Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-01-17

FACTS LITTLE UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC
F-om the Hartford Courant.
A iriend asks why it is that the price oil
the daily newspaper does not drop with
the prices of clothing and provisions. 1t is
reasonable question, and shall have q
frank answer. The newspapers of the first
class are better now than they were q few
years ago. and the cost of producing them
is more, while their receipts for advertising
are much less than formerly. The news
papers have shared to the full the hardness
of the times. Few Of them have made
much money since 1878; many of the most
important newspapers have been published
without profit. some at q loss. Every daily
paper 10 the country, 80 far as We know, Is
sold ut much below Its cOs:,-it depends
wholly upon the advertising for making up
the deficit When busiaeS@ Is poor the
newspaper il the first to feel it.
But Tor the fact that the price of white
paper has fallen since the war, many news
papers would be compelled to suspend or
greatly increase their subscription price
There has been 4 fall la papc: and the rates
of composition have decreased but for
these reductions the newspaper would hard
ly have survived For in most other respects
the cost of producing the newspaper has If
creased. More is demanded OF 1t. The cost
OF collecting news increases every day; the
telegraph bills are higher than ever, and
would have seemed enormous few years
ago correspondence in journals Of the
first class Is better and better paid the ex-
penSo OF the editorial department is greater,
and the labor on 1t is better and more varied.
1t We were to 20 through all the items from
telegraph dOwa 10 gas bulls, the reader
would STE why tie newspaper cannot afJrd
much II any reduction below present rates /,
when II Is considered that it takes
Its iull share OF bad debts and loss OF bust
ness.
As a rule. the morning newspapers in the
large cities are $40 year those with Sun
DAY editions SIG. Some OF them that have |
no Sunday issue. like the Boston Idrsrtser
and the New York Journal Of Commerce |
are Sl2. The expenses attending morn
ng paper is considerably higher than that
II an evening paper; tals difference arises
rom less rates for composition in the day
Ime than IN the mig hit less incidental bills .as
or gas. etc, and less tor tclcgraphIc news
The morning journals are assessed twice As
much for kilograms ~ the evening, IN the
ocular bills oi the Associated Press for
Icws.
The fact is that tho cheapest thing that a
nan buys or takes into his house is good
ally newspaper. The modern journal with
he news OF all the world freshly gathered
very morning Is marvel OF cheapness.
,Ig ht dollars or twelve dollars will not, ex
ended IN any other way, bring 50 much
Entertainment, instruction and positive
EDITION to the interest OF daily life
n the newspaper there IS from halt hours
} an hours reading daily tor each mem
er OF the family, and the cost Is only be
ween two and three cents II day. And this
an be afforded only by reason of improved
rUcesseS, association ui new gathering cx
,nding the world over, and raid and
lstematIc attention L. details. The iall
res 10 newspapers mucn exceed the sue
,sseS. Al the low rates OF subscription,
rOfts must depend upon the general pros {
erIty, and It Is ju4t when business Is dull. d
, matter what the price OF other articles
ay be, that the journal feels the pinch.