The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-11

Total cost Of printing and binding. 455.s.
lregret the necessity for this CONSUMPTION
OF your space, though your senior will
readily recognize my claim to much more
were 1t necessary to me. | regret also that
SO small a matter should kindle so great a
IRE. The printing of the Department no
longer amounts to thousands of dollars. as
under the FARMER AND MECHANIC contract; =
IN fact 1t IS worth very little now. and the
FARMER AM MECHANIC has lost. and |
gain a tritle. Indeed | should benefit more
IT the FARMER AND MECHANIC yet did the
work, for would, if it were worth while,
require and receive pay for it just the same.
Yours respectfully, p. VI. HALE.
*During the flush times OF printing Capt.
Shotwell was editor. not as now one Of
"the publishers of the FARMER y Me-
CHANIC,' who contracted to do the Depart
ment printing. p. VI. II.
Maj. Hale's letter, we think, will be
a surprise to the public. 1t was certain
ly a very great one to ourself. A surprise
not only because we had not mentioned him.
nor alluded to him. nor so much as thought
of him, In connection with our articles, but
because we were in daily intercourse, under
the same roof-tree, which might have sug-
gested the improbability of our doing him
any unkindness, much less an act of inius-
tIce.
For his co-partners in the State Printing,
also, we had none but friendly feelings. They
print the FARMER AND MECHANIC (the
press-work), and have spoken kindly of the
paper on frequent occasions. We did not,
in fact, even name the State Printers except
in general terms, as ''the Publishers; and
SO far as we can learn not one other person
| supposed our remarks reflected on them.
Everybody knows that the Public Printers
print only such work as is authorized by the
proper authorities, and for all such work are
paid by established rates, and supervised by
an auditing committee, SO that there could
be no possible wrong doing except by conni-
vance of several sworn officials i thing not
to be thought of.
Nevertheless, inasmuch as Mai. Hale has
seen fit to address us in the above style of
correction and admonition, we accept the
heightened lecture with all due humility and
repentance ard will merely specify a few
instances wherein our corrector has failed of
correctness himself.
"~BASELESs RUMOR.
We are rebuked for publishing mere s'ru
NOR as to the cost of the Public Printing
instead of going to the Public Printer for in
1OTIldUiOU. AlclC 1 Md. Hat , lHllldl vi
der. When we heard a few weeks ago that
Col. Polk had succeeded in getting the Board
to try his pet scheme of issuing a big edi-
ton 10000 copies) of a small paper, osten-
sibly a monthly report. we requested our u-
Nor to cali upon the Public Printer to in
uuire the cost. He did so, and was told by
the head OF the firm of Edwards, Broughton
& Co., twho do the work, and have half in
terest t~herein), that the contract made with
Col. Po.k was for so for printing 10000
copies Maj. Hale being at the time out Of
town if We mistake not, his partners, the
real Printers had a right to speak. OF
course, the term Printing in ordinary
usage, covers the type-settlng, binding,
told the cost of printing a book, or job,
would be so he would understand that fig
ure to cover all the items just named.
Hence the attempt to contrast the 1898 TN
the bill for simple type-settlng with our
statement we regard as a mere bubble. 1t
aDpears moreover that Messrs. +. b. Il Co.,
were correct in telling our Junior the cost of
! the authorized edition OF 10000 copies would
be so per month for printing, exclusive OF
postage, for by Maj. Hale,s own showing the
cost of only seren thousand (the number
this month issuedl is SOFT per month.
This is about the right proportion for the
whole number
Just here it may be added that when we
learned DR.. Ledoux claimed 1915. 90 as the
cost Of his report, our partner again called
on the State printers, ard was given the
| estimate Of S455.S3, exclusive Of wrappers,
hostage. etc. Be it remembered, there
fore. that in each instance wherein mention
is made of 1.-THE publishers the facts
were obtained from the State printer, and
not from ''rumOr.'
OUR STUPIDITY.
AS for our lack of knowledge Of print
ing and of the t.. S. postal laws"-we are
thankful that no one need suffer SO long as
ready pens are ready to set straight our de
f~ciencies. 1t is true our corrector Is not
~positiye precisely how far our ignorance
has carried us, since he admits Col. Folks
postage on only 1000 copies was rather