Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-02


Associated Press was formed soon after the
magnetic telegraph became reorganized as a
success, and when the facilities of the lines
We're 50 limited that it was quite impossible
to serve distinct set of dispatches to each
Of the several New York Journals. The
project originated with David Hale. then
Of the New York Journal of Com
merce. who proposed to james Gordon Ben
nett of the Herald, combination of their
tM papers in the collection of news. iIay-
in. igreed upon their plans, these parties
invited and secured the cooperation of the
Tribune. Times. Sun, and Courier and In
auirer; all of New York city. Ont of that
beginning has grown the institution which
now collects the daily news OF an entire
world, by telegraph, and distributes it thence
to every section Of the Union. The present
Associated Pres is partnership for the
collection of news. and consists OF the pro
prietors of the Herald, Tribune, Times,
World, Journal OF Commerce, Sun, and Ex-
press. These journalists own the Institution
and theoretically control its affairs, though
its details in fact are managed chiefly by its
General Agent (or Superintendent. acting
General Agent appeals Tor advice when
necessary. Special agents are appointed IN
the chief cities of tie United States, in
which there are sub organizations, composed
OF newspaper proprietors who receive news
from the Associated Press, and who are al
mitted to full local membership; and they,
in turn, decide who shall share the news
with them. and various other question con-
nected with local management Besides
these. there ale hundreds of smaller cities
and towns where the local pres is charged
with the duty Of acting as agent Of the as
sociatiOn. The duties of these subordinate
agents are, first, to collect and forward to
the general agency the news of their respec-
tive localities; and second, to receive the
telegraphic news supplied by the New York
office, and distribute the same to the pres
Of their vicinity. The Association has its
agents also in Europe and China. on the
Pacific coast, in Central and South America,
the West Indies, and the British Provinces
Of North America everywhere, in fact,
whence it Is desirable Is receive news by
telegraph. Its collection Of Earopean news
Is superintended at London hv Americans
who engage such English and Continental
aid, from time to time, rs they deem mos,
useful and essential.
The Associated Pres Is governed by a ~et
Of bylaws, one Of which forbid- the mem
bers from taking news by telegraph exelu-
siyelv for any individual journal. except
from Albany, the capital of the State Of New
York, or unless the news relates to political
conventions, sporting matters, or executions.
But any member of the Association may or
der, through the General Agent any special
news which he may require, and use il
alone. unless other members of the Associa-
ton see tit to share it, in which event. the
cost Of obtaining the news IS divided he
tween them. Any special despatch received
by any one paper Of the Association tanles~
within these exccptions) must be prlnptly
sent to all the other members of the Assl-
citation, to be paid for by whoever u-e- ii.
This regulation Is to prevent u-e.,,s com
petition between Associated papers. at the
same time that each is left Tree IL obtain
any news which other memler- # The 40
citation NAV not care to have.
Thus the news of the world is caacen-
trated at New York principally for the Use
OF the Associated journals in that city But
the Association. having obtained the news,
supplies it Tor percentage Of it, cost, in
such quantities A. may he desired. to "a vast
number of journals in all portion Of tie
Union.
BY arrangement with the Geographic
companies, the distribution of news j. ma II
simultaneously to all points desired to re
served in q given section and the Western
Associated Press, while it act- in harmony,
and receives news from the New York A~~o-
ciatei Press. takes general charge of the
distribution Of news IN the Western State.
and a the same time furnishes the Western
newspapers connected with .t with news not
published in the Eastern journals
All the great dailieS Of New York. Boston
and Philadelphia. and the larger cities OF the
Northwestern State, supplement; the AsS1-
c.atcd news with special de-Tatche,. upln
which each Journal expend, sum often
larger than its share Of the Associated Pres
bills. The eaarges On such specials are set
tied directly between the Offices using then
and the telegraph companies, and therefore
io not appear in the expenditure "a the A.
~ociation The Associated Pres agents are
rigidly restricted to reporting simple fact~
always distinctly giving rs runor anything
deemed OF sufficient importance 10 notice at
all. unless 1t Is well authenticated. Opin-
ions by telegraph are relgiou-y iabooeI,
and the agent who ventures to put them up
on the wires is Snrc 70 repent Of his rash
ness aS soon As his superior officer has time
to communicate with him. The special cor
spondents-ea catering Tor the Tarticu-
lar journal TO which he is attachel-are rc- |
stricted by no such rule but travel unfct-
tered in the realms OF fancy. apeoantion.
and gossip.
The American Pres Association is COM
raatiyely new organization QS7W estah- /
lished for purpose Ike those served by the |
! Associated Pres, and furnishing for the |
connected with it domestic and |
foreign news. by similar bat not absolutely
identical business arrangement .-4msriooq
Eatgc'op'd,a Of Printing