The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-20
CONCERNING ADVERTISING PRoPo.
SITIONS.
SEATTLE, June 10, 1891.


SEATTLE, June Is fsef
To TEE Eprros. How much money are the
people of the state OF Washington paying for
the special edition of the Chicago GrspAicf So
far as can be estimated, $25sooo would not touch
the mark In view OF the somewhat stringent
financial condition IL seems 10 me very peril
ne1t query il whether the game ID worth the
candle This inquiry might well be made even
ii this was an enterprise On the part OF H1ypr's
or L<xliss, either OF which publications has .
better standing and wider influence than the
GrapkSc
If this expedition had been undertaken a an
exhibition of enterprise en- the part Of the pub
fishers. for the purpose OF presenting fair and
impartial exposition Of the advantages this
state possesses for new brains, Drawn and money,
the people OF Washington could not have shown
TOO much encouragement But the Graphic
Publishing Company is not wealthy enough
corporation 10 uphold so expensive an under
taking for the sole purpose OF pleasing its
patrons and the present expedition seems TO
be nothing more than 9 foraging expedition.
The publishers are exhibiting enterprise for
revenue only.
It's to be hoped that this particular edition Of
the Grapkse viii be q worthy one There can be
little question but that the members of this
special SAT- VIII do their best, though they
SEEM 90 BE advertising solicitors rather than
Literary fellers Il il probable. also. that this
edition viii turn the attention OF some worthy
people toward this state. but, in my mind, not
in degree Sufficient 10 warrant such an expen-
ditlre OF money. Now, am q strong believer
in the bensfcent results OF iudicious sdyertis-
ing and an ready at all times 10 consider the
sdyisshiIity Of inserting my advertisement in
any foreign publication, but ascertain the ex-
tent and Character Of circulation and then de-
terraine whether that particular paper or maya
zine reaches the people want 70 reach in num-
Der sufficient 20 more than bring me back my in
vestuent Because Of this have not been able
10 acknowledge that the state OF Washington has
prodted By the hundreds OF advertising sfakes
that have been imposed upon the people in the
las. few years Eastern publishers have seemed
TO regard the people of the Northwest as lot of
boobies 20 be captured for the trouble Of knock
ing them over with club. Every succeeding
publication Is the same old story On one page
/ read that seattle has the finest harbor in the
world" On the next page read thai "Fair-
haven has the finest hArbor in the world" and
on the third page ! read that "Edmonds
has the finest hsrbor In the world" When
/ pay my 50 cents or q dollar Q line
for this statement, think my money Is about
thrown away. ! begin TO realize that the man
who puts credence in any one Of those stories
has . mind OF unparalleled elasticity. At the
same time I may feel that the edition Of the
paper containing this misleading misinforma-
ton viii have O circulation Large enough 70
warrant me in spending dollar or two TO let .
part of the world know that am still doing
business at the old stand.
Within the last few days have heard of more
than one city in the state whose business mem
viii pay 81 so into the Grophics treasury. Ny
dear sir, If they don't put their hands deep into
their pockets their enterprising city viii be
wiped Of the map and the rival town Just across
the bay win be made to spread over hundred
square miles OF territory, and its name be
printed in letters SO big that he who runs may
read. Now, much can be done ct home with
81 500, and all OF the money need not be sent
away. For $50 2.o00 pamphlets may Be
printed This pamphlet viii not contain few
'.glitfering generalities" about how the harbor
surpasses anything of the kind in the world,
and few other kindred statements, but viii
be a full exposition of the merits OF the
city and viii show on its face that it 10 truss
though perhaps slightly colored picture OK
| what q stranger may expect to find. Il win say
all that the paid article in foreign publication
will say and have room for q thousand things
more. The remaining 81 900 will pay for an adj
vertisement sufficient TO inform people that this
pamphlet can be had upon application by mail,
| in every paper or company represented in the
| Graphic psrty-not only for one issue. but for Q
| month. Then if anyone sends Tor the PAM
| phlet, he will be apt 10 read it. Such advertis-
| ing ought TO result in the beneficial distribu-
| ton of the entire edition of the pamphlet Or
that 81 800 would buy 5000 to 5000 copies OF
! the local newspaper TO be scattered broadcast
| over the country and the money would not be
| expended in allowing the rival town across the
bay 10 yaunt its super iority, either actual or
! pretended.
! Perhaps when man contributes money 10 the
| Graphic fund or to any other fund of like char
scter he understands what he is 10 receive in re-
| turn II is given out that the agents now in
| the state represent about 5000 newspapers.
nan Efst 81 ha
| dozen trade journal and four thousand nine
| hundred and eighty-odd ''patent insides," the
| "patent insides" being printed by three cooper.
| alive newspaper concerns in Chicago These
| patent insides, IN the aggregate, have a large
| Circulation ana offer q cheap and profitable
| medium of advertising for certain wares Rut
| how much space is TO be covered in these
patent insides" papers? How much Isudstion
| of glorious Washington? II takes money 10
| print the high-sounding eulogiums OF the real
| estate boomer, and the printers of this half az
the country paper would find their patronage
| dwindle to nothing ii they devoted their entire
| space TO what would appear on its face as "naid
| reading matter"
If the Graphic people will only saw inst VIA.
is to be DONE the advertiser contributor 10 the
| fund may reckon the cost and guess IT the rs-
| turns. Unless this matter is put on q fair busi-
ness basis, Isubmit that the money would be fsr
| better spent At home or saved for something
| .SAS fL'-AsHs' AAe AuAsoKne 'write-up''
| doesn't do much good. Seattle has tried IL in
| several instances; 50 have other cities in ,hs
| state, and residents and industries have failed
| to materialize or be forthcoming The .writs-
| mp" may have caught the eye momeutariIy Of
the regular subscriber 10 the paper, who has
passed over II with wish. perhaps accom-
/ panied with curse, that the publisher would
furnish more reading matter and not SO uuch
advertising, or II may have been promiscuously
/ wasted III distribution among peopie who navsr
| thought of coming 10 Washington and neva- win
| think OF IL The ''write-up'' is usually n,,r-
| chased in large numbers and the same means
must be taken to distribute il as TO Distribute a
| pamphlet published at home And Phi. i.
pretty expensive advertising matter The
money would better be turned over to the local
/ or state boards Of trade W.surx.-o>,.~,
THE NEED OF A CENTRAL PARK.