Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-11-08
Propectus
OF THE
AMERICAN LITERARY COMPANY

| AMERICAN LITERARY COMPANY
"HE object ofthis Company is to elevate tn
IL general standard of literature in the Unite
States, by introducing into common use, a
improved uniform series of elementary books, an
stimulating native talent, by securing to author
the publisher profit on other than school books
The plan is. the organization of comp a
with sufficient capital to publish all books writer
by native authors, which may BIZ approved by
committee of publication, at the risk of the com
pany, who shall pay over to the author o. Il prof
on the sales, after deducting the printers char
ges and incidental expenses
| 1t is proposed to manufacture the paper uset
| in printing and thus to save the expense of dry
ing it for market, putting it into bundles, trans
portation to market, commission, interest ant
guarantees, equal at least to twenty per cent.
| a greater saving can be made by the employ.
ment ofboys in composition, printing and bind,
ing. This, with the profits on periodicals, re.
prints, and elementary books, will secure to the
! stockholders good dividend.
BY requiring each clerk, foreman, papemlker'
journeyman, proofreader, and all others connect.
ed with the Company, to hold certain amount
ofstock proportioned to their salary, which, when
it has not been paid in advance, will be liquidated
by sinking fund out of their earnings, and held
subject to be assigned to the successor of each,
upon condition that such successor shall be al.
lowed to pay for it by deduction from his earn.
ings, each person attached to the company be.
comes stockholder, and, to the extent of his
stock interested in the success Of the institution
This feature will be rigidly enforced, and in case
any one in the employment of the Company shall
for any cause, be dismissed or leave its service,
his stock will be assigned to his successor.
Agencies will be established in the large cities,
where the Company's books can always be had
at the wholesale prices. Booksellers, and coun.
try merchants who sell books, now pay profit
to the paper maker, another to the printer, and
third to the publishers. Those who subscribe
stock in this Company will receive books at their
cost, rating the printing at the New York prices,
to the amount of the stock so subscribed it be.
ing understood that the dividend on their stock,
to the amount of six per cent. per annum only
shall be charged as interest and that all dividend
above six per cent. shall be paid to such stockhol
ders. The Company thus guarantee to booksel
lers dividend of = per cent. per annum on the
amount oftheir stock, and the paper makers prof
it. the printers profit, and the publishers profit
over and beyond their own profit as booksellers
The advantage to the Company is, that all the
stockholders will be interested in gctting work
for the Companys office, and that each stock
holder will always give preference to the Com
pany's paper and the Company's books over those
of other maker aud publishers. Such an ar
rangemrnt Al the booksellers will enable the
Company, by means ola circular addressed te
their correspondents enclosing their report ofthe
committee of publication, to be sod, and thus
protect them against all loss by as:ertaining ir
advance if a proposed work can b. sold; for ifi
cannot be sold, the Company IL not print it
Thus the interests Of authors, Publishers anc
booksellers will be reconciled, by eating com
munity in which the rights of ei..h will be Sc
cured, the public benefited by t e introduction
of uniform series ofimproved school books, anc
the South protected against the introduction o.
any matter tending in the most remote degree tc
assail our institutions and prosperity. And wher
we take into consideration the fact was that there
are now held against the prejudices of the worlc
that society with more than five hundred
auxiliary associations spread over many of the
States of this Union, with immense SUMS for the
gratuitous distribution of tracts and pamphlets
! have declared universal emancipation, and re
member the influence which early impressions
have on the matured mind, all must see the i'm
portance Of guarding against the admission into
our elementary books of any matter which may
mislead the feelings or judgment.
Inasmuch as the sale of school books is much
greater, and the value and profit depends much
more on the publisher, the Company will divide
the profit with the author or compiler on all ele
mentary books. This arrangement will place al
authors and compilers on the same footing; ant
inasmuch as the company will have no interes
in the copy right beyond contract for tho ex
elusive right TO publish until better or improved
book is produced by some other author, the com
panv will be always inviting, and in fact offering
premium for better and improved books. As i
now is, every author encounters the competition
of publishers who have the copyrights of riva
books. This Company will be an impartial um
pire, ready to place each now competitor on tn
same footing as the most favored party. Its oh
iect being to publish the best book, and the prof
being the same OH either, the preference will al
ways be, and Directors will be held in Columbia
South Carolina, on the 3Oth of November. i
the mean time subscriptions will be received, an
the certificates of stock issued when the Compa
nv is organized. The objects to be accomplishe
by this Company are such that it is hoped ther
will be no want of funds; and we especially rel
on the readers of the Telegraph to forward thei
names.
DUFF GREEN.
Washington City, August Cd, 1886.
THE SATURDAY NEWS,