Year: 1879

Facts not UnderstOcd d by the Public.


A friend asks why it is that the
price OF the newspaper does not
drop with the prices of clothing and
provisions. 1t is a reasonable ques-
ton, and shall have frank answer
The newspapers of the first-class
are better now than they were few
years ago, and the cost of produc-
ing them is more, while their re-
ceipts for advertising are much less
than formerly. The newspapers
have shared u the full extent the
hardness of the times. Few Of them
have made much money since 1878 {;
many of the most important news
papers have been without profit,
some at u loss. Every newspaper in
the country, so far as we know, is
sold at much below its costs-it I
depends wholly upon the advertis-
ing for making up the deficit When
business is poor the newspaper is
the first to feel it.


But for the fact that the price Of
white paper has fallen since the
war, many newspapers would be
compelled to suspend or greatly in
crease their subscription price.
There has been a fall in paper, and
the rates of composition have de
creased-but for these reductions
the newspaper would hardly have
survived. For in most other re-
spects the cost of producing the
newspaper has increased. More is
demanded OF it. The cost of col
lecting news increases every day {;
the telegraph bills are higher than
ever, and would have seemed enor
nous a few years ago; correspon-
dence in journals of the frst-class
Is better and better paid; the ex
pense of the editorial department is
greater, and the labor on it is better
and more varied. If we were to 90
through all the items from tele
graph down to gas bills, the reader
would see why the newspapers can
not afford much, if any, reduction
below present rates, especially when
it is considered that it takes its full
share of bad debts and loss of busi-
ness.- Hartford Courant.


The above is timely and to the
point, but there is one fact which
we wish to emphasize. That is,
that the price of subscription does
not pay the cost of puDlication-es-
pecially in country offices. This is
so, even in good times, and more so
in hard times. Then keeping in
mind the fact that the average
country paper costs the publisher
more than he gets for it, how can a
reduction of price be expected? In
good times the advertising patron
age makes mp this deficit and gives
the publisher a smal! profit, but in
times like the present it is not suf-
ficient to do this. Hard times cuts
down the patronage OF newspaper
before ii touches anything else. 1t
cuts of subscriptions already insult
ticient to pay expenses, cuts Oft ad
vertising, and by so doing cuts off
the income of the Cffice, and at the
same time increases the outgo by
increasing the space to be filled
with reading matter. So, reason
able man can see that it is a great
struggle for country papers to live
such times as these, and really that
an increase of price rather than a
reduction would be proper. Per
haps the CITIZEN has enjoyed a
prosperity above the average in the
past. In fact, for ten years after
the war its prosperity was remark
able, but for five years past it has
barely made a living for its large
family and employees. This, how
ever, is more than most country pa
pers can say. But we hope for bet
ter things than these now in the
near future, We pray you to help
us realize our hopes.