The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-07-18
Mr.. Jones Declines an Office Worth
Only $4,000 a Year.

That any one should decline an office
worth $4,000 year, especially in such
dull times as these, can not but excite
surprise. How many highly competent
men would be gladdened by the offer of
even one-quar.er 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
a year shows how much money 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
published 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 his example that no
man can excel in two things at the same
time Hence he declines the Police
Commissionership 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 a bad
shape, and his sons, soon after his death,
sold the entire establishment.
George Jones Is now past sixty, but
has well preserved countenance, whose
caustc expression combines with that
indication of an iron will so easily read in
his features. He is master of the bust
ness, and acts on his own judgment with
rapid decision and with entire selfcon-
seriousness. He is the oldest man in his
III, h..T 10
the only journal which has never had but
one publisher. Jones aided to make the
original plans and superintended the is
sue of the first sheet. He watched anx-
iously 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 u 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 rs "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 the post.
Raymond, like most of the young Wings,
saw that the anti slavery element in this
party must succeed, while Webb adhered
to the pro-s!avery element. Raymond
was Il follower of Seward, and when he
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,
a 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 agreement
was maintained during all those varia-
tions which characterized the latter.
Jones often dsapproved of Raymond's
theories, nevertheless there was no in
reference AS publisher, Jones has
proved himself clear headed and far
seeing man, with degree of stern sever
ity such AS perhaps is necessary in his
position. He has managed this speciality
for nearly twenty. seven years. During the
first six years of its existence the Tunes
thrice moved its office, but since 1897 1t
has held its present location, having been
in longer use off printing house than any
daily in the 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
5000, 900. No wonder he can not afford
to accept an Office worth only $4,000 II
year. The time he would lose would be
worth twice that sum. Jones has been a
most remarkable Atlantic voyager i'll his
profession, having made twenty trips
across that ocean. 1t is doubtful whether
Bennett has much exceeded this 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;
zone foot on land and one on sea,
To one thing constant never"
Cor. Of tie Cincinnati Gazette.