Year: 1869

The New York Journal of Commerce,
dwelling on the fact that during the past
thirty five years no less than ffty-five
daily papers have been started in the
city of New York, lived short time.
and then died for want of adequate sup
port, after having sunk millions of dol
lars, moralizes in this instructive vein


ssThe reasons why not more than one
out Of (say) fifty daily newspapers sue
ceed, are not generally understood
If they were, instances would be fewer
of the sinking of fortunes in the unavail
ing attempt to found daily-a waste Of
money as literal and complete as if the
owner had burned it in his parlor CRATE.


The first and greatest difficulties is
the want Of sufficient means Upon this
point, which has been frequently eluci-
dated, we will barely touch. To run a
first class daily and only such stand the
least chance Of surviving in the strug-
gle for existence) costs not far from
81, ZOO day, even with moderate
circulation. This rate of expenditure
takes frightful daily bites out of the cap
ital and, unless the protector has the
purse Of a Stewart. Astor or Vanderbilt
he cannot stand the inroad upon his
funds for many months, or weeks, or
O8YS. AuOuX PTOIcoSlOudl ucWcSPdpCI
men in this city the cash in hand requir
ed to give q first class newspaper q
chance of life is estimated at from . half
to three-qarters of million. Its fail
ure, without such q sum at its back
which is prepared to invest boldly and
sapaciously--is certain It's success af,
ter the money has been all spent, in the
wisest and most judicious manner, is
still highley problematical. Unless all
the circumstances favor the undertaking
--if there is weakness or want of tact
development at any stage of it--no
amount of money can put daily paper
in profitable operation in this city
The failing newspapers are usually
brought up with round turn before
many tens of thousands have been sunk.
The hackers become alarmed land back
out: If the new concern is q stock com.
pany, the subscribers to share pay one
or two Of the assessments, and then for
felt what they have invested rather than
lose more. Only in q few cases are
men so plucky--or perhaps we should
say so foolish--as to go on wasting
full half million before abandoning their
illadvised newspaper scheme. Discour-
agement and disgust commonly super
vene by the time that $50, 900 or $780,
600 have vanished in the yawning gulf.


The editor then goes ON to show that
the newspaper business differs from
most others in the fact that when once
established it can be indefinitely extend
ed, with no risk and but little extra
| trouble, and then adds


The promising field of frst-class
daily newspaper being already occupied
no new journal can command great
success, except by taking away some
subscribers from other papers. This is
| very difficult thing to do. It never
| can be done except in case where the


paper to be supplanted wantonly and


presistently neglects the interest or
abuses the confdenc of its subscribers.
| So long rs it pursues just, honorable


and judicious course, meeting the wants
of it's customers in al orl most respects


the ties of friendship between the sub


scriber and tue paper are as hard to
break by any outside third party as the
links which bind old friends in business
| or social life. Occasional defects and


errors, if such there be, in newspaper


are overlooked by those who have be>


come attached to it through its daily
persual for years. They may sometimes
become dissatisfied with it on account
of something which has slipped into its


columns, and stop taking it; but the


absence of the familiar sheet at there


house or office for q few days becomes


an insupportable deprivation, and they


hasten to take it again, and possibly to


apologize for having stopped it. This


we believe to be a common experience
in the history of all established news


papers. No friendship on earth is more
| cOuataut than that c0ntractpd hv the
4 reader for a journal which makes an hon.
est and earnest effort to merit his con-


tinued support.


A meeting to appoint delegates from