The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-12
n REASON o 1T.

IT6 nEH00jN FOn w., ~
Many OF the newspapers OF tn
state have een fit to comment on tn,
suspension of the daily edition of TIL,
Gazette. Some of them have a pro
per grasp of the situation existin.
here, and some Of them have not, bu-
all regret the occurrence of the prin
cipal facial least they profess to re
greet it. The Great Falls Tribune is
n of those that has something t(
say concerning the matter. In the
opinion OF that paper Billings is
large enough to support a daily pa
per, and there ought to be enterprise
among the people sufficient for that
support"
Once upon a time the publishers
OF The Gazette had the same opinion
and proceeded to give form to it by
launching out on the daily field. Like
the Tribune they believed the city
was large enough and it's people enter
prising enough to give the support
needed to make the venture a sue
cess. Heavy expenses we're incurred
in establishing a daily such as they
believed the city needed and would
maintain. But they began to realize
the mistake about as soon as it was
commit ed. Praise, while acceptable,
especially if received in the conscious
ness that it's bestowal is merited.
and promises were freely given, but
the more substantial requisite neces-
sary to the successful conducting of
any business involving large expendi-
lures vas not forthcoming. For
months publication was continued at
an absolute loss, buoyed by the hope
that a change would occur and tina.
less red ink would be required to edit
the ledger. But neither happy event
t%ranspired and then a curtailment OF
expense was resorted to. The costly
Geographic service was dispensed
with. Coincident with this change
another was made. The price OF sub
scription was reduced and from the
ambition OF publishing a modern, up.
to-date newspaper covering the gen
eral news field OF the world the pub
fishers stepped down to the plane of
giving their readers a purely local
paper, n keeping them informed on
the current events transpiring at
home. The success that attended this
venture vas no greater than that
which followed the more ambitious
n and after a fair trial it was re-
solved to be content with the original
publication-twice a week-and The
Gazette is back once more where it
began.
l. Billings will not support a daily
newspaper, that is one published at
home, no matter how liberal it's peo-
pie may be with their support of for
eign publications. The Gazette has
tried it and knows whereof it speaks.
Now that they no longer have a home
daily some of the people of the city
are inclined to find fault with the pub
fishers and say 1.-The town should
have a daily newspaper" Much as
they regret 1t, the publishers of The
Gazette cannot agree with them. The
support given a paper of that kind
is entirely incommensurate with the
outlay necessary for it's production.
Until a change occurs and the prospect
is vastly different than it now ap,
pears Billings will have to get along
with its present newspapers. But
even under the existing conditions,
with the exception of the larger cit
les OF the state, such as Butte, Hell
ena, Great Falls, Missoula and Ana
conda, Billings has the hest newspaper
service OF any town in Montana.
Places as prosperous and large as
Livingston n Bozeman have only
weeklies. while here publication is as
often as twice a week and the circula-
t;Hn extends I've a greater field, thus
aHording advertisers exceptional med
inms for reaching a great number
OF readers, extending ever an I'M.
mense area.
Having observed for a long time