The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-04-08
rha iT.hnrr;r.lIonaI i.rInllnr,

"a.
The HfrpeFs Rave been thought to Be the
largest ptbliIhsrs in the United States; but
according 10, the recent statements ID Con.
ersss, uuele Sam is BY far the IiSgsSt
publisher Of books Tot only in the United
States. but in the world. The subject hes
been recently debated in the Senate, and
from that debate We learn thst large as Un
ole Sam Is, as Printer, he ia larger yet ss
q Book BiEdsr The cost OF binding alone
Iinecguly, 1856, 10 81 times us much Os the
whole cost Of paper, printing and binding
for the year lsA7. The bill for printing
and binding for theyea past has been over
q n.i!liSn and half Of dollars. The Pacific
RailrOsd Report (nOt the road itselC . is cost.
ing q million. Senator Cameron, alludinQ
TO tie naturally large expectations of the
people in consequence Of thess large sums
expended for printing, in a speech few
days agc. soys:
"The other day, q good man wrote me
that bic son, "smsr, boy" was fond Of read
ing, ard Ee hoped would send him "Eeme
goud L!o > bOoks." To day I have istteI
frt N a mAn who sAys he is a horse. e.doctt;
md aeks me for books 10 teach him hia
trade"
Senator Gwin says:
81 do not know how it Ia with others, but
really TN bsrEe d.wn with spplicaticnI
for books, seeds, and things OF thSt sort and
II do not send them to every one who sp.
plies to me, it is deemed cause OF personal
GGence."
Senator Toomba says:
"During the recess know I had to send
to our village Postmaster a two.horse wagon
all the time to get my mOil. presume that
10 the history of all OF US. A gentleman
would have TO enlarge his houBe almost to
brig in his documents. II takes almost as
many rooms for my documents as it does !or
my small family"
Senator Brown says:
"Aftsr all, the constituent of tho Senator
from Penhsy lvania, that simple minded, hon.
est hearted, old Pennsy dare soy he
was Dutchmau-was not not so far mis-,
taken. Why, sir, you do publish books fol
children. What are all your picture books
but books to smuse children! What is the
use of books crummed full Of pictures o
birds, snakes, lizards, and all manner o.
things Of that sort, printed in the most artis
tic style, with pretty little stories about ths
habits OF birds, snakes, and reptiles, but a:
mere play bookss They are not printed fo
men. because they contain no information
that would be of any value to a man with I
beard upon his face, or a woman who was Fl
to be the mother OF children. They ar
mere Playthings, got up at on enormous ex
pense by the Government. Take your book
about the exploring expedition, and nstea
Of giving history Of the expedition you vii
1:.d the qaeeresl pictures and most outland
ish things meaning nothing; no histories
statement that amounts to anythRg. Their
is ono volume OF this exploring expedition
the qpeerest bovk that was ever put inside
lids. Take box Of common shoe. .blackir
= and brush, and little white paper, emc
= it all over, ard then taken a pepper box
white sand, sprinkle it all about, ald "
" will have as good book as that"
r One would naturally think that after su
70 expositions, book printing would be stopp
70 in the Senate, but Immediately after vo
II was taken on resolution to permit ten tho
j. sand copies Of the Report of the Commit
j OF Patents for the year 1857. on Arts Of
u Manufactures, and on the motion to poi
" pons indefinitely the resolutions, the vo
~ stood-yens Is, nays 40.