The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13
THE CosT OF MAGAZINES.
The Retail Price Not an Indication of
the Publfshers' Outlay.
Critic Lounger.

~ AToulSSI.
In the present increase of cheap maya
zines it Is well to remember that those
which are made up in the regular magazine
size and form, with covers, are sold when
they retail at 10 cents at not much more
than the cost of paper and printing, that
they contain hardly half the amount of
magazines, and that at least one-half of
the expense of the latter periodicals is the
them and the editorial supervision which
provides it. The great features which have
made American magazines famous through
lower-priced periodicals. Not a number of
HarperS or the Century goes to press with
out an expenditure of from six to ten thou
Cheap illustrative processes have been de-
veloped of late, but nothing has yet been
found to approach wood engraving in re-
producing the subtler forms of art. Har-
pers and the Century use photo-engraving
processes for some of their pictures, but the
engraving for many of them. The series
of reproductions of the work of the great
masters of painting which the Century is
publishing never could be equaled by phto-
engraving. These pictures are made by Mr..
Timothy Cole, the most eminent wood en-
most ten years in Europe studying the old
masters and reproducing them with his
each-s1O a square inch. A photo-engrav-
ing could be made for a thirtieth of this
sum. but it would not compare in delicacy
with Mr.. Coles exquisite production.
Important historical and biographical
works, such as the Century's War Papers
and its Life of Lincoln, are the result of
capital as well as foresight. Upon the War
Papers more than 100000 was expended
and the authors of the Lincoln life were
paid $4,000 for the serial rights. Joseph
Jefferson received $1,000 a month for his
autobiography, and the pictures which ac-
companied it cost even more. The leading
authors like to have their best work APP
pear in the leading magazines and hence
fury and Scribner's have their pick of ten
thousand manuscripts a year. Their pub
fishers are able to organize and send out
costly expeditions, the results of which are
often of worldwide Importance and in
terest. The Century now has expeditions in
various parts of the world pursuing in
vestigations, the results of which, it is
expected, will be no less important than
were those of Mr.. Kennan's famous journey
through Siberia.
l don't know what the Harpers paid for
'"Trilby," but / will venture to say that
for the story and the Illustrations they
press and engravings for a ten-cent maya
zine for a year. Then take the editorial
department of Harpers, which covers but
a few pages and is Illustrated, this alone
involves an expenditure of at least $40, coo
a year in salaries, not including that of the
35 cents, a Decent magazine is worth 10.
Twenty-Five cents is as little as a really
high class" magazine can be sold for
and pay its expenses. Scribner's costs at
least II cents a copy to
ing out the cost of contributions and Illus
The Cosmopolitan at it's present price, it
will not be on its subscriptions. He himself
understands this and looks to his advertis-
ing pages for his profits.