The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-11-14
Newspapers Up Against 1t.
Raleigh News-Observer.

Raleigh News-Observer.
The newspapers are cup againstit"
in the matter of the cost of issuing
their papers. In addition to the up
ward tendency in the amount paid
to printers and Others employed in
newspaper offices, the paper trust by
an arbitrary increase in the price OF
paper has put a tax of from $1O,-
900, 900 to $12, 100000 a year upon
the newspapers. This is a heavy
burden-a burden that takes away
every dollar of profit many news
papers have been making and in
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 (that is "a favorite trick of
increasing freight rates by indirec-
tion) so that freight rates are much
higher. The cost OF type and metal
and everything that goes into the
production Of newspaper adds to
the burden. In the case of most
North Carolina newspapers, this in
creased expense must cause an in
crease in the price of subscription
because the advertising field is so
limited little increase can come from
advertising. In the big cities, some
of this expense can be borne by in
creased 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 circula.
tion but recouped in advertising.
They are now considering reducing the
nu.nb ofpages 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 a narrow
margin face a hard business problem
In North Carolina two of the dailies
have announced an increase in sub
scription price-the Fayetteville Oh
server from four to six dollars anC
the Wilson Times has increased from
four to five dollars. In announcing
the increase the Observer says:
) For the past few years the cost t
every thing that enters in the production
of the Observer has increased at a rat,
of from 10 per cent. to over 100 per cent
, In the past two years the cost OF the Oh
. servers telegraph service alone has beer
. increased just 100 per cent, and, no
counting any thing for the editorial AIT
business departments OF the paper, tn
q total cost OF pr oducting it has Increases
: BIZ a percentage not quite 100. We hav
r held out against an increase as long a
possible; but that step now become
necessary in justice to all concerned"
The Statesvilie Mascot and Con
$ cord Times, both semi-weekly papers
have found it necessary to increas
their subscription price from on
dollar to one dollar and fifty cents
They really ought to get two dollar
year and wound get it if they re
ceived proper compensation.
These increases are made becaus
the publishers find it necessary. I'll
public should recognize this an
gladly pay the additional amount
cilargeI, knowing that even the
there are no such profits as befo
the prices scared sky-high. Thoi
papers that have large local adve
tisements and canincrease the ad re
tising rates may not increase Il
subscription price but they are cor
paratively few in number. The OF
ers must increase the price of su
scription or reduce expenses. 1t is
problem before them.