The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-21
News and Newspaper Circulation.

news anu Newspaper ChCutHtlons
The regular daily circulation OF THE SUMS
now at higher point than ever before In the
history Of this newspaper. We have no
doubt that 1t Is at the highest point ever
reached by any American newspaper. The
circulation yesterday was 1925; the aver
age for the past week has been LAG, 479; the
average for the month Of May up to date has
been IA 423.
Forty-six years ago, when CORNELIUS W.
LAWRENCE was Mayor of this town, THE SUN
announced to Its readers that at an expense
of several hundred dollars 1t had procured
steam engine and apparatus which enabled it
ito print considerably more than twenty
two Thousand copies on both sides, in less
than eight hours" Here followed an ex-
clamation point, no doubt warranted by the
circumstances. mo establishment in this
country" adds THE SUN Of Jan. l, 1886, "has
such facilities. and no daily paper in the
world enjoys 80 large q circulation"
With the mechanical arrangements Of that
day 1t would take from fifty to eighty hours
to supply the present readers OF The SUN
with their papers. Wednesday and Thurs
day would come before Monday mornings
SUNS were all printed; and the presses
would be taxed to their utmost capacity to
get Wednesdays edition ready for sale ut
the beginning Of the next week. One Of the
Bullock presses now changing every night in
the subcellar under Printing House square
can turn Off between 80, 900 and 40, 900 SUNS in
sixty minutes.
Under the present management the regular
daily circulation OF THE SUN passed the
round 100000 In January 1878. For nearly
ten years 1t has ranged between that point
and its present average. There have been
wide fluctuations-ups and downs lasting for
days, weeks, and sometimes months. The
philosophy Of these fluctuations Is In some
cases plain enough, and in others obscure
or wholly incomprehensible. There have
also been great temporary gains, depending
upon news Of extraordinary interest or i'm
portance. These temporary increases, aris-
ing from obvious causes afford material for
a study Of the laws governing newspaper
circulation; for they show the comparative
interest which different sorts Of news have
for the great body Of newspaper readers.
Here. for instance. is table exhibiting
the reasons for the increased circulation OF
THE Sun on the twenty-five or thirty days
when it has been highest:
1871 July ls-orange riots 1872 ga
1872 Nov. e.-Presdental election, GRAsrGRxE.
Observation-Disclosures. ISL 5s3
1873 Nov. 5-New York State and city election 1888 247
1874 Nov +-Tda wave elections. .......... Ies 24s
1875. Nov. sstate and city election ......lTT5s s
1875 Sept 2o-The Hell Gate blast Iss 700
Octll.-october elections Presidential year I5s $50
Nov. a-Presiential elect .TILDKS. HArKs 222 $50
Nov. s-second day after election. .........l5s.75 ISL
Nov. lo-1hird day after election. ........ 1865. i5e
1877. July Is RAILROAD strikes and riots ...l5s5ss
July 2o-Railroad strikes and riots. l52 764
1873 Nov. Getty election defeat Of Tsmmany. 1855
1879 Sept 2s.-Last day walking match $40
Nov. 5--State and city elections 1855 olo
1880. Nov. 3-PresideutiAl election. GARTIKLD-
HANCOCK. ........................2O6 974
1881. July 3-GARTIELp assassina ted l76
July 4-second day after assassination. .. le5 sos
July o-Thrd day. 9l2
July o-fourth day l5lao3
Sept 2o-GARrIkID's death.................2 l2 SOS
sept2l-second day after GARrrKLD's death. $50 2l5
Sept y -Thrd day l5e 2e4
Sept 2.-GARrELDs burial. ITO 1856
Nov. Estate election ITO SAT
1882 Feb l-Poter building fire 1853 7so
March 5.-Last day walking match. 1877. SIS
1t is seen that the largest edition ever
printed by THE Sun was on the morning
after the election Of Mr.. TILDEN to be Presi-
dent OF the United States, when 222 800 copies
were sold before 8 o'clock in the morning.
The second largest edition, about 900 less,
was on the morning after President GAR
FIELDS death
That politics continues to be Of supreme
interest to newspaper readers is shown be-
yond all question by the figures of circula-
ton on the days after important elections,
either national or local. No other news car
ries the circulation up SO surely, or Except
in rare instances) so far. Here are the fig
ures OF actual increase in the circulation OF
THE Sun, over the average Of the days i'm
medately preceding, caused by the three
last Presidential elections:
Inereae
ls76,-TuDEsHA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 900
1880 -GARHELp HANCOCK 900
Or an average increase Of $4,000 on the
morning after Presidential election. Con-
siderable interest is felt in the elections held
in the October States In a Presidential year
Increuie
is72-ortober elections 900
sIe-octooer elections 24oJo
lSoo-October elections % 900
An average increase of 81, 900. An exciting
| election in New York State and city increases
the circulation of THE SUN by from 5000 to
| $4,000 copies:
Increase
leI3-stAte and city 81 900
ls74-Tdal wave elections SO 900
ls75-State and city 90
iS'-state ana city 10000
ls7s-state and city Tammany defeated 40 900
lB70-State and city. 5000
'e7i-stA'e ana
| The influence exerted upon circulation by
political events Of less conspicuous impor-
lance than great elections may be measured
| by the following instances:
IperedIe
First Credit Nobiller exposure Sept T. 1872 900
Presidents message and opening of Congress, Dec.
Nomination Of HAYES. June H. 1875 500
Nomination Of TLDES. June 20 1876 1000
Fraudulent inauguration of HAYES March g. 1877 900
Nomination OF GARTIELD June g. 1890 ........... 900
Nomination of HANcock June 25 1880. ........ 900
HAScocE mass meeting and parade. Sept "a 1880 900
Inauguration Of GARFIELD, March s. 1881 1900
coSKLNo and PLAT resign. May IT. 1881 1000
Four great riots have increased the circula-
ton Of THE Sun as follows:
| Jnrr,1t,