p. 92 | The Pacific Press by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 22, 1877

The Pacific Press.

By James White

When in feeble health in Colorado, four years since, the Spirit of God led us out in plans for publishing on this coast. We then looked forward to the time when we should publish a paper in California, on a cheap press in some obscure place, the whole capital invested not to exceed $10,000.

Elder Canright, who was in Colorado at that time, looked upon our suggestions as the result of a disordered imagination, produced by sickness. But had a third person come to us at that time, and there stated to us that in the period of four years a legal Association would be formed in California, with a capital of more than $30,000, owning a lot and building worth $15,000 located in the very center of the beautiful city of Oakland, with the very best large printing machine on the coast, and small presses, types, binders' machinery, and other material the best that could be found in New York and San Francisco, the very things which have been accomplished, both Elder Canright and the writer would probably have set this third man down as insane.

But, reader, the plans of a publishing house in California, which were outlined in our mind in Colorado, four years since, were no wild fancy sketch. In spite of the hard times, and other obstacles which have been thrown in our way, this work of building up an efficient publishing house on this coast has moved forward, and has reached a state of perfection and prosperity that is really wonderful. And if the friends of the cause continue to give their support to this publishing house it will soon be free from all embarrassment and will be a strong, self-sustaining institution.

We are happy to report that the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association is not paying either rent or interest. But in order to carry forward the publishing work to advantage there must be a capital of at least $5,000 to invest in stock. We import all our papers by the car load direct from Eastern manufacturers with whom we have dealt largely for the past fifteen years, and of whom we purchase at as low figures as other dealers can buy anywhere. By comparing prices with San Francisco dealers we find that we are getting our paper at a saving of 15 per cent from their prices. This done three or four times in a year would make a saving of 50 per cent per annum on the $5,000.

Those who have managed this enterprise have sacrificed largely in time and means, and have resorted to successful plans of economy in order to nourish this young institution. We are publishing a second, a higher series of ten little books for children, with the title of “Golden Grains.” We are also preparing and publishing four volumes of Sabbath Readings for the home circle, and the Sabbath-schools. Besides these, Mrs. W. and the writer are preparing four other volumes, and pamphlets and tracts to be printed at the Pacific Press.

J. W.