The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-08

ample, consisting of four parts and cost
ing % cents for each part, is not worth
more than 10 cents a part. Proprietors of
leading esta blishments in the book-binding
and publishing business we're interviewed
by The CALL yesterday and from them es-
Inmates were obtained concerning the cost
of paper, presswork, composition and
binding for Heart Culture" and Harr
Wagners Pacific History Stories" The
paper used in any one OF the four parts of
Heart Culture does not cost more than
! cent; the presswork and composition for
an edition of 5000 SHOULD not cost 10 ex-
coed 2 cents for each copy. The cover,
which is the most expensive part OF the
book, should not cost more than cents
copy.
The manager of one of the leading
binderies of the City said yesterday: II
would be glad to have the work OF put
ting on these covers for 5 cents copy on
lots OF $780,"
Accordln to this estimate the cost of
the entire four parts should not be more
than 40 cents to the parents purchasing
them. A fair margin of profit could be
made by the dealer in selling each part for
10 cents. The price now charged is %
cents part, or 81 for The four parts.
The cost of the History Stories COM
piled by Harr Wagner is monstrous. The
paper in the book does not cost lore than
3 cents the presswork and composition
4 cents and the cover 8 cents. The book
could be sold by the retailer for 20 cents
and fair margin of profit be derived yet
the parents of pupils are compelled to pay
so cents for the book.
While the reporter and the managers of a
leading establishment were examining the
estimates one OF the EN- ployes of the firm
"A n ii he
THE CALL gave the Board of Education and
! tell you the School Directors deserve all
the roasting you can give them. The
people out my way hope that THE CALL
will continue TO expose the jobs OF the
ring. | am an interested party myself
ana would give my name fer statement
ii we were not working to get favor fro NJ
the department for our locality. ! have
three boys in school and IL mas cost me so
lar this Term SIS. A neigh Dor OF mine
has already paid SD so far this term, and
several books must be purchased before
the lis. which the teacher gave is fl lied.
have at home a stack of unused books two
feet high"
In some of the schools the teachers
have instructed the pupils to get bags for
their books and to use brown paper 10
cover them. Yesterday Superin tendent
Webster was asked If such orders were
issued by his authority. Mr.. Webster re-
ferIed to circular Pa supplement to
be attached 10 the course OF study. The
particular section on the subject reads as
follows:
The pupils are to be required to have their
books covered with dark cloth, and that the
packages OF books are to be wrapped in dark
material or carried in some receptacle
Schools should not be disgraced by Careless
pupils passing through the streets with books
in ruins from the use of straps.
Mr. Webster remarked that perhaps he
had made one mistake in the wording uf
the instruction in this that he should not
have used the words dark cloth, but
should have said dark material" He
said he did not intend that pupils should
be instructed TO buy bags OF any particu-
lar kind, and if such instruction had been
given by the principals it had been given
without his knowledge or consent.
Whatever may be tne understanding at
the SUPERINTENDENT Office the decree has
gone forth in some way that the bags
must be used, and some cunning dealer is
likely on the inside of the deal and charg-
inc two prices for the sack.
Speaking OF the general changes Mr..
Webster said: 81 will stand sponsor Tor
the Introduction of Baiiey's mental arith-
metic but do not say that it is the best
hook of the kind presented. | was very
busy when it WAS presented and did not
have time to examine two books OF the
same line which were brought to my at
4ention. am firmly of the opinion that