The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-29
new LINE OF INDUSTRY.
A Book Publishing House
Would Succeed in San
Francisco.
Books Issued Here Could Be Readily
Placed on the Eastern
Market.

In the development of new industries,
affording employment for labor, capital
and intellect, THE CALL is recognized as an
active agent. There is one line of indus
try that ought not to be overlooked, and
that relates to the business of publishing
books in San Francisco. At one time
there was an impression in the United
States that a book-publishing concern of
the first rank could not live outside of
Boston. but the success of publishing
houses in New Y rk caused the illusion to
vanish. When Chicago, the metropolis OF
the wild and woolly West" first proposed
10 publish books, New York and Boston
smiled in derision, but now three of the
largest book publishing institutions of the
country live in the city by Lake Michigan.
ST. Louis proposes to enter the field, and
the best posted writer's, authors and book
men in California aver that there is no
reason why San Francisco should not sue
coed in this same field of enterprise.
Yesterday Emile Bauer. manager of the
San francisco News Company, said:
Yes, 1 think California authors literary
series can be successfully conducted in this
City. We have on this coast many writers OF
q
which distinguishes 1t from all other literature
of the country. The belief that only literary
productions OF Boston and New York can be
successful has proved TO be a fallacy, as is we'll
illustrated by the efforts of Chicago. When a
publishing house was started in that city
issuing a series of literary works the East
smiled with good deal OF sarcasm at the ven
ture, and predicted failure. Complete success,
however, is the result.
1t is my firm conviction that there is ample
room here for a successful publishing-house of
L - he
pose that California books cannot be placed in
the Eastern market. This is especially in my
line OF business, l can say that the San Fran
cisco News Company, in connection with the
American News Company, possesses all the
facilities for placing California literature on
the Eastern market as thoroughly as any pub
licatioE issued either i'll Boston or New York.
Any terary series by California authors which
would be entitled to second-class postage can
be so placed.
In order to obtain the second class rate
of cent per pound through the mails, in
stead of paying the first-class rate OF
cents. book must be issued at least every
three weeks. Some of the Eastern houses
issue a book every week.
tits the judgment OF Mr.. Bauer, Albert van
der Naillen, Mr.. Doxey, Lucius II. Foote,
and many others who have given the sub
ject study, that a quarterly series could
easily enough be warranted. 1t does not
follow that one author should supply all
the copy for the series. As many authors
as desired could be represented. For ex-
ample General Foote might have one.
Miss Coolbith another, Bierce another,
Van der Naillen one, and so on. If the
demand justified the production, one book
d month could be published. When the
scheme was unfolded to General Foote
yesterday he said:
am heartily in favor of It, There can be no
doubt of its success. The subject has been dis
cussed by the Literary Guild Of this State. You
know each member of this guild agrees to take
at least one copy of every California book pub
lished, so that insures the publisher about
$500 TO begin with Ina D. Coolbiths book
is now with Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston.
know that the publishers in the East will
predict tai ure for the enterprise in California,
but they did the same when Chicago entered
the field. Then they declared that it would be
the death of an authors work to Issue book
IN Chicago. 'We have" they said, "the facili-
ties for reaching the trade we control the book
notices in the press, and ii you leave US you
90 TO your own ruin" In face OF all obstacles
Chicago succeeded, and we can succeed in San
Francisco. The type-setting, the illustrating,
the printing the binding and everything else
can be done as well here as elsewhere. know
by experience that California authors would
be the gamers by having their books published
in San Francisco Authors whose books have
gone into the fourth edition have received
nothing. The publishers settle when they get
ready Mr.. Hard of the Boston Transcript in
L
am convinced by his report that the account
ing by the publishing firm covered less than
one-fourth of the number of books actually
sold.
General Foote is now doing considerable
literary work. A few days since he re-
of two accepted sonnets, and several of his
poems have been published recently in the
Boston Transcript.
Albert Van der Naillen, author of son
the Heights of Himalay," is an earnest adj
vocate of San Francisco publishing
house. He has ready for the press sequel
to this work. In his Judgment the work
can be done as well here as in any Eastern
city. The artistic talent for high.class
illustration is available, paper of the finest
quality can be obtained and all the me-
chanical work can be done in the highest
style of modern art.
AT present California authors are COM
PEELED to send their manuscripts to East
ern publishing-houses, and even when &C
cepted on first reading it takes year for
the book to make it's appearance before
the public. The time consumed in CORE
spondence is interminable. The patience
OF the author is taxed in discussing terms
of contract, changing contracts, reading
proof, making necessary changes and
sending back final proofs. To such an ex-
tent has this inconvenience manifested it.
self that many authors have been obliged
to move East.
Local authors say that ok-publishing
house would create new industry for San
Francisco, as the printing, binding, litho-
graphing, engraving, the production of
half-tone plates, would all be done here.
At the same time the author would have
the guarantee that no more than the num-
Der of thousand copies agreed upon to be
printed would be issued, and we are sure
that every facility of control would be af-
forded him by the publishing house in
trusted with his work. Thus the number
of copies prirted-and therefore the num-
Der of copies sold emitting him to payment
or royalty thereon, an item absolutely be-
yond the authors control when his book
is published in the East-would become a
matter of easy verification here and en-
tirely to his satisfaction.