The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-19

AAOAS Ia 4ACAA 49,
order to forestall competition at the
adoption of 1896 and to get another
history belonging to the University
Publishing Co. firmly established in
the schools before the expiration, In
May, 1896, of the contract made for the
Holmes book, the State Board of Edu
cation, in 1894, adopted with their
usual degree of secrecy. Hansellis his
tory to take the place of Holmes. In
asmuch as this new book IT the Uni
versity Publishing Co. wasforced upon
the people at the regular retail price
without the advantage of the exchange
price price of about fifty per cent.
(Which the people had a right to expect
and which any other publishing house
would have cheerfulIy ofered) the deal
was contaminated. That the company
publishers inspired the arrangement
cannot be for a moment doubted by
any one who will examine the circum-
stances which we have here set forth
and the losses which the people suffered
In consequence. But this whole matter
will appear in a still worse LIGHT when
you discover, which you a easily do
by comparing the textbook lists of
1895, that only one United States his
tory of the University Publishing Co.,
namely Holmes, appears on the official
list of 1898, whereas tGUO Hansells his
tories of the United States, without
any exchange price for either, appear
In the list of 1885. The smoothness
and dizziness with which leading school
books of the University Co., as they
lose their vitality, are substituted by
other books of the same company,
without opportunity for competition
and without exchange prices, should
excite the profoundest admiration of
every friend and advocate of the pres
ent system, which is a Hendricks pat
ent machine for perpetuating books in
spite of the organic law of the State
against perpetuities. But one thing
mor along this line remains to be done.
AS the present series of arithmetics,
the property of the University Pub
fishing Co., by reason of their Intern
Unable length and exorbitant price,
must soon be forced to the wall by
public sentiment, we may look with
confidence to their substitution in the
near future by the other arithmetical
series OF this same monopoly or those
of its god father, the trust, before the
termination of the present contract
Chat they may get a sure footing in
advance) if we have any right to judge
the future by the past.
While disclaiming making any
changes the board in the last seventeen
years have changed nearly all the
books, but have changed from Ken
bricks old books to Hendricks lew
books, no other books standing any
chance. o.
It may be of interest in this connec-
tion to call attention to the following
statement in paragraph "a Of the forth
coming report of Superintendent Scar
borough. He says the adoption of a
series of school books by the State
Board of Education reduces the price
of the book because better terms can
be made with the publishers" He
then names the books On the State list
and gives the retail prices. An exam
nation OF the prices quoted by Super
intendent Scarborough with the prices
contained in the catalogues sent from
New York City all over the country
will show that any person in the United
States can buy any single book on
Superintendent Scarborough's list as
cheaply as it can be obtained by the
school children of North Carolina. 1t
will also be seen that some of these
books can be obtained by individuals
here or elsewhere very much cheaper
than Superintendent Scarborough will
permit them to be offered in his official
list to the people of the State. For
example, any individual in this coun.
try can buy a dozen Harpers' primary
new graded copy books, seven num-
bers, for 70 cents, whereas Superin-
tendent Scarborough quotes them at
80 cents, an advance on the regular
price of II per cents Harper's grammar
school new graded copy book, 8 mum
bers. are quoted to North Carolinians
at $1.O8 per dozen, while the price in
the publishers catalogues which are
scattered throughout this broad land,
is 95 cents; an advance to North Caro-
linians of 123 per cent. The elementary
electric copy books are sold to North
Carolina children at 80 cents per dozen,
while the catalogue price is ~ cents
per dozen The electric copy books,
under contract, are sold to North Caro-
linians at $1.O8 per dozen. Any one
can buy them, if not misled by Super
intendent Scarborough's prices, at SO
cents per dozen. Harvey1s revised
elementary grammar and composition
by contract is furnished to North
Carolinians at 45 cents per copy, while
the publishers are glad to sell to any
one at 40 cents per copy. as is attested
by their catalogue. Harvey's revised
English grammar is sold under contract
to North Carolinians at 20 cents per
copy. Any person, anywhere, who
does not avail himself of the business
arrangement made at the Capitol of
North Carolina can get this book for
65 cents. The last adoption was made
about two weeks ago. It was q text
by ex Superintendent Finger. Scarce
10 was he ink ar ita naeea drv az #
came from the press, before the State
Board of Education was called upon to
place it on the list of books to be pur-
- ALAA.AAlAAa NJ --aL:nA