Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-02-09
From the Pittsburg Gazette.
THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIET'


Mr.. EDITOR There were some facts
developed during the session of the Con-
vention of agents and Colporteurs of the
American Tract Society, recently held in
Allegheny City, which may perhaps in
terest some of your readers.
The field connected with the Pittsburg
agency has, till very recently, consisted ol
twenty -four counties in Western Pennsyl-
vania, ten counties in Ohio, and fifteen
counties in Northwestern Virginia.
The whole amount of Colporteur labor
expended by the Society in these coun-
ties last year, was equal to the labors oi
twenty-eight men for the entire year
The number of men now laboring in these
counties. and in the eight counties recent
ly added to this Agency in Ohio, is thir'
ty-fve. 's.,.....-. -....
The value of books circulated through
the Pittsburg Agency. during the year
ending March ], 1880, was $4,000. In
1851, it was $4,000. In 1852, it was
sci 900. The total value of circulation
during the last eight years. is considera'
bly, more than 100000, or something
more than four hundred and fifty thou.
sand volumes. The highest average value
of circulation has been during the last
two years about thirty-one cents to each
family visited. A few years since it was
but twenty-one cents to each family visit
ed
More than dozen additional men are
needed to supply the field.
In some OF the larger counties where
faithful Colporteurs have been laboring
for two or more years, visiting families
regularly and eonsecutively, several town.
ships remain yet to be visited for the frs
time. "
During the last four years more thar
twelve thousand families have been found
destitute of all religious books except the
Bible, besides multitudes Of others whose
religious libraries were very small, in
deed. Many whole neighborhoods have
very few books, except such as were car
ried to them by this and other similar re-
ligious societies and boards.
In supplying these destitutions the So
ciety has made grants through the Pitts
burg Agency 10 the value of eleven thou
sand dollars, during the last FIVE years.
which is $500 more than the entire re-
ceipts in donations through this agency
for the same FIVE years.
Add to this the cost Of circulating near
" half million of volumes over the hills
and through the valleys, searching out
the most waste places Of the land, and il
will be seen that the Society cannot have
done this work without cost exceeding
all receipts by several thousand dollars fol
each year.
fn,r.S1;ao Oh 20 y,rrVrehnaa Inn
destitute of religious books, require tha
book should be given them on the frs
visit, because such families do not appre
ciate religious books. On a second visit
many such families are prepared TO pur
chase, and make still larger purchases
on third visit. So also in many neigh
borhoods, large portion of the book
left on the first visit were granted wher'
good sales were made at subsequent vi
sits
This work might be greatly increased
iu this region without eIhausting its ca
paeity for proftably receiving such labor
If wisely directed. Indeed, as a genera
rule, those Colporteurs succeed best Il
all respects whose fields of labor are $
small as to enable them 70 repeat thei
visits two or three times in twice as mani
years. In this way. both the cOlporteu
and his books gain upoE the conf
dence of both pastors and people. Tn
Colporteur's personal power and indnene
I for good are increased, and these peopl
/ love the books best, and most readily pur
chase them who are best acquainted viii
! their contents.
In neighborhoods where religion
books are but little known, and hence no
appreciated, visits may be advantageous
/ " repeated second and third time dn
ring the same year. - A1s gh
One Colporteur has iabored seven year
in one county, and in few townships i