Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-11-06
NEWSPAPERS RAISE RATES.

The newspapers are up against
1t" in the matter of the cost of
issuing their papers. In addition
to the upward tendency in the
amount paid to printers and others
employed in newspaper Offices, the
paper trust by an arbitrary in
crease in the price of paper has
put tax Of from $4,000, 900 to
$4,000, 900 year upon the news
papers. This is a very heavy
burden a burden that takes away
every dollar of profit many news
papers have been making and i'm
some instances forces such close
economy as TO almost cut to blood
In addition, the railroad companies
about two years ago changed the
classification of paper used by all
weeklies chat is favorite trick of
increasing freight rates 10y indirec-
tom SO that freight rates are much
higher. The cost of type and
metal and everything that goes
into the production of a newspaper
adds to the burden. In the case
of most North Carolina newspapers
this increased expense must cause
an increase in the price of sub
scription because the advertising
field is so limited little increase
can come from advertising. In
the big cities, some of this ex-
pense can be borne by increased
advertising rates, but that is very
difficult even with papers whose
circulation goes up TO the hundreds
OF thousands. The penny city
papers have always lost money on
circulation but recouped in adver-
Using. They are now considering
reducing the number of pages of
the paper. Those that have been
making big money can 90 ahead
without increasing subscription
price by reducing the size of the
paper and other economies, but
those that have had narrow mar
gin face hard business problem.
In North Carolina two of tho
dailies have announced an increase
in subscription price-the Fayette-
vile observer from four To six
dollars and the Wilson Times has
increased from four TO five dollars.
In announcing the increase the
Observer says:
For the past few years the cost
of everything that enters into the
production of the Observer has in
creased at a rate of from 10 per cent
to over 100 per cent. In the past
two years the cost of the Observers
telegraph service alone has been
increased Just 100 per cent, and,
not counting anything for the
editorial and business departments
of the paper. the total cost of pro-
duclng it has increased by a per-
centage not quite 100. We have
held out against an increase as LONG
as possible; but that step now be-
comes necessary in justice TO all
concerned"
The Statesville Mascot and Con
cord Times, both semi weekly
papers, have found it necessary to
increase their subscription price
from one dollar to one dollar and
fifty cents. They really ought to
get two dollars year and would get
1t if they received proper compen-
sation.
These increases are made be-
cause the publishers find it neces-
sary. The public should recognize
this and gladly pay the additional
amounts charged, knowing that
even then there are no such profits
a. hrforrthe priccssoared sky-high.
li~'>e papers that have large local
advertising aud can increase the
advertising rates nay not increase
Iic subscription rice, but they are
comparatively few in number.
The others mus; increase the price
If subscription or reduce expenses.
Il isa hard problem before them.-
Raleigh On. CO News and Observer.
COST OF REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.