PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
The twenty-fourth annual meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company was held according to appointment at the main office of the company, corner Twelfth and Castro Streets, Oakland, Cal., on Monday, April 24, 1899. The past year has been one of marked prosperity, and the outlook for the future is quite encouraging. The following is a brief summary of the work for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1899. Manufacturing Department.
This department includes a well-equipped book-binding, book and job printing office, and electrotype and stereotype foundry. Twenty-one steam-power presses are in operation, and the plant is one of the largest and most complete on the Pacific Coast. From 2 to 4 tons of paper are used every day, and from 125 to 150 persons find employment in the various departments. Notwithstanding the prevailing hard times, this department makes quite a satisfactory showing. The total amount of business charged out for the fiscal year just closed, amounts to $122,536.35, against $118,726.20 last year. Aggressive work has been carried on in this department during the past year, and as the result, the volume of business has largely increased. Beside the regular work of the department, three new subscription books have been placed upon the market, as follows:— 1. “The Story of Redemption,” by Wm. Covert. This is a small book of about 240 pages, and is selling fairly well. 2. “The Desire of Ages,” by Mrs. E. G. White. This is by far the largest and most important volume we have ever issued. It contains nearly 900 large octavo pages, and is illustrated with nearly 300 original half-tone engravings, made especially for this book, at a cost of over $6,000. For over two years a corps of artists were at work upon these illustrations. The book was placed upon the market November 1, 1898, and already the first edition of 10,000 copies is nearly exhausted, and we are now printing a second edition. Two editions have also been printed by the Review and Herald Office at Battle Creek. Great care has been taken with the mechanical execution of this book, and it is acknowledged by all to be the finest and best-gotten-up volume ever issued by our publishing houses, and it is destined to have a large sale. We now contemplate getting out a trade- or workers’ edition of this book, without illustrations, uniform in size and style with the “Testimonies,” printed on thin paper, to sell for about $1.50, bound in cloth. 3. “Heralds of the Morning,” by Elder A. O. Tait. This is a book of nearly 300 pages, treating upon the signs of the times, and the near coming of our Saviour. It is beautifully illustrated with original half-tone engravings made especially for this book, and has met with a hearty reception by our canvassers. Altho placed upon the market only two months ago, the first edition of 10,000 copies is nearly exhausted, and we are now rushing through a second edition. The subscription book sales the past year show a gain over the previous year of $31,075.20, and this does not include $2,471.25 worth of “Gospel Primers,” which are not considered strictly subscription books. Our tracts and pamphlets have had an unprecedented sale during the past year, there having been about eleven and one-half million pages distributed, or about eight and one-half tons. During the months of October and November about 50,000 pages per day were sent out. The net business in this department for the year amounts to $62,253.64, as against $41,289.59 last year, showing an increase in volume of $20,964.05. The same increased activity has been manifested in this department that has characterized other branches of our work. Beginning with the year