The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06
G'n13:

JOHN A. cocKEETLL, OF THE NEW YORK "xoRs-
ING ADVERTISER" AND EVENING CONNER
CIAL."
1t is difficult to see how the daily Journal of
news can go much farther into the magazine
field and still be true to its own peculiar mis-
sion. In its literary features alone. which are
superadded to the news features that belong
more properly tn the daily newspaper the sum
DAY Journal IS already superior each week in
variety and general interest of contents to many
monthly magazines. The illustrations that will
commend themselves, IL seems to me, to the con-
ductor OF the newspaper OF the future will he
essentially those which help the letter press 10
describe news events of current interest OF
many such events OF essentially ephemera value
the artists pen or pencil is quite as useful in
presenting an accurate, vivid impression as ia
the pencil of the writer. In this respect, as in
many others, the province of the magazine lies
beyond, though not necessarily above that of
the journal OF the news One attempts to do at
length for the month, the season, or the
year, what the other does briefly for the
day: 1t is not probable, It seems to me,
that there will be any notable change in the
price OF newspapers in the near future. An
eight page daily newspaper sold for cents
marked high achievement ia journalism less
than q decaue ago; fourteen-page newspaper
SOLD Tor the same price now Is no more remark
abe. The ideal newspaper must sell for penny
The size OF the newspaper has been said TO be
susceptible of increase with profit alike to its
publishers and to the reading public just in SO
far as its advertising area increases by natural
means In proportion to its reading matter area
Dub tuat luCIcuse III tue variety ana value OF It's
contents which is warranted exactly in 30 far as
the number of advertising pages keeps pace with
the growth OF the news ana feature pages must
not be an increment of quantity. The editor is
encouraged to give to the public in proportion
as the public gives to his newspaper; and the
conscientious editor who realizes that the duties
OF great newspaper are as many az its prIvi-
leges, ana are greater even than its opportnni-
ties. since opportunities may be made when
they do not appear spontaneously, Will give the
public far more. But he must not weary the
w n
she'll must be his motto
The price OF the daily journal will probably
not be greater and may be less One cent IL the
average to which reductions must be made
There is no immediate prospect, ii seems of the
cost OF paper being less, but the introduction of
type-settiug machines will reduce the cost of
composition, IL is estimated, by % per cent
Any corresponding reduction in the cost of other
departments would of course so reduce the cost
OF producing the whole as TO enable the
publisher to reduce the cost of the news
paper to the public. It is by no means incon-
eeivable that the paper on which a daily journal
could be printed may yet be made out OF bay
Tor example. Any decided cheapening of the
price of paper would afford the publisher the
readiest opportunity to reduce the cost of his
journal.
The great mission of the daily newspaper will
continue 10 be. believe, TO gather and print in
brief the news oil the day. When that news dis
closes lawlessness the editorial influence of the
journal should naturally be directed towards
aiding the proper officers OF the law to supnress
that lawlessness When the condensed diary of
the day reveals an Outrage on the helpless, the
oppression OF the weak, the evasion of a public
duty, the existence of private crime, il at once
becomes the duty OF the newspaper to hold this
wrong doing and crime up to public scorn and
reprobation, and to throw its influence into the
scales OF public Judgment on the side OF truth
and Justice. The news and editorial features
and influence must continue coordinate
In view OF the continuous increase in the
number OF pages IN the daily issue of the blanket
sheet newspapers, il would seem natural that
any change in the size of these pages would be
towards decrease rather than increase The area
OF the page OF the daily journal will scarcely be
reduced so as to approximate TO that of page OF
weekly publication or magazine, for the increase
IN The number OF pages necessarily implies an
Increase OF cost which would not be proportion-
stety diminished by decrease in size. The ul-
innate form OF the daily newspaper will un-
aouptedly be what the public demands since
the pubic good is and should be the whole oS-
!ect OF ITS existence. This would seem to be the
i9ur-page epitome of the news of the night, ably
edited and sold for A penny
ne "a ~ circulation of more than 100000
when had been attained in this country some
time ago warrants the belief that a daily circu-
latton OF hall million is by no means irnnrac
ticable for an American ncvsnsrer with an
increase in the number of fast msiI trains and
with the possible introduction of pneumatic
service tubes in which merchandise and mel
uenlally daily newspapers in bulk could he
dispatched from center like New York so as To
ieacn constituency thousand miles away
IN time Tor the breakfast table Such an
acnievelnent would be quite as wonderful
under our conditions. as is the Circulation nj
the PetG Journal in Paris. which is said TO reach
eight hundred and odd thousand readers. Ger
talnty such result does not now seem more nm
attalhaDie than the present circulation of the
bortd ala ten years ago. Ar increase in the