The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-01-16
AN EXPLANATION

reduced in size. This reduction i:
not made from choice, by any means
but frnm necessity, hence we con
ceive thata due regard tor III obi
cations to the public demands o.
us an explanation of the causes
which have led to this change. The
bushes IS of publishing II newspaper Is
governed by the same laws that gov
ern other enterprises. II a man puts
a given amount of capital in a bust
ness. and it fails to pay under
fair management, he will, if lie is
prudent, withdraw a portion OF his
investment and conduct bis business
upon a smaller scale. The same
business rule or law governs
ne xspaper publishing. If the pub
l,shtrs issue a paper which
requires a greater outl'y of money
10 conduct 1t than he receives from
it's patrons, he is compelled to lesson
ills expenses ~ %curtailing its dlinen'
sions, or go into bankruntry. This
is tie situation of the MINER. Its
advertising patronage does not justl-
fy the publication of a larger PAPER.
And as its publ hers cannot aft'rsi
to run it at a loss to themselves they
are forced to the necessity OF trim
ming it down to the demands upon
its space. For the same reason our
evening contemporary, the Inter
Mountain also cuts down its size.
We regret very much, being forced
to this step. The MINER is the Oldest
paper in the county. It's history is a
part of the history of Butte. 1t has
advertised its great resources, advo'
Gated its interests and, it a
say without egotism, contrib
uted largely to its prosperity
and in maintaining its Importance
rs a mining center. Knowing that
the intelligence, enterprise and re-
sources of a town or city is gagged,
in a great measure, by the outside
world by TIE size and general make
up of its newspapers, the MINER
Publishing Co. has always aimed,
and we are assured has succeeded, to
present to the world a journal re-
spectacle in size and replete with
t%elegraphic, original and miscellane-
Gus matter. In fact tnere il not a
city in the West of the size of Butte
which can show a daily newspaper
containing the same amount Of for
eign and domestic, original and mis-
celianeous news, than has been con-
tanned in the MINER during the past
two or three years. This fact alone
this showing of its newspapers, has
been the most telling advertisement
that could be sent abroad for Butte.
But its newspapers cannot afford
to continue this free advertising I'M
less they receive a fair of
support from the business mel, of
Butte. Do the newspapers receive
that support? A glance at their ad-
vertising columns will answer the
question. These remarks are not
made in a complaining spirit for we
live in a flee country and men a !
conduct their business as they see
proper. But we submit the question
to the candid consideration of the bus
mess men If Butte if their W inter-
ests would not be better subserved
by extending to their newspapers an
increased patronage? We would
here say to our outside patrons
the large reduction we have
made in the size OF the MINER
should not be taken as evidence that
there is any falling oil in the legiti-
mate business of the city, or that the
great industry Of the place has re-
q check. On the contrary
he leading houses report a
increase over the bust
less OF a year ago, and our
assessment rolf indicates a decided
advance in u material prosperity.
That this has been brought about by
he faithful labors of the press none
deny. That having brought it
about the press should be deserted 10y .
hose whom il has prospered none
will admit.