM
plete as if the owner hsd burned it in his par
lor CRATE.
The first and greatsst difficulties is the want
OF sufficient means. Upon this point, which
has been frequently elucdated, we will barely
touch. TO run frst-class daily land only
such stands the least chance Of surviving IN
the struggle for existence) costs not 1ar from
$1,000 day, even with moderate circulation.
This rate OF expenditure takes frightful daily
bites out OF the capitali and, unless the pro-
iector has the purse Of Stewart, Astor or
Vanderbilt, he cannot stand the lnroad upon
his funds for many months or weekSor days.
kmoug professional newspaper men IN this
city, the C sh Ia hand required 70 Rlys n,stI
at from balf to three-quarters OF million.
its failure, without such sum at ITS back
which it is prepared to invest boldly
and sagaciouslv-is certain. lis success
after all the money has been spent IN the
wisest and most judiclous manner, is stll
highly problematical. Unless all the crcum-
stances favor the under,aking-it there Is
weakness or want of tact developed at any
stage Of it-no amount of money can put a
new daily paper in profitable operation IN TINS
city. The falling newspapers are usually
brought up with round turn before many tens
e l. L., L<o1 hQNkprG
become alarmed-and back out. IL the new
concern is stock company, the SUBSCRIBERS 10
shares pay but one or two OF the assessments,
and then forfeit what they have invt sted rather
than lose more. Only in few cases are men
so lucky-.or perhaps we sho Id say 30 foollsn
IS to 20 on wasting real half million, Do.
fore abandoning their lll-adv1sed newspaper
scheme. Discouragement and disgust COM
monty supervene by the time that $5O,OO0 or
$1OO, 900 have vanished IN the yawning gull.
The editor then goes on to show that the
newspaper business differs from most others
In the fact that when unce fairly established it
can be indefinitely extended, with no risk and
but little extra trouble, and adds:
4 newspaper with machinery for printing.
10000. $4,000 or so 600 copies can throw on
100000 or $50 900 with but few hours more
work. The newspapers now existing can sup
DIV the widest demands for their issues.
They represent every variety oil public opinion
aad interest; no p .rson has the least dlfnculty
n obtaining o newspaper that meets his vleWs
and suits his special want. Ii no journal
could possibly print more than 5000, 10 900 or
is, 600 copies, then ths supply would fall short
of the demand, and there would be room for
other papers filing exactly the same fields as
those already established. The lightning
presses CT New York newspaper offices could,
among them, supply at least one paper day
to every adult who cLn read IN the Unlteo
States. In the dry goods, grocery, boot and
snoo, hat and cap, drug and other lines OF
BUSINESS, where articles deslt in are heavy
and bulky, no ten or dozen men iu one city,
unless they have acres Of buildings and armies
OF clerks, could supply the enormous demand
for those goods. The extension OF their busi.
ness is attended at every step by immense e1.
penses and new risks, which are not incurred
in the enlargement Ut the circulation OF news
d. zen papers can furnish the public with read,
ing matter just as speedily as hundred could
do it, aud at q cheaper rdte.
The promising fields Of frst-class daily
newspapers being already occupied, now new
Journals can command q great success, except
ty taking away sub: :crioers nom other papers.
This 1s q very difficult thing to do. 1t never
can be done except in cases where the paper to
be supplanted wantonly and persistently ne.
elects The interests o. abuses the confidence OF
its subscribers. So long as it pursues aust,
honorable and judicious course, meeting the
wants of it's customers in all or most respects,
the ties Of friendship between the subscribers
and the paper are as hard to break by
any outside third party as the links which
bind old friends in business OF. social life.
Occasional defects and errors, If such there
be, in Q newspaper. arc overlooked by
those who have become attached to it through
its daily perusal for years. They may
sometimes become dissatisfied with it on
account ofsomething which has slipped into
its columns. and may stop taking IL; but the
absence of the familiar sheet at their house or
Office for few days becomes an insupportabe
deprivation, and they hasten to take 1T sgains,
and possibly to apologize for having stopped
it. This we believe to be common expert.
ence in the history Of all established news
slant than thaSconiracted by the reader for q
journal which makes an honsst and earnest
effort to merit his continued support.