Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-25
Propectus
OF THE

OF THE
AMERICAN LITERARY COMPANY
VNHE object ofthis Company is to elevate tho
IL general standard of fliterature in the United
States, by introducing into common use, an
improved uniform series of elementary books, and
stimulating native talent, by securing to authors
! the publishers profit on other than school books
| The plan is, the organization of a company
with sufficient capital to publish all books written
! by native authors, which may be approved by a
committee of publication, at the risk of the com.
panv. who shall pay over to the author III profit
on the sales, after deducting the printers chal-
ges and incidental expenses.
1t is proposed to manufacture the paper used
in printing, and thus to save the expense OF dry
ing it for market, putting it into bundles, trans
portaton to market, commission, interest and
guarantees, equal at least to twenty per cent
A greater saving can be made by the employ
ment boys 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, paper.nakcr,
iourneyman, proof.reader, and all others connect.
ed with the Company, to hold certain amount
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 a 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 stockholier, and, to the extent of his
stock, interested in the success of the institution.
This feature will be rigidly enforced, and in case
tbo np1n off hn ha11
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,
10 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 stockho-
ders The Company thus guarantee to bool.sel-
lers a dividend Of 6 per cent. per annum on the
amount of their 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 getting work
| for the Company's 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 makers aud publishers. Such an ar.
rangemant with the booksellers will enable the
| Company, by means Ola circular addressed to
their correspondents, enclosing their report ofthe
committee of publication, to be sold, and thus
protect them against all loss By ascertaining in
advance if proposed work can be sold; for ifii
! cannot be sold, the Company will not print it
! Thus the interests Of authors, publishers ant
booksellers will be reconciled, by creating com
munity in which the rights of each will be Sc
] cured, the public benefited by the introduction
of q uniform series ofimproved school books, ant
the South protected against the introduction o
any matter tending in the most remote degree t.
assai our institutions and prosperity. And whcr
we take into consideration the fact was that ther
Aare now held against the prejudices OF the worl'
that society with more than five hundred
auxiliary associations spread over many OF th'
States of this Union, with immense sums for tn
rratuitous distribution Of tracts and pamphlets
have declared universal emancipation, and re
member the influence which early impression
have on the matua mind, all must see tho i'm
portancc of guarding against the admission int
our elementary books Of any matter which ina.
misead the feelings or Judgment.
Inasmuch as the sale of school books is mucl
greater, and the value and profit depends mucI
more on the publisher, tho Company will divid
the profit with the author or compiler on all Gle
mentary books. This arrangement will place a!
authors and compilers on the same footing; ali
inasmuch as the company will have no interes
in the copy right beyond contract for the eS
elusive right to publish until better or improve
book is produced by some other author, the CON
panv will be always inviting, and in fact oferin
a premium for better and improved books. As
now is, every author encounters the competitio
of publishers who have the copyrights of rivi
books. This Company will be an impartial un
pirc, ready to place each now competitor on til
same footing as the most favored party. Its ol
icct being to publish the best book and the prot
being the same on either, the preference will a
ways be, and Directors will be held in Columbi'
: South Carolina, on the Both of November.
the mean time subscriptions will be received, an
the certificates of stock issued when the Comp
nv is organized. The objects to be accomplishe
by this Company are such that it is hoped thel
will be no want of funds; and we especially re-
on the readers of the Telegraph to forward the
names.
DUFF GREEN.
Washington City, August I'd, 1886.