Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-28
OUT OF WORK.
EXTENSIVE LAY-oFF OF employees OF
THE STATE BINDERY.
The Force to be Reduced for Few
Months-Why the New Books
Are Not Ready.

tendent Young yesterday to make some in
quiries into the present condition Of the
work in progress and to gain information
as to what may be expected in the near
future.
Mr.. Young stated, in reply to questions
asked, that the lack OF work for employees
is confined to the bindery department. In
the printing department work is progress
ing on the catalogue for the State Library,
a similar publication for the State Mining
Bureau, the report of the Regents of the
State University, voluminous record or
history of commitments, discharges, etc.,
of prisoners sent to San Quentin Prison,
the report of the Railroad Commissioners,
and report made by Labor Commissioner
Tobin in regard TO Endowment Associa-
lions. These publications will give en-
ployment to a reasonable number of work
men for some time to come.
In the press-room of the school-book de-
partment, however, work will soon slacken
up, and four men will be laid off as soon as
the edition of the History is off the presses.
This lay-oft will continue until February
Early in the spring some of the men EN-
ploYed IN the bindery will also be laid off
for awhile, and the class of work that is
done by women is so far advanced that a
few can keep up with the demand
Being asked regarding the volume of
sales of school books, Mr.. Young stated
that they had not sold more than 30 per
cent. of the number disposed of last year,
while this seasons sales included % 900
copies of new work-Language Lessons.
Deducting these, the percentage Of sales
would have been even less than the figure
stated. He said he was at loss to account
for this falling off. Experienced dealers
had estimated that the sales after the first
year would average about 60 per cent. Even
the durable character of the work hardly
seemed to be responsible for the difference,
as children are constantly advancing from
grade to grade, new pupils coming in, etc.
In regard to the textbooks in course of
preparation, but not yet printed, Superin-
tendent Young said they were three in
number-the Physiology, Civil Govern
ment, and Elementary Geography. The
plates for the Physiology have been COM
pleted since last May, but none of the copy
has yet been received from Mr. Moore, of
Los Angeles, charged with its preparation,
who, it was understood, desired more time
for its revision. He had expected that the
volume on Civil Government would be out
by next July, but none OF the copy had
come, and none probably would come be-
fore that time.
Work on the Elementary Geography was
well in hand. II had been printed in
dummy" form and sent out for revision
and criticism. 1t will contain some seven
ty-five illustrations. This book would
have been hurried along had the copy for
the others been received, but as it was
there was no need of haste. Moreover, the
Office will be supplied with new type
shortly, and he probably would not have
the revised copy set until then. This book
will probably be ready for delivery about
next May.
1t is the school-book editions, Superin-
tendent Young explained, that fur
nish so much work for the employees of
the bindery, and the lay-of to morrow
becomes necessary because of the fact that
the new books referred to have not been
printed. The State Board of Education
decided at a recent meeting not to proceed
with the preparation of the Higher &C.
ography until the Elementary edition had
been issued. Mr.. Young said that if the
copy for the other books named should
come in they could all be issued by next
July. By January or February next the
Office would have years supply on hand
of the ten volumes already III use.
clusion, that after next July all the State
officers reports would come in and work in
that department would then be lively.
WHY THE COPY IS DELAYED.
The reporter next called upon Professor
Raymond, editor of the school book series,
and asked him why the gentlemen charged
with the preparation of the copy for the
Physiology, Civil Government and Ele-
mentary Geography had not performed
their task. Mr.. Raymond spoke freely on
the subject, and said that at late meeting
of the Stale Board of Education PROPOSE
ton was made to commence the prepare
ton of copy for the Advanced Geography,
but il was deemed best by the majority to
defer it until after the Elementary Geo
graphy had been issued.
ASIDE from that volume" said Mr.. Ray
mond, there are three others-the Ele-
mentary Geography, Physiology and Civil
Goyernment-that the Board had directed
to be prepared appropriations therefor
having been made by The Legislature. Mr..
Moore, Principal OF the Los Angeles Nor
NAL School, has been assigned to the duty
of securing and preparing the copy
for the Physiology. The plan was
to have the drawings, or plates,
made first, in order that be might be gov
erned thereby in the compilation of the
copy. This is a very difficult volume to
prepare, and as the policy has been to so
compile each book that it will stand for
years, the work is necessarily slow. Mr..
Moore has the copy now before him, but is
proceeding with all the care and speed pos
sible, consistent with his regular duties, in
its revision and adaptation to the needs OF
pupils. 1t will not do to rush a thing OF
this character, as 1t involves q heavy out
lay, and should be properly done. 1t may
take few months, or less-so far as l am
informed-to properly complete this book.
Concerning the volume on Elementary
Civil Government, Mr.. Raymond said It's
preparation had been assigned to Mr..
Childs, Principal of the State Normal
School at San Jose. Mr.. Childs has lsIg
institution to look after, with about a
thousand pupils, and has not much time to
give to extra duties. There is no pub
lished work on this subject" he said, "de.
signed for the grades in which thus book is
TO be used, and hence Mr.. Childs has nc
aid in the matter. 1t is all new work, on
subject that must be treated with the great
est care and ability, in order to make the
book a valuable acquisition to our text
book system. This, like all the othel
books, should be prenared so as to with
stand the tests of time, and its preparation
requires study, deliberation and care. Mr.
Childs, | am informed, is progressing salts
factorily with the difficult task that ha;
been assigned him."
The other volume, the Elementary
Geography, is in the hands of Mr.. Ray
mond, himself, and-as has already beer
stated-is printed in dummy" form foy re
vision. Nj. Raymond said that his DC tior
of the work is practically ready f.. tbs
printer now. and if the illustrators wer,
ready the book could be printed wi hin ter
DAYS. But the matter of prep5 ring til,
mans and engravings-some ej shty alto
oefher-could not be rushed The bes
Talent in the coui,try had been engaged fol
that portion of tie work, and The proofs o
the maps had just come to hind. The en-
graver. Mr.. Holmes, had grf along as rap
idly as possible with his en- cravings, but /
would take him some TIM yet to complete
them. There was, of &C arse, no help 70
this. but the copy could All be put into th'
printers hands on shoe notice.
Reporter-"If all tie copy for the othe
volumes were now "a hand, and the book
printed, would they not sll be completed Il
few months2n
Undoubtedly replied Mr.. Raymond
'and the suspension OF large part OF tn
force OF bindery employees would neces
carilv fOiiox The onlv diffaraura W0ulc