The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-06-18
TO OUR PATRONS.

II is with a great deal of reluctance
that We APPROACH a subject upon which
We would far rather remain silent as
it has to do with the steadily in
crease in the price of printing mater
ial. and the absolute necessity of re-
vising a scale of prices that has I'M
dergone little or no change in this
office. Notwithstanding the increased
drain to keep up stock. We have held
off announcing any increase in char
ges hoping that the paper market
would adjust itself in time and re-
turn to prewar prices. or something
near them. Instead. We are constantly
not be held to quoted prices from
week to week. NJ because they feared
that prices might 60 down but always
in anticipation OF a further rise. In
every other line Of business in the
universe the dealer or purchaser
passes the buck to the public except
the average country printer. who lives
largely on hope and sees his receipts
shrivel as he meets his monthly bills.
This is neither business. nor justice
to himself and those dependent upon
him. II we are to continue in business
We must receive compensation suffi-
cient to meet the increased cost of
production. That increase will be
slight. but sufficient for the present
to balance the high prices Of mater
;ofu uann> ma dnztrn - onHapnaa
that on and after July l, 1920. the rate
of advertising will be increased to IS
! cents per running inch per issue. This
is only a slight advance owe present
prices. This does not necessarily
NEAR that those who are giving US
generous support are requested to pay
into the office more money. but the
size OF the space occupied will be re-
duced to correspond with the elevated
charge. unless the patron is willing
to accept the inevitable and pay more.
That iiberality would be appreciated,
but is not demanded. BY that means
the space occupied by advertising will
permit the publication of four pages,
and that will conserve the rapidly de-
creasing supply of white paper. This
Is the reason:
Saturday We received a bill for
white paper that murdered sleep with
nightmares Of financial disaster. The
bill was for $l23.s4. June 10, 1916 the
same amount of paper came to $4S. 4S.
The paper that We were called upon
TO pay for was ordered so days ago.
The same paper IL ordered today
would COS s172.s0. So it can be seen
that the outlook for the smaller pa
pers in rather dismal, and an increase
in prices is simply a matter of self
preservation. In this connection we de-
sire to ask every subscriber to scru-
tinize the label on their paper which
indicates what date it is paid up to.
Those who are behind are notified that
If the subscription is not paid up with
in a reasonable time the paper will
be discontinued. We have no desre to
work a hardship upon any n but
our stock Of paper must be nursed in
the face of the growing scarcity of the
article, and ballooning prices.
We trust this explanation, almost an
apology, for performing a duty to
ourselves. will be accepted by our
patrons in a kindly and generous
spirit. and that they will realize that
our action is a forced put
1t should be understood that the
change of prices does not affect our
standing contracts that still have short
periods to run