The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-04-01
SCHOOL BOARD IN B BUSIa ESS.

Mr. EdR0T-We would beg the use OF your col.
umns, always ready for the advancement Of truth
and right, to call the attention Of the public to a
gross injustice that is being done by the school
Board to certainly not useless class Of your citi.
zens, the booksellers, under the very common
plea Economy. often made to cover other motives
which we do not assert is the case in this instance
but would invite an investigation into the matter,
About month ago the School Board of the city
Of Canton passed resolution to engage in the
school book business, and hereafter to furnish the
school books to the school children Of the city,
claiming that the booksellers were making too
much profit and Notwithstanding they nave
been SHOWN and 1t can be proved, that the afOre-
said booksellers are not making % per cent profit
on most of the books sold, and on none more than
25 pei cent, and are charging no more than they
sell at in other places, and not as much as in
some. As regards this, they are perfectly willing
any one should know the cost and what they are
sold at. We will take a few books as an example.
spoilers aud first readers cost the closest buyers
at the publishers in Cincinnati l3 cts., l211 per
cent of, net III Cts to this must be added cost Of
cover, which the bookseller Is expected to furnish
| lA cts making 1874 cts. per cent, will hardly
cover freight and extra charges for boxes, making
IS 7.20 cts These are sold at l5 cts, leaving the
bookseller the enormous profit Of 1920 ets 9th.
er school books pay about the same proportion
and the bookseller will be very willing to show
| up OH any school book In the same way that may
be asked for. In figuring cost you will see tnat
no charge is made for hsndling taxes, insurance,
&C., which al dealers figure In calculating their
profits on goods. Several merchants are members
| 9 h. thay I an
small profit? That there may be no saying that
| they have picked the books on which there are
the least profit although the sales Of spoilers and
first readers are as 8 to OF any other book
Whites intermediate Arithmetic cost at publish
ers 35 cls 12H per cent of net S07s cts add cover
l ITO cts, and per cent. freight and boxing
makes cost 81 cts; sell at AZ Cts. leaving 1913 cts
from which cost of handling insurance, taxes
&C., must be deducted to find actual profit. 1t iE
well known in the trade that the money is made
on school books by the publishers who have a
monopoly and not by the dealers, but they are oi
vital importance to the booksellers as they are
sure SALE no matter what the times are, as schOl'
ars must have them. There is no other city
where the School Board has attempted anything
Of the kind, and it is passing strange why II
| snOuIu De uOue mere ana mas not Deen uemAuueu
by the citizens II the School Board is disposed
to be economical in school books let them strike
at the publisher. not at the bookseller, but we
understand in this instance, the publishers pro
pose to be very accom- mnodating to the Board,
Would any other branch Of business tamely SUD
NIT to being interiered with in this waYi They,
the booksellers understand the School Board as
sert they make from 3315 to so per cent profit snd
would like to have them prove 1t.
WIN. B. PERKINR q Co.