The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-10-01
CHEAP WEEKLY PAPERS.
why We Cannot Compete with
Large City WeeklIes-

why We Cannot Compete with
Large City WeeLlIes-
AsIwe have gone back to the old
price OF 50 year for subscription to
the NEWS, 1t will no the out of place
to give q few additional reasons for
the course. We find an article just
to the point IN the last issue of the
Ottawa Republican, When we re-
duced our price two years ago to
$50, we said we should try 1t
awhile at that, and If we could not
afford It we would go back to the
old price. We haze tried IL thorough
ly, and find that our receipts have
diminished 10 such an extent as to
compel rs to retrace our steps. Ii
we had q subscription list like some
OF the 81 or Sl.25 city weeklies, all
paid IN GdUGnce, we could not fur
nish paper as cheaply as they can.
The type setting for the weekly edi-
ton of the ST. Louis Globe Demo
crdt, for instance, which is the heav-
iest item in making a paper, don't
cost a cont, because the same type
are set and used in the Daily and
Tri-Weekly editions, and then
transferred to the Weekly. We
cannot compete with them any more
than the retail grocer in EmpOria
can compete with the wholesale es-
Adjustments in ST. Louis.
But to tho Republicans article,
which, with few slight changes,
will suit our case exactly:
We have the question frequently
asked us, "Why can't you furnish
the Ottawa Republican at the same
price at which we get the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, q. e.. $1.25 per
year2" The question is very easily
answered, and we gladly improve
the opportunity 10 inform our
readers the difference in cost be-
tween a city weekly and q country
weekly. In the first place, such
weeklies as the Globe, are made up
entirely from matter published in
their daily, and lifted over into the
weekly. In this way their compost
ton costs absolutely nothing, and
the only expeOse they are to in is
suing their whole edition, % the cost
of paper and the press work. AS
they use steam presses, and keep
them running constantly, the cost
OF press work is very small. Again,
by charging but nominal sum tor
subscription, they work up large
subscription list, and this Induces g
big advertising patronage, which il
almost a clear profit. They do nc
credit business. but insist upon cash
Tor subscriptions, and therefore
have no losses, but just about gel
the cost of white paper from theiI
subscribers. Now, for q country
weekly, like the Republican. Il
costs on an average of about So
per week to run il, including hands
cost of paper, ink and editorial Ia
Dor. This amounts to over tour
thousand dollars per year. Now we
have fifteen hundred subscribers
(something over that, but we take
round number) which at 50 each
amounts to $4,000, or over q thOus
aud dollars less than the runninG
expenses of the Office, providing
that we secured every dollar due
The fact lie, however, that more thar
half is outstanding, and every coun
try publisher figures on loosing a
last one-third of his subscription &C
counts. This cuts down the receipt
to $4,000, and the difference beLWeeI
this sum and the $1,000 expenses
has TO be made up from advertising
and q paper must have an exceed
ingly good business to do it. It l.
this disparity between receipts aud
expenses which kills OIL SO many
country papers. Now, figure tn
cost Of printing office, such as TIT
Republican, at 5000, q low esti
mate, and the interest on this in
vestment at 10 per cent, and WI
have $500 more of expense, making
@ total of $500, which does not ia
clude the wear and tear on material
which Is estimated to use up an of
flee In about eight years, SO that
proprietor is at q constant eNpens
TO keep an Office up.
The fact IL, there is no big thin
in q printing Office in q countr
town, and il requires constant care
economy aud good business man
agement, to keep a paper running
The subscriptions alone would no
half pay the expense, and as IL ha
been with US, they have scarcely pal
for white paper, though we expec
our subscribers who are in arrears
will pay up as soon as they car
From a city weekly, subscribers ex
pect no accommodation, and &c
none, while we are obliged by til
circumstances surrounding US {
trust Tom, Dick aud Harry, pro
miscuously, because we are in Al
most daily association with on
readers, while publishers OF cit
weeklies seldom, IL ever, see thei
subscribers. We are compelled {
give up large amount of our spac
TO charitable enterprises, to publ
meetings, to churches, to the de
mand of anybody who happens I
have anything which they want
bring before the public. City week
lies are paid for all this. Again, W
represent and advocate the interest
of the county in which we live, W
make the public welfare our owl
we advertise the city and county
in fact are essential to the yer
prosperity OF the county and pee
pie, while your city weekly take
no interest in you whatever. w
with all these things in view, theI