THE following extracts from the address of the manager of the Southern Publishing Association on the occasion of the dedication of their new office building (June 16) will be agreeable reading to all our people, especially to those who have been most interested in the progress of that association:—
May 16, 1901, the Southern Publishing Association was organized, and June 4 of the same year was incorporated as a non-dividend-paying stock company. At a meeting of the stockholders held in January, 1908, it was unanimously voted to sell all assets of the Southern Publishing Association (a stock company) to the Southern Publishing Association of Seventh-day Adventists (a membership corporation). The transfer was legally made, and since that time the business has been carried on under the present name.
The pressroom at that time boasted of two employees. The type-room had one, and the bindery was a minus quantity.
After incorporation, we purchased a two-story brick building, thirty-six by forty-eight feet, which had been built for stores, the original investment being $1,900. It soon became evident that more room was necessary, and a four-story and attic addition was erected in the rear of the two-story building. These buildings were used by the association until the spring of 1906. As they were not in many respects suitable for the business, we were counseled to seek a better location and to dispose of the property as soon as possible. In the autumn of 1905, the present site was secured. This consisted of a plat of ground of nearly seven acres, away from the smoke and dust of the city. It is a very healthful location, as has been evidenced by the general health of our employees since moving into the new place.
On this ground was erected a modern one-story brick building, with good light. The machinery is so arranged that the work can be done with the least possible loss of time. At the present our press-room equipment consists of four up-to-date Miehle cylinder presses, upon which a sheet thirty-eight by fifty-one inches can be printed.
The output of our pressroom in 1901 was 12,000 sheets a day. The output in 1912 is 70,000 sheets a day. The printing-press surely gives wings to the gospel.
Since moving to the new location, our bindery has increased its facilities by installing two new gilding-presses, one perforator, one gluing machine, one stamper, two book presses, one roller backer, one drill-press, one automatic feeder for folding-machine, and one knife-grinder. With this equipment we are able to turn out a large amount of work.
In the old days folding was all done by hand, but our bindery is now equipped with an up-to-date folding-machine with an automatic feeder attachment, and this machine will fold 16,200 complete copies of the Watchman in a day. The bindery has a capacity of 1,900 bound books of the larger variety per week, and 2,000 juveniles; so every one and one-half minutes, we turn out a complete book.
In the early history of this office a large amount of commercial work was done. In fact, our efforts were largely devoted to pushing outside work. However, our denominational work has continued to increase until at the present time we have no time nor inclination to do outside work, and our machinery is now devoted to denominational work entirely. The work of the institution has grown, and better equipment has been required. As a result, our type equipment has increased to about two hundred fonts.
An accurate record of finished work was begun the latter part of 1904, when H. E. Simkin connected with the office as superintendent, and we find that since that date we have bound 869,583 books. Of these, 109,945 are "Bible Footlights," 82,283 "Daniel and the Revelation,"
125,779 "Coming King," 34,565 "Bible Readings," 148,084 "Best Stories," 140,052 "Gospel Primer," and the rest is made up of miscellaneous books. By careful estimating, we learn that sixty car-loads of books, aggregating in weight about 1,500,000 pounds, have been sold since late in 1904. One fifth of the above was shipped in 1911. Pages of tracts sold during the last seven and one-half years reach the figure of 17,600,000.
The work of this association at its inception was very small indeed, but advance has been made, and new books added until we now publish for our field nearly all our large books and several juveniles. During 1911 the Publishing Department voted that this office print the juvenile books for the denomination in this country and Canada. This has meant much to our work, and enables us to keep our machinery busy, which in years past has not always been the case.
Since the establishment of the office, two branches have been established, one in Fort Worth, Tex., which was opened early in 1905, with R. L. Pierce as manager, and another in 1909, at Atlanta, Ga., with L. D. Randall as manager. Both of these branches have built up a splendid business, and to them should be given a good share of the praise for what has been accomplished in the advancement made.
NEW OFFICE BUILDING OF THE SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
Last year, which was the very best in our history, we printed 90,000 subscription books, 15,200 trade books, and 80,000 juveniles, making a grand total of 185,200 books, while our sales for the same year show 71,917 subscription books disposed of, 70,299 juveniles, 34,189 trade books and miscellaneous, making the total number of volumes sold 176,405.
The total retail value of books sold in 1909 was $140,192.03; in 1910, $161,566.71; and in 1911, $191,185.85, making a gain over 1910 of $29,619.14, and a gain over 1909 of over $50,000. The year 1912 is opening up most encouragingly, and we look for a much better trade this year than ever before in our history.
While our book sales have made steady advance, we are glad to say that our monthly magazine, the Watchman, is also making headway. During last year we printed 329,000 copies. According to our ledger, the income for the Watchman in 1910 was $11,573.98, while for 1911 it was $15,749.39, so that our report is surely one of progress along all lines.
Our bank deposits for 1902 were $59,900.85, while for 1911 they were $123,767.41.
As a people, we believe that this gospel of the kingdom is to go to the world in this generation, and that there is very18little time left in which to give this gospel message. Our work is advancing with leaps and bounds, and we give God all the praise for this success. Without him we can do nothing. There have been many times during the past few years when the commercial printing-offices of the city have had very little work, and yet in recent years this office has never been compelled to lay off help on account of lack of work. This indicates that the blessing of God is attending our efforts, and if we keep close to our Heavenly Father, we are assured of success. Our canvassers and field men have put in faithful time, and this splendid report has been made possible because of the faithful efforts on the part of all concerned.
A mighty work has surely been assigned to us who call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists. For what has been accomplished and for this splendid building which we are dedicating to-day, we give all the praise to God, for without him we can do nothing. We would take no credit to ourselves, but say in the words of our motto, "What hath God wrought!"
R. Hook, Jr.,
General Manager.
