, 1878-07-18
Mr.. Jones Declines an Office Worth
Only $4,000 q Year.


That any one should decline an cffice
worth $4,000 year, especially in such
dull times rs these, can not but excite
surprise. How many highly competent
men would he gladdened by the offer Of
even one quarter the salaryl This, in
deed, is the first time in memory that
such berth has been declined in New
York, and the fact that George Jones
can not afford to sell his time for $4,000
wear shows how much mOLey he is
making in journalism. Thirty years ago
Jones was glad to earn one-tenth Of that
sum. He was then living in Albany, and
was an agent for Moses Y. Beach, who
nublishcd the Sun and carried on small
banking, or rather note shaving, concern
Beach was the only man that united
financial and editorial life, and no doubt
Jones learned from bis example that no
man can excel in two things at the same
fine, Hence he declines the Police
Commissoncrship and $4,000 year.
Beach made money, but he would have
made more had he devoted himself to the
Sun. He might have built up very
profitable paper, but he left it in bad
shape, and his sons, soon after his death,
sold the entire establishment
George Jones Is now past sixty, but
has a well preserved countenanCe, whose
caus,ic expression combines with that
indication OF an iron will so easily read in
his features. He is master of the busi-
ness and acts on his own judgment with
rapid decision and with entire self-Con.
sciousness. He is the oldest man in his
department in the city, and the Times is
the only journal which has never had but
one publisher. Jones aided to make the
original plans and supcrintended the is
sue of the first sheet. He watched anX-
iousy the struggles Of the early effort,
and saw the capital steadily consumed
by daily loss until it was all spent, but
he also saw that turn Of success which
rewarded enterprise, and has since then
welded an immense return Of wealth.
The Times as a scheme was devised in
Albany, and is the only New York pa
per that ever had such an origin. Jones
was then an agent, while Henry j. Ray
mond was there as a member Of the Leg
islature. The latter had, during the pre-.
vious six years, edited the Courier and
ENQUIRER for Webb, whom he disliked in
tensely, but necessity held him to thepost.
Raymond, like most Of the young Wings,
saw that the anti slavery element in this
party must succeed, while Webb adhered
to the pro-slavery element. Raymond
was follower Of Seward, and when lie
was elected TO the Assembly, he often sent
down from Albany Free Soil editorials,
which Webb suppressed. This led to his
determination to start paper which
should be under no control but his own,
fact which explains the provision in the
original contract that "the entire editorial
charge shall be under the sole care OF
Henry j. Raymond" This agreemen,
was maintained during all those varia-
tions which characterized the latter.
Jones often disapproved of Raymonds
theories, nevertheless there was no in
reference. As a publisher, Jones has
proved himself clear-headGd and far
seeing man, with degree of stern sew T.
ity such as perhaps is necessary in his
position. lie has managed this speciality
for rnearly twenty seven years, During the
first six years of its existence the Times
thrice moved its Office, but since 1857 it
has held its present location, having been
in longer use of its printing house than any
daily inthe city. This shows whatincessant
changes occur in the world of journalism
Jones is now next to Bennett, the richest
Of our journalists, being estimated at
100000. No wonder he can not afford
to accept an office worth only $4,000 a
year. The time he would lose would be
worth twice that sum. Jones has been q
most remarkable Atlantic voyager in his
profession, having made twenty-five trips
across that ocean. 1t is doubtful whether
Bennett has much exceeded tEis marine
experience, though his was begun at an ear
lier age; the latter indeed was hardly ten
when his mother took him to Europe, and
since then, as the poet says, he has been
"One foot on land and one on sea,
To one thing constant never"
Cor. Of the Cincinnati Gazette.