Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association.
By C. H. Jones
THE past year has been one of marked prosperity for this Association, notwithstanding the great depression in business throughout our country, and the general cry of "hard times." According to the treasurer's report, the amount of business done during the past year was $139,321.80, an increase over the previous year of $28,462.97. The actual net profits of the Association from April 1, 1884, to April 1, 1885, as shown by the balance sheet, are $13,532.94, an increase of more than $8,500 over any previous year. In accordance with the recommendation of the stockholders, and by vote of the directors at the meeting held one year ago, quite extensive improvements have been made during the past year, which have greatly added to our facilities. Two lots, each 50x100 feet, adjoining the property of the Association on the west, have been purchased, and a building erected, 24x34 feet, three stories high. On the first floor of this building there is a stable, carriage house, and paper warehouse; the second floor contains a carpenter shop and hay loft; the third floor is used by the California Conference as a tent loft. Above this are two large water tanks, one of 5,000 and the other 9,000 gallons capacity. The old stereotype foundry, which was formerly a one-story building, 14x26 feet, has been enlarged and raised, making a building 26x28 feet, two stories high, with282the stereotype foundry in the first story, and editorial and proof-reading rooms in the second story. By the side of this an artesian well over 400 feet deep has been sunk and supplied with a good deep well pump. A new four-roller, two revolution Campbell cylinder press has been purchased, besides other machinery for our bindery and stereotype foundry. We now have eight presses in constant operation, running night and day, much of the time. The improvements above referred to, including the two lots, buildings, machinery, etc., have cost about $15,000, and have all been paid for in cash. Besides this the Association has taken up all of the bonds which had been issued, amounting to $10,500, thus leaving the entire property free from all incumbrances; and in doing this our interest-bearing debt has been increased but very little. The institution has the confidence of the public, as well as of our brethren and sisters. Quite a number have heeded the resolution passed last year, and have come forward and placed their money here without interest, feeling that it is safer here than in a bank, and it will be doing some good. Our denominational work has largely increased during the past year. As a comparison we would say that the subscription list of the SIGNS, alone, has increased more during the past year than it did during the first nine years of its existence, and almost double what it did the year before. We can say about the same in regard to our denominational books. And still the good work goes on, and we are looking for a still larger increase during the coming year. Plans have already been laid that will bring to this office a large amount of work. We now have in process of publication, to be issued within a few weeks, the Testimonies from No. 1-30, inclusive. These are being gotten up in accordance with the vote taken at our last General Conference, and will be bound in four volumes of about six or seven hundred pages each. This will place them in permanent form, and they will be a valuable addition to every Seventh-day Adventist library. We do not expect to make much money on these publications, as the price will be placed very near the cost of publication; but we feel that the books are needed, and ought to be published. In addition to this we are now getting up a third edition of "Great Controversy, Vol. 4." The first two editions, of about nine thousand copies, have nearly all been sold, and there is still such a demand for this book that we have decided to get it up in larger and finer style and have it well illustrated. We believe that it contains just what the people need at the present time, and our leading brethren from whom we have heard are enthusiastic over the plan. The illustrations are all being made for this special work. Now, if we go on with these books, as contemplated, it will call for an investment of at least $10,000, and it will be some time before there will be any return. We would therefore call the attention of our brethren and sisters to the third and fourth resolutions adopted by the stockholders at the last annual meeting, as recorded in another part of this paper, and ask them to act upon them. According to the vote taken at our last General Conference, and to meet a pressing demand, it is expected that a new monthly paper will soon be issued from this office to counteract the influence of the Christian Statesman, and defend the rights of American citizens. The plans for this are not yet fully matured, but will be announced in due time. Other plans might be mentioned, but this is sufficient to show that we are making preparations for active work during the coming year. And now we want to secure the active co-operation of all our brethren and sisters, both East and West, in trying to spread abroad a knowledge of God's truth. As we look over the work of the past year we feel that we have every reason to "thank God and take courage."
C. H. JONES.