The record-union., 1891-01-27
COST or SCHOOL BOOKS.
What the Present System Has
Done for the People.
One Hundred and Ninety-Two Thou
sand Dollars Saved to the Purchas-
ers by the State Printing the Books
Facts and Figures.

[Santa Rosa Republican, Jan. 2oth.l
TWO letters are upon our desk, one
from Senator and the other from an AS
semblyman of another State whose Legis-
lature is now in session, making inquiries
In regard to the California text book plan.
In our efforts to answer their questions
accurately we have made Investigations
that may not be uninteresting to our own
people. This article will be devoted to
the cost of our State series, comparing
prices under the new system with those
when the books were produced by private
publishing houses.
The outlay by the State naturally di-
vldes itself into two parts: j, the amount
expended for plant and the preparation
OF plates; 2, the amount expended in the
manufacture of the books after the plates
are completed.
preparation of plates (which includes
compilation, illustration, engraving, COM
position and electrotyping) is found by
reference to the books Of the board and
reports of the State Printer to be- in round
numbers, 100000. This sum is gradually
sunk by the additions made to the price
OF each book for that purpose. The rules
State Board, as given in the report of the
superintendent, are very clear and SIM
ple,- and show how the expenditure is
made good by the sales of books. They
are as follows:
l. Divide the cost Of preparing the
plates of a given book, including compo-
sition, engraving and electrotying, by
estimated supply of that book for twelve
years.
2. Divide the share of the cost of the
plant chargeable to given book by the
estimated supply for twelve years.
3. Divide three-fitths of the cost of COM
pilation by the estimated supply for four
years.
4; Divide the cost of press-work, paper
and binding of a given edition by the
number of that edition printed.
5. Take the sum of the. preceding quo
tients and add one cent per copy for re-
vision OF text and one cent per copy for
revision of plates. Ssl
In accordance with these rules, there
have been added to the prices of the
books, for sinking fund, one cent to each
First Reader, two and seven-tenths cents
to each Second Reader, four and three
tenths cents to each Third Reader, one
and one-half cents to each Speller, three
fOurths of cent to each Elementary
Arithmetic, two and half cents to each
Advanced Arithmetic, one and one-half
cents 10 eacQ elementary Grammar, ten
and two-fifths cents to each United States
History, and five and three-tenths cents
to each Elementary Geography. The
sales of books have thus far returned to
the treasury through these additions a
little more than $22,0 900. And it must be
remembered that the average time dur
ing which the books have been sold is
only two and half years. AT this rate
the cost of plant and plates would be
wiped out in about twelve years.
Of course the amount expended in man
ufacturing an edition of the books after
the plates are made is returned to the
treasury upon the sale of the books of
that edition, and is again used in the man
ufacture of other books, and again re-
turned upon their sale.
1t will thus be seen that full return to
the treasury of the State of all moneys
appropriated therefrom is insured. In
this there is neither gain nor loss, and it
was never intended there should be. The
gain was intended to accrue to purchas-
ers of books.
What have purchasers Of books gained?
This is easy to answer and is most salts
factory. In making a comparison of
prices the cheapest books formerly used
are taken. Many of the books used were
much higher in price than those quoted.