Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-04-29
From the n Y. Morning Telegraph.
The Ezarpers' Publishing House.

some remarks upon the operations of the Harpers
in this city. We remember to have seen some
time ago something of a similar character in an
American newspaper; but there are points in the
article allude to, which strike US as being very
attractive, at least to those who at all interest
ed in the diffusion of knowledge, and the means
by which it is accomplished.
The Harpers are looked upon as uncommonly
shrewd men of business, and their remarkable
success is certainly sufficient proof of the fact
They are kind hearted, benevolent, and active Cit
liens, and have large number Of friends. One
of the house has been honored with the highest
municipal Office in the gift of the people of this
city, and it is admitted on all hands that he dis
charged lis duties with eminent ability.
Authors sometimes complain of the Harpers for
the closeness Of their bargain making; but, on the
whole, they display more liberality to literary men,
than any publishers in the U. S. 1t is said that
three authors only, have received fifty thousand
dollars from the House.
1t is often asked who directs or influences the
publication of their works Two gentlemen con-
nected with the press in this city, have enjoyed
very liberal salaries for performing the duty of
readers, but it is now understood that another, of
the name of Saunders, son of one of the most
distinguished London publishers, has charge at
present of the department alluded to,-and is said
to possess 'great abilities, experience, and erudi-
ton" This last advantage is an important one
since reader may be able 10 write good Mag
azine article, good Newspaper essay, without
having sufficient scholarship and knowledge Of
books, Of science the arts, to fit him for
sponsblea task as that of directing the reading
tastes of country like ours. We are glad to
learn therefore, that Mr. Saunders $50 we'll quail
ited for the important position he occupies.
Among the creates: foreign publishing houses in
Europe, is said to be that of Brockham, at Leip-
sic, which employs three hundred and twenty five
hands and issues hundred and ten thousand
sheets of twenty -four pages, daily.
The Chambers, of Edinburgh whose ad-
nrabe works we so often quote,-enploy five
hundred hands They, however, possess a re-
markable characteristic. They are accomplished
writer's and sound thinkers, and publish no other
books than they prepare themselves The pc
riodical known as the Z" Journal" has weekly
circulation of nearly one hundred thousand.
Cloves great printing office in Duke street,
London, employs twenty FIVE steam presses, and
three hundred hands.
The Methodist Book Concern in this city, runs
twelve double cylinder presses, and employs three
hundred hands.
The Harpers are believed to use nineteen double
medium, and three Napier presses, all moved by
steam. They give employment 10 four hundred
| Of nh hon oil
1t is believed that sixteen hundred persons, exclu-
sive of any authors, derive their support from the
establishment! Seventy reams of paper day,
are but all ordinary supply. The Pictorial Bible
! alone required about six thousand reams of paper
/ of fine quality. At least one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in cash are annually paid to the
paper warehouses and, indeed, all the transac-
tons of the House are based on cash capital.
| We form a very correct idea, sometimes Of the
greatness of an establishment, by looking at its
details. Statistical writer's we'll understand this
| fact.
! Let us apply this principle to the Harpers.
Fifty-two barrels of flour are annually used for
preparing paste; or, in other words, one barrel per
week. Forty-two barrels of glue are also con-
sumed during the same period. Eighteen tons of
paper shavings are annually sold to the paper man.
ufacturers. If an industrious chifonier were al
lowed the run of the binderes and printing offices
IN Cliff street, he would very soon become a rich
man! During the year, the establishment used
seven hundred and thirty packages of gold leaf,
and fourteen thousand four hundred sheep are
nually put to death to furnish leather for the bin
deries. Seven hundred and fifty pieces OF muslin
are also used, and 60 tons of pasteboard. Eight
hundred pounds Of metal are made into type for
their use, every week.. Five hundred thousand
pounds of stereotype, worth seven TO eight cents
a pound are slowed away in their cellars, and
there are about seventy Thousand pounds Of type
in the composing rooGns.
Two huudred thousand dollars per annum are
paid to clerks and employees and the volumes is
sued in year about two millions and halt
in number Indeed we do not doubt this state
ment for moment Eucretia, tue last new nov-
ell of Bulwer, published on Friday last, by the
Harpers, was so much in demand, that twenty