Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-06
Belfast Journal.
ABOUT ADVERTISING.

ABOUT ADVERTISING.
The newspapers do great deal Of ad-
vertisinR for which they neither expect
nor receive direct pecuniary return.
They point out fields for emigration. en-
terprise and capital, they lend helping
hand to infant industries, and they direct
streams of travel to sections before neg
lected. Aroostook would not be 90 pros
porous as it is to-day had not the news
papers extensively advertised its fertile
soil and other natural resources nor
would Mt. Desert have its thousands OF
summer visitors, cottages and villas, and
its mammoth hotels, had it not been for
the work of editors and correspondents.
Another illustration of the value Of
this gra,uitous advertising is fosnd in
the publication in recent number Of the
Boston Sunday Herald of description
of the neglected water power at Rum
ford Falls in this State. These falls,
the grandest in Maine, were unknown to
the tourist. while their practical cspabil-
l,ies had been forgotten. Now there is
said to be boom in real estate in that
vicinity, with a probability, at least, that
this fine wsterpower, will be utilized at
no distant day, and thus contribute to
the material wealth of the State.
The local newspapers are generally &C.
cepted as a reflex of the communities in
which they are published. A live enter
prising and prosperous newspaper is the
best possible advertisement for town or
city. Ii indicates that the constituency
it represents is also alive, en,erprising
and prosperous. And for evidences of
this the advertising columns will be ex-
amined by those abroad, and from them,
mainly, will be formed an estimate Of the
place. The advertisements furnish also
on importan, part of the historical record
made by long established newspaper
record no less interesting than valuable.
Charles Dudley Warner says. in his es-
say on The American Newspaper Il
look to see advertisements shorter, print
ed with less display, and more numerous.
In addition 10 the use now made Of
the newspapers by the classes called 'ad-
vertisers, | expect it to become the handy
medium Of the entire public, the means
Of ready communication in regard to all
wants and exchanges" The changes in
dicsted by Mr.. Warner would certainly
add 10 the usefulness and interest Of
newspapers and prove beneficial to pub
lie and publisher. While the journal
has in the aggregate as much advertising
a. il can conveniently make room for
without encroaching upon It's reading
columns, il would be glad TO have more
local advertising, divided among great
er number Of local advertisers. thus en-
abling it to dispense in part or wholly
with foreign advertisements. The Gar
diner Home journal expresses our views
when it says: Every trader ought TO
advertise, to some extent, at least, if no
more than even so tina; his name may be
seen as a directory to outsiders.
In conversation the other evening q
gentleman Of this city, who takes an ac-
tive interest in its prosperity, expressed
the opinion that the extensive advertising
of Mr.. Geo. W. Burkett in the columns
of the journal the past few years had
not only been OF great benefit to the dry
goods business OF the place. but to other
lines OF trade. These advertisements, he
remarked, have brough, customers to
Belfast who would not have come other
wise, and when here their purchases were
seldom confined to single establish
ment. Mr.. Burke,t has found this ad-
yer,ising profitable to himself; but this
disinteresied testimony to the etfec, that
he has at the same time benefited the
business Of the city generally will no
douS be surprise to him. as it was at
first to US. We are convinced, however,
of the correctness of the statement. That
advertising is beneficial to communities
as well as to individuals, there can be no
doubt.