The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1890-08-30
SCHOOL BOOKS.
George A. Howard Indorsed by the Chicka-
saw "Messenger."

1t has been stated by some of our ex
changes that school book trust was
being framed by certain publishers,
with the purpose or squeezing out com
| petition, and afterward extorting from
the people.
With view to ascertain the facts in
the case as best we could, we asked Mr..
George A. Howard, agent for the
school-book publishing houses of Van
antwerp, Bragg g. Co., Brakeman &
Co., A. S. Barnes & Co., and D. Apple
ton. u Co., charged with having form
ed a trust, to give us his side OF the
question, and he has furnished US. in
writing the following statement;
The four publishing firms above
named have realized for several years
the necessity of making some change in
the manner of conducting the school
book business, which will bring them
selves as manufacturers closer to the
people, and enable them to secure to
the patrons of the schools substantial
reduction in the price of 1the books.
There have been too many middle men
between the publishers and the.people
The result has been that the people
have paid these middle men exorbitant
retail prices, for which the publishers
have been most unjustly blamed.
"Recognizing these facts, and with
the hope of being able to economize in
the manufacture of the books and the
conduct of the business, so as to make
lowerer prices and yet maintain a fair
manufacturing profit, the four houses
above named have decided to dissolve
their separate partnerships and re-
organize as one firm or stock company
under the style and title of the Ameri-
can Book company. This new COM
pany expects to handle with one man
ufacturing plant and one force of clerks
and agents, the same,volume of business
which has heretofore required four eX-
pensive plants and four separate forces
of clerks and agents. The reduction
OF expense and the economy of this
new arrangement will be evident to
any one.
1T will be the earnest endeavor of
this new company to increase its pop
ularity and to extend its business to
the largest possible extent. The gen
tlemen composing the company know
that the only way in which these re-
suits can be secured is by satisfactory
arrangements for purchasing direct
from the publishing house, and at the
lowest possible price. The company
will soon be ready to lay its plans and
prices before the people of Mississippi,
and to back them up with satisfactory
| ,,,ti do NNhnrnErnr its,
propositions are offerd and accepted,
the company will give bonds in what
ever amounts may be required to Sc
cure the people against an increase in
the contract price of the books for five
or ten years at least.
'The school books which are now in
use in nine-tenthS of the schools
throughout the State of Mississippi
are the same books which will be pub,
lished by this new company, and the
company most earnestly hopes that the
people of the State will find it tC
the best interst of themselves and theil
schools, to continue this patronage anC
to adopt the books as now in use, fol
uniform use throughout the counties
The Messenger is an uncOmpromisine
enemy to trusts and combines, but i
the American school-bock compan,
will do what their agent says above
the consolidation of these houses woult
not be in the nature of a trust, and We
advise our friends throughout tn
State to investigate the matter withou
prejudice, before making definite ar
rangements for the adoption of text
books published by other houses. =
Chickdsd,U Messenger.