The suburban citizen., 1902-05-31
MYSTERIOUS NEWSPAPER SYMBOLS
why the Number $50" is Conspicuous at
Journalists Funeral.

Journalists Funeral.
When a newspaper reporter, q print
er, or a telegraph operator is gathered
to his fathers, among the floral tributes
from his fellow-craftsmen there Is
quite certain to be seen at least one
in which the number "30' figures prom.
inently. The Offering may represent
broken column, or harp, OF the gates
ajar or a pillow, or any other Of the
numerous designs appropriate to such
occasions; but whatever it is, this mys'
tic number is, almost without eXcep'
ton, made an important part Of the
design, and its presence is the cause
of much curiosity on the part OF the
uninitiated.
The expression $50" in newspaper
and telegraphic parlance signifies "The
End" When a reporter turns in his
last batch of copy for the day to the
city editor he simply says "30;" when
the days telegraphlc news report is
finished the Associated Press operator
clicks "30'' to the operator in the news
paper Office, and the latter indiTdual
transmits $50" to- the telegraph editor;
when each department has completed
its labors for the day 1t sends the magic
"30' to the editor-in charge, and when
this functionary has satisfied hlmself
that all is well he signals "90'' to the
foreman of the composing room,
whence it travels to the makeup"
men, the stereotypers, and the press
men-and another issue Of a great
newspaper is ready for the delectation
of an admiring constituency.
But sithough $50" is so commonly
used in newspaper and telegraph offices
in the sense of conclusion, there are
very few, even among the oldest men
in either business, who know its ori.
gin. One tradition says that long ago
when the news report closed at 11.30
p. M, the signal $50" was given to in
dicate that this time had arrived. An
other legend states that in the early
days OF the Associated Press the re-
port was limited to thirty sheets, and
the telegraph operator used the figures
to show that the thirtieth and last
page had been reached. The truth,
however, seems to be that the origin
Of the term dates back to the early
days Of telegraphy, when a code of
figure signals was arranged for the
purpose of economizing time. Thus
"3'' was made to signify what time is
it" "5,' "have you anything for mep
"13," 1 understands" "30," "the end;"
1873" answer paid" "44," ''wire an
swer immediately" "73," "accept my
compliments" Therefore, when the
telegraphic news service was insti-
tuted, $50" was naturally used to des-
ignate the conclusion of the report,
and consequently it became known and
was adopted in newspaper offices as
expressing the end of everything so far
as each days issue Of the paper is
concerned.
Another signal frequently useG in
newspaper telegraphy is "95," which
means Every important" In the sum-
mer of '9S when the wires were con-
stantly crowded with war news, the
manager of the Associated Press sent
almost daily to that organizations
correspondents throughout the Unite"
States the following message:
Nothing but 95 till 30."
Which mysterious message, when
translated into ordinary English, was
found to contain these instructions:
"File no news unless Of the greatest
importance until the end of the day
report. ."-Profitabl Advertising.