The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Aug. 17, 1877.
At a meeting of the St. Paul board of education held recently, a contract was entered into with Wilson, Hinkle, & Co., of Cincinnati, by which text books are to be furnished the city schools at one-half the rates formerly paid for the same books. The Superintendent was duly authorized, and directed to furnish an estimate to parties handling them of the probable number of each kind that will be needed during the first term in the ensuing year.
The following is a schedule of the books, with the prices at which they will be furnished by agents appointed to handle them. It is proper to add that all but two of the series of books named in the contract are at present in use in the city schools, so that no extra expense will be incurred by pupils.
Schedule:
Harvey’s first reader - 14c,
Harvey’s second reader – 27c, Harvey’s third reader – 55c, Harvey’s fourth reader – 44c, Harvey’s fifth reader – 66c, Harvey’s primary speller – 14c, Harvey’s language lessons – 20c, Harvey’s elementary grammar – 30c, Harvey’s English grammar – 57c, Electic geography, No. 1 – 48c, Electic geography, No. 2 – 95c, Electic primary copy book – 7c, Electic copy book – 10c, White’s primary arithmetic – 20c, White’s intermediate arithmetic – 31c, White’s complete arithmetic – 57c, Brown’s physiology – 85c, Norton’s philosophy – 95c.
From the foregoing it will be seen that prices have been reduced to something like reasonable figures, bringing necessary text books within the reach of many people in very moderate circumstances and breaking up, so far as the city schools are concerned, one of the worst monopolies with which the parents of this country have to contend. It is altogether probable that other publishing houses will have to reduce the former exorbitant prices, in which even our public school officials should take the necessary steps to secure the benefit of such reduction. In this way, whether the law enacted last winter is carried out or remains a dead letter, parents of school children will be relieved in a great measure of a most unconscionable tax, and one for which there can be offered no reasonable excuse.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.