The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-09-28
PAPER FAMINE AND PRICES.

ouslv threatens the life of large num-
Der of publications throughout the coun-
try and greatly lessons the prohts OF
others.
1t is doubtful if any other large
industry in the United States has had
to face so serious a situation, because
when prices Of raw materials have ad-
vanced the manufacturers OF the M
ished products have advanced their
prices and thus thrown the burden on
the ultimate consumer. In the news
paper business this has not yet been
done. The newspapers, from the larg-
est dailies to the smallest week.-Mrs., have
been bearing the burden which to many
publications will mean complete de>truc-
ton and to many others the wiping out
of all profit.
Had the newspapers of the country
been as prompt to defend their own
interests as they have the interests Ct
others, they, too, would before this have
undertaken to save themselves by an
advance in subscription prices and in
advertising rates. Under existing con-
ditions they will be forced to do this
sooner or later, and they cannot post
pone it much longer without serious
Va
them. Hundreds Of the smaller week.
lies, including the religious papers,
| which have had but q very narrow mar
gin between loss and profit, will, we
| fear, suffer most seriously, and many OF
them disastrously, unless the public
promptly recognizes the situation and
| accepts an advance in subscription and
in advertising rates and thus saves the
situation.
The day laborer, the mechanic, the
farmer and nearly all business interests,
manufacturing and mercantile, under
the activity of the times, are showing
larger earnings than for years. But the
newspapers, u a whole, are meeting a
more perplexing problem in the douc-
ling, and in some cases the trebling, OF
price of paper, and in the absolute ina
bility to contract in advance for sup
plies, than they have ever had to face
before. The statements which have
recently appeared in the daily papers
on the subject do not at all exaggerate
the seriousness OF the problem.
The foregoing appeared in the Man
ufacturers' Record now more than 3
month ago. 1t clearly reflects the stu
alton that confronts the newspapers Of
the Union, and more particularly the
publishers Of country weeklies. The
Manufacturers Record is published il
Baltimore and is the leading trade anc
industrial periodical of the South. it,
editors are in position to be familiar
with the situation here discussed.
The Record says that under existing
conditions publishers will be forced t.
advance their rates, "and they canno
postpone it much longer without seriou
financial EN- barrassment to many.
Recognizing the necessity OF the ad
, vance, the management Ct the Banner i
to-day's issue announces new sub
scription rate OF $50 per year, to DC
r come effective January /, 1917. Tn
8 new rate is not announced to becom
operative at once for the reason that
, has always been contrary to the Ban
. ner's policy to make any change in rat
o without first giving notice of such as ia
in advance as possible. The change
!. cash in advance for subscriptions wa
freely advertised in the columns of tn
Banner for twelve months prior to il
o becoming effective, aud could we hay
~ looked that far ahead such would hay
:, been the case in this instance.
For several months past publishes
generally have suspected the necessit
- for advanced subscription rates W;
. coming and during tie month CT Augu
, the writer and the then editor and pre-
r. prietor of the Banner discussed Il
!; matter. He regretted the necessity fl
= the change from the old rate that had {
o long held good, but agreed that the
~ was no other solution of the situation
About that time the matter was aga
- referred to in en- advertisement in tt
,e Banner, which was kept standing fl
,e five weeks.
N The Banner has been published
Bossier Parish for many years, has wi
messed many changes in the prices
the staple products offered for sale
: the South, and has its IF sold for var,
q ing prices. Its original su6scriptit
IL price was s. Per year. At one time
: subscription rates were: One year, $
of six months, So; three months, g. tt
: change to the dollar rate has be-
i gradual. Perhaps the declining price
= cotton brought it about. And now tn
the residents of the parish are on
!, more selling lucent cotton, no obje
~ ton should be made to this announc
r advance in the price of subscription.