The problems faced by the printer-editors in Wisconsin Territory were financial want, dependence on slow and unreliable transportation and mail systems, and a lack of reliable journeyman compositors and printers. Sources of income regularly included backers who were community promoters of politicians and who frequently withdrew their support with little notice. Other sources of income were equally unreliable and included advertising (very cheap and infrequent), subscriptions (often not paid for), public printing (not very profitable), and job printing (rare). Getting supplies was difficult, and the mails could not be counted on for delivery of news from the East or for delivery of papers to subscribers. Equipment was seldom adequate and was often second or third hand. Journeyman printers and compositors of the time were difficult to find and moved often. Nevertheless, the newspaper business flourished and by 1850 the combined circulation of Wisconsin Territory newspapers was more than two million. (TJ)