Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-06-17

commission has finished the work
of adopting the books to be used
in the public schools of the State
for the next five years.
The work of the commission
occupied Just one week, having
been commenced last Monday.
The adoptions were agreed upon
Saturday night, but the lists were
not made public until Yesterday.
1t is worthy of mention that
the commission concluded its la
bors without the slightest hint of
suspicion or scandal being con-
nocted with the work. All the
publishing houses, twenty-seven
in number, who submitted books
for adoption, were given Il square
deal, their books carefully eX-
amined, and If they were not sue
cessful in securing adoption it
WIS because. in the honest opin-
ion of the commission works con-
tanning more merit were offered.
| While prices were. of course,
taken into consideration, the COM
mission based the adoption largely
on the merit of subject matter in
tue various books. In fact, there
was very little difference in the
prices of the books for the same
grades, and in this respect the
commission found the work of
selection comparatively easy.
Perhaps the most notable tea-
ture of the adoption, as shown by
the list given out by the commits
sion is the downfall of the Amer
lean Book Company. This con
Germ has heretofore published
about 60 per cent. of the books
used in the public schools of Mis-
sissippi. Under the new adop-
ton the American Book Compa-
ny gets, according to the estimate
of the superintendent of educa-
ton, only about 2S per cent. of
the books to be used in the schools
during the next five years. The
Baldwin readers were adopted
for the first, second and third
grades, and this forms the bulk
Of the American Book Compa-
ny's contract; at least, it is the
sceurce from which will come the
greatest profit. The firm also Sc
cured the adoption of Hunts
speIler in two parts, and Peter
mans elements of civil govern.
ment. The representative of the
American Book Company admits
that he has not secured over 80
per cent. of the total adoption.
CHM & Co. Jared exceptionally
well in the adoption, perhaps Sc
curing a more desirable class OF
business than any other firm,
This company places its geogra-
phics, composition books anC
elements of agriculture,
The d. F. johnson Publishing
COMPANY of Richmond was also
a top-notcher, and will furnish
the readers for the fourth anc
fifth grades, the primary history
and State history. The State
history adopted was that prepared
by DR., Franklin h. Riley, OF IT,
chair of history at the University
of Mississippi, and which vii
suppIant the Lowry 4 McArdl(
history, which has been used il
the public schools of the State fol
quite a number of years.
The writing books will be fur
nished by Barnes & Co. the gram.
mars by Newson & Co., the arith.
metics by Sanburn & Co. and BY
Maynard Merrill 4 Co., physio'
losy by Macmillan & Co., and the
higher histories by the Southern
Publishing Company.
The members of the commits
sion believe that they have Sc
cured very favorable prices on
the text books adopted, and that
there will be Il considerable say
.ng to school patrons, The COM
mission will meet in Jackson next
Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock
to receive petitions from towns
desiring to secure school book de-
positories. The publishing houses
are required to maintain a central
depository, which will doubtless
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