Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-05
THE PUBLISHING HOUSE.
DE-. RedfOrd's Report of It's Condition
and OperafiOns-A Most Fiatterinz
Exhibit

DIR. Redford's Report of It's Condition
and OperafiOns-A Most Fiatterinz
Exhibit.
| From the report submitted to the Gener-
al Conference BY Rev. DR.. BEDFORD, agent
of the Publishing House, we make the fol-
| lowing interesting extract:
"During the past four years the business
| of the Southern Methodist Publishing
House has been conducted under difficult
ties and embarrassnents that we had not
anticipated when we made our former
| Quadrennial Exhibit. The year succeed
ing the General Conference of 1870 was one
of great financial distress throughout the
country, checking the prosperity of trade,
| and proving disastrous TO the fortunes of
many of the largest commercial houses.
| The Publishing House, however, passed
| safely through this crisis, maintaining the
high reputation it had acquired in bust
ness circles-showing prosperity in every
| department.
sin the midst Of a career of usefulness
and success, on the night of the 18th of
February, lSI2, the two upper stories of
| the transverse building which formed the
rear Of the Publishing House, and also on
the same floors, that part of the establish
1
| gsthe With our con1pOsIng-roo to-
foundry and several thousand dollars worth
of sheet stock and paper, were CONSUMED
| by fire, involving loss Of about $4,000.
s'This fine rendered it necessary for us to
yacate the old building, and not being able
| 10 ind IN the city of Nashville a house of
sufficient size to accommodate the several
branches Of our business, were compelled
to separate the different departments, and
rent several houses quite inconvenieut TO
each other, invoking, necessarily, very
heavy expense, as well as the contraction of
the business of the house.
sAt meeting Of the Book Committee
on the day following the fire, it was re-
solved not only to rebuild the burnt portion
of the house, but the entire edifce, which
was in dilapidated condition.
sin the afternoon of the same day a sec
ond meeting was held, at which quite a
humber of the citizens Of Nashville and vi |
cinity were present, aid, after q free inter- |
change of opinion, it was determined to !
take up subscription among those present |
for this purpose, when the sum Of $1,000 |
was Immediately subscribed.
"It was also deemed advisable to make |
an appeal 10 the entire Church, and request |
contributions for this purpose, and we |
have received, from AL quarters, the sum of |
S40,OU2. gilmore than $4,000 Of which /
was given by the citizens of Nashville.
''The erection Of a new building involved /
the purchase of three lots of ground, at the |
expense of $4,000. The shape of the
ground owned by the Church previous to
the fire rendered this purchase absolutely |
necessary besides this purchase would en-
able us TO erect our house so as to have
three stOre-rOoms on the first floor, which
could be rented for $4,000 per annum, and
from which We could, in few years, not
only pay for the ground, but for the i'm
provements placed upon it. The Church
would thus in a short time be in possession
of additional property worth $4,000, from
which AN annual income Of $4,000 would
be realized without dollar Of expenditure.
"The new building presents a front OF
1l6 feet, running back 224 feet. Ii isfour
stories high in front, with an attic, and
seven stories high in the rear. The front is
built of stone. The house and ground we
purchased cost us Sl76,277.S1, to which we
add 44,319.T4, the value of he ground, as
estimated in our former exhibit, making
S220,591.55.
''In our report in July, 1873, We estimat-
ed the value OF the Publishing House al
81 Il. 597.55; since then We have paid ad-
ditional on il $4,000, making the cost to us
S220, 597 So. This estimate, however, is
far below its actual value. The ground is
worth $4,000; add to this the cost Of the
building, without includingt the So, 0OOpaid
for the ground We purchased, and it
amounts to S370,2I7.Sl, which would be
fair estimate. Since the erection 81 the
house the north wall has been thought By
Of, fria 70 h 4 4
are now removing itWith view Of rebuild
ing it.
ave are gratified to be able to stale that
the erection of the Publishing House was
recommended by the Book
Committee, and also met the approval Of
the College Of Bishops, and the several
Conferences.
early in May, 1873, we removed into
the new building, where we have facilities
not only for carrying on every department
Of our work, but eOmmOdiOu5 rooms for the
bishops, missionary secretary and all the
officers Of the house.
.'NOtwithsiandingth difficulties through |
which We have passed, it affords US pleas
IRE to be able to report that. the credit of ,
the house has been sustained. and It's capt. ,
tai largely increased during the past four
years.
1--WE reported in our exhibit, after the
of all liabilities. j
July 1, 1870. Observation-Disclosures IS
July I, 1ST1.....!..... 80! 2t6,54T 20 =
July /, 1872. 229, I3B Is
July l, 1873. ................ 276,1l7 43 :
April j, lol4................. ol4,UJI II {
This exhibit shows difference in favor .
Of the house, Tor the past four years, of
SIPS, 6S4 Go. !
IF we turn back eight years and com !
ARE its present assets with the assets We :
Ound in 1866, we perceive that the increase
Turing this period amounts to S226,STl Il. q
sit is proper, however, TO state that for 7
s40,OO2.0t Of this amount We are indebted :
o the liberality of the Church and other :
riends. whose contributions were made for :