Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-11-18
VOL. XXI.--N0. As.
western Lrserasurs.

ana exports generaily. lbe state OF tue
price current seems to them the sole
tangible evidence Of city's wealth
and the business transactions "on
change" the sole witness OF its success.
To such rude reasoners, 10 such careless
observers, we might commend the con-
sideration Of the adage, ga straw may
show which way the wind blows" and
branch Of business employing a capital
comparatively trihing, may be mighty
testimony as TO the prosperity Of more
important affairs-of manufactures fab
ricated by thousands Of busy workmen,
and hundreds OF untiring machines, or
Of commerce involving countless sums
Of money; amounts worthy Of the place
"where mammon erst did sun his treas
ury." And Il Is thus we may regard
the book-publIshing Of Cincinnati as u
faithful index OF our city's growth.
or all luxurious tastes that are fos-
tered by increasing wealth, the taste Tor
literature, as II Is one Of the most per-
feet, so II follows the law Of the higher
organizations. and is among the slowest
In It's progressive growth, and latest in
It's full development.
In a now community the wants OF the
body, as they are the more imperative In
their demands, and as their voice Is more
easily recognized, are first attended to-
Nor 10 II until after society has surroun-
ded itself with the appliances OF physi-
cal comfort, that the claims OF the mind
Tor It's nutriment are acknowledged or
even thought Of. The butcher, the ba-
ker, the carpenter, and the blacksmith,
are the great men OF young settlement.
The axe aud the ploughshare, the loom
and the anvil are weapons Of more po-
tency than the pen and the printing
press. The author, the publisher, the
bookseller, find no place Tor themselves
in such a community. They fit In mo-
where. Society has no need o. then,-
no work as yet for them TO do. Muscles
out-rank brains. The frmest judgment
cannot steady plough; the closest log
ic cannot yoke oxen; the sharpest wit
cannot hew down tree; nor the most
piercing intellect dig awell.
From this pioneer per iod 10 the high
est civilization the steps are many, and
the march gradual.
IL Is late In the progress OF physical
advancement, and enlargIng Intelligence
that publication and authorship begin;
and our own city held within its walls a
hundred thousand busy inhabitants, be-
fore publishing as branch Of trade fair
ly commenced. We have now two hum
dred thousa nd souls, and II Is already an
important business. How largely IL IL
carried ON we doubt II many OF our read
ers suspect. There are four or five
houses now extensively engaged In this
Smith g. Co.; Derby a. Co.; ia. a.
U. z. James; Applega,e e. Co.; and
Moore, Anderson a. Co.; either wholly
or partly devote themselves 10 the work
Of publication. and together employ a
very large capitol therein. That we
may give some idea OF the extent OF such
a business, let US take a. an example,
the firm OF Moore, Anderson, wilstach
g. Keys.
This cnterprising house In the course
oil It's operations gives employ ment 20 va
rlous classes. The author, the printer,
the type.Iounder, the paper.makcr, the
ink.manuiaet turer, the binder. the women
who sew tho sheets, the clerks, book
keeper, aud salesman, arc all tributary
10 tho management OF this ono concern.
Their listoi publications IL already large,
aud tqcy are constantly adding 10 their
number. A late circular announ ces tho
speedy issue, by western writer's, alone
OF I'VE New Works. They deserve
great credit for thus extending liberal
hand 10 our youthful literature. OF ono
ol these works, from perusal OF the
proc l-sheote, kindly afforded us OF Its
opening pages, we can speak In high
terms Its title 10 "Mrs. Ben Darby"
u contains vivid pictures Of American so
clesy It's characters are lfe-lIke portra-
turesI its style, vigorous aud pitly, he di.
alogue, brisk and lively; and its moral
purpose OF branding with iniamy the sin,
while pitaing the unhappy results OF In.
temperance, cannot fail 20 render II as
popular as Il deshryes 10 be-. la EXTERN
al appearance their issues have heen
highly credltable 10 the art OF publishing.
Their books have been characterized by
excellence Of paper. size and clearness
ofvpe, freedom from misprlnts,and neat
ness and simplicity Of binding.
This, however, Is but one department
OF their extensive business. They are
not only publishers, but dealers In books
both wholesale and retail. They supply
largely the Western trade with the pub
lications OF Eastern honses. Country
Merchants have discovered that they can
findwith them a varied and ample stock
from which TO choose, aud thus be spared
the time, trouble and expense of Jour-
ney TO New York, Philadelphia, or Bos-
ton. Their supply OF School Books, and
of the Greek and Latin Clas sics, OF
works on Medicine and Theology, Of
Bibles in all forms and at all prices, of
Hymn Books and Music Books. and Of
volumes in all branches OF General Lit
erature, from the STANDARD Authors,
whom time has stamped excellent, to
the last products Of the authorship Of our
own day, is full and complete in each
depar ,ment.
Besides, however, publishing and
bookselling, Moore, Anderson g. Co. are
extensive stationers and Manufacturers
of Blank Books, under the direct SUPER
intendence of member Of the house,
practically familiar with book-binaing.-
Their stock on hand is always large, and
they make to order, of the best English
aud American papers, the finest quali-
ties of paoed Bldns Books The tools
and materials OF the binder, likewise
form part Of their articles Of sale.
We have thus endeavored to give our
readers some notion Of the extent OF bus-
mess carried on by one such house in
this city. At present, this firm is com.
PEELED to keep up two establishments at
some distance from each other. We
understand, however, that a well-knowu
capitalist Is about 10 erecta building fol
their use, on the south side of Fourth
street. Ii will give some idea OF tn,
grand scale OF this structure 10 mentor
that IL will be six stories high In from
aud seven behind, and that the salesroou
alone will be thirty-four feet wide b,
two hundred deep. An extensive ant
completely organized steam bindcry vii
occupy groat part OF this immens'
Il M A.. 4. A.. Ia .l alAaa a