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

The Journal of Commerce, dwelling on the
fact that during the past thirsy-fve years no
less than 6fty-five daily papers have been
started in the City of New York, lived for
short time. nd then died for want Of adequote
s"@~qrt, after having sunk millions Of dollars,
mora''@~-in this instructive vein:
=, ne s.t reasHaS a;tS, why not more than one out
not 'say. eaneraIv Ivy nSsy newspapers succeed are
stances sHv wonIa be beSeStood. II they were, in
tunes in the unavaiiinpo OF the sinking OF for
dailyYa waste of money tempt to found
plete il the owner had II ana R. com %la-
ior CRATE. - f
The first end greatest difficulties is &.
Of sufficient means. Upon this point, &an.s n,
has been frequently elucldated, we will barer,
touch. 10 run a frst-class daily (and only
such stands the least chance OF surviving in
$1,000 day, even with moderate circulation.
This rate OF expenditure takes frightful daily
bites out OF the capital; and, unless the pro-
lector has the purse Of Stewart, Astor or
his funds for many months or weeks or days.
among professional newspaper men in this
city, the sh 10 hand required to glvea fist
at from a half to three-quarters Of a million.
Its failure, without such a sum at its back
which it is prepared to invest boldly
and sagaciousiv-is certain. It's success
after all the money has been spent in the
wisest and most judicious manner, is still
highly problematlcal. Unless all the crcum-
stances favor the uDderlaking--if there is
weakness or want of tact, developed at any
stage. or it-no amount Of money can put u
new daily paper in profitable operation in this
city. The failing newspapers are usually
brought up with round turn before many tens
become alarmed and back out. IT the new
concern is stock company, the subscribers to
shares pay but one OF two Of the assessments,
and then forfeit what they have nvt sted rather
n EnyU 40 q au ornv vroQ
80 lucky--or perhaps we sho..l say 80 foolish
AS to go Wasting real half million, be-
fore abandoning their lll-advlsed newspaper
scheme. Dscouragement and disgust COM
monty supervene by the time that SOC, 900 or
100000 have vanished 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 it
can be indefinitely extended, with no risk and
but little extra trouble and adds:
\ newspaper with machinery for printing
20. 600. $4,000 so 900 copies can throw off
100000 Or $50 600 with but few hours more
work. The newspapers now existing can sup
ply the widest demands for their issues.
They represent every variety o. public opinion
and interest; no rson has the least difficulty
IN obtaining o newspaper that meets his views
and suits his special want. # no journal
could possibly print more than 5000, 10. 600 or
Is 600 copies, then tue supply would fall short
of the demand, and there would be room for
those already established. The lightning
presses Cf New York newspaper Offices could,
among them, supply ut least one paper q day
to every adult who cIn read in the United
snoe, hat and cap, drug and other lines Of
business, where articles desls in are heavy
and bulky, no ten or a dozen men in one city,
unless they have acres of buildings and armies
or clerks, could supply tho enormous demand
for those goods. The extension of their bust.
ness is attended at every step by immense ex-
pense5 and new risks, which are not incurred
papor that is once well founded. Ten or
d, zen papers can furnish tho public with read
ing. matter just as speedily as a hundred could
do it. and at a cheaper rate.
The promising fields Of frst-class daily
newspapers being already occupied, now new
Journals can command great success. except
by taking away sub b-crtbers from other papers.
can be done except in cases where the paper to
be supplanted wantony and persistently ne
elects the interests o. abuses the confidence of
its subscribers: SO long as it pursues just.
honorable and iudicious 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
bind old friends in business or social life,
Occasional defects and errors, If such there
be. in o newspaper, arc overlooked by
those who have become attached to 1t through
sometimes become dissatisfied with it on
account Of fsomething which has slipped into
its columns. and may stop taking ii; but the
absence of the familiar sheet at their house or
Office for few days becomes an insupportable
deprivation, and they hasten to take il again.
and possibly to apologize for having stopped
it. This we believe to be common expert
ence in the history Of all established news
papers. No friendship on earth is more CON
stant than that contracted by the reader for
journal which makes an honest and earnest
effort to merit his continued support.
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