Cañon City record., 1910-01-27

The Record office the other day to
say "I was interested in that story
OF the Greeley newspaper situation.
1t presented some new views to me
about this Newspaper business and
/ heartily commend the business men
of Greeley. The idea Is one that bus
iness men should consider and adopt.
The man was right
The subject is one most business
men in the west have thought very lit
tie about. But it's worth thinking
over.
Is a town better OFF with two. three
or four newspapers?
At first thought one might think
this is a matter of interest to news
papers only.
But as a matter of fact, 1t is of vast
ly more Importance to the business
man himself.
In the banking business there is a
given amount of business definite
amount of deposits. In Canon City
the total deposits approximate 81
100000. This would be exactly the
same whether there were two, three
or four banks. The consolidation OF
the two banks was a fine thing for the
capital invested and a good thing for
all concerned. To increase the num-
Der of banks would merely divide the
business up and make the business
less profitable. and less desirable to
all, but would not tax the community
to a perceptibly greater extent.
The same can be said OF the grocery
business. The people OF Canon City
eat about so many groceries. A new
grocery store would not Increase the
sale OF groceries. II would merely
draw trade from the already estab-
lished stores.
And the same can be said of the
lumber business. the clothing stores.
and most every business IN town.
But not so with the newspaper bus
mess.
The chief income OF a newspaper Is
from subscriptions and advertising.
There is no definite demand for these.
The demand is created largely by sug-
gestion and solicitation. The busi-
ness is most all talked up" business.
figures about $1,000 10 $4,000 worth
Of business a year to support a good
weekly paper In Canon City. And
more than twice that for a daily. Yet
II all the papers in Canon City were
10 suspend publication. except The
Record. the business OF The Record
would not increase perceptibly
Here is the reason Most of the peo-
pie take all the papers. II all sus-
pended except The Record. even then
The Record could not hope to gain
hundred new subscribers.
Most all the advertisers use all the
papers. If all others suspended The
Record could hardly gain $50 a month
in advertising.
So you see the number of papers in
town is not so very vital to the
established papers of a town.
But an overabundance of newspa-
pers is a heavy tax on the business
public.
Suppose Canon City had a fourth
newspaper. II could not under the
most favorable circumstances draw
$1,000 worth of business away from
The Record-and even on a ten pcr
cent. profit basis this is not very
vital matter. II probably would not
draw 500 away.
But II IT existed II would have TO
make for itself-force from he btsi-
ness public-a business OF from $4,000
to $4,000 year. This wouli be a
direct tax on the business nen-the
men on Main street A tax for which
absolutely no value would he given
in return-as the field is already more
than fully covered.
Political factions start newspapers
and the business men pay the bills
We're Il not for political factions-and
unfair editors. one Newspaper would
serve town ~ we'll ~ moro. Two Il
always an abundance. three TOO many
and -four reckless extravagsnco that
few towns can stand up against.