THE MUSIC TRADE
invention is brought into use. Further still into the picking room. What's all this ?
Well, the only thing to compare it to is a snow storm with the thermometer at 90. " A
very curious sight," to quote the expression of one of our party, " How the wool does
fly." We do not linger long here but pass into the carding and laying room, 300 feet
long, fitted with costly machinery combining all the latest improvements and inventions,
many of which have been devised by the proprietor himself, and have enabled him to
bear off the palm from all competitors. Being myself a mechanic 1 could have spent a
week in this room alone with the greatest enjoyment. One machine particularly attracted
attention, almost seeming to be human. The care and attention that is given to every-
thing, even to the smalkst detail, as it passes from one machine to another, is very nota-
ble and shows how thoroughly the work is done. Nothing is omitted, no pains spared to
make the manufactured article what it is, " perfect."
you are mine now; what do you say to being beaten at a game of ten-pins?" We
looked in blank amazement, but followed his lead, and were soon ushered into a fine
German club-house.
THE CLUB-HOUSE AND BAND.
Yes, right here in the woods, and a first-rate club house, too ; reading room, billiard
room, gymnasium, shooting gallery, every convenience for pleasure, profit and enjoy-
ment. Our game of ten-pins came off, Karl beating us as he promised ; then a little rifle
practice, and back again to the house, which we had scarcely entered when pur ears were
saluted by the strains of music from a brass band. "What, a band too !" "Oh, yes,"
says our host, " the boys thought they would have a little music for special occasions, so
they got up a brass band of 17 pieces, and now they are giving us a serenade. What do
you think of i t ? " We expressed our pleasure and gratification, and after witnessing
THE LAYING PROCESS.
moreof that pleasant understanding between master and men, one working for all, and
This work all passes through one man's hands and requires great skill, which this they working for him, the cry came, " To bed !" and, tired with a long and busy day, it
was not long before we were deep in refreshing slumbers.
man possesses in an eminent degree, acquired by long practice. In the
FELTING ROOM,
IN THE WOODS.
which we now enter, a fresh surprise meets us. It is a machine invented and used only
here, which, while marvelously simple, is extremely valuable from the fact of its doing
the work of many hands in a better way than by any other known process.
The next morning—Sunday—dawned bright and beautiful, and soon we were all up,
refreshed by a good night's rest, and breathing the pure, fresh, cool mountain air. Break-
fast over, we take a walk through the pretty village and down by the river side, through
shady groves, with here and there a flash of sun-light through the thick masses of foliage
for a mile or more, till we come to something that arrests our steps, and long we look in
wonder and admiration at the lower falls. Here is nature in all the grandeur and beauty
of her loneliness, untouched by the hand of man. The silver stream pouring impetuously
down, flashing and sparkling in the bright sun-light, flinging high the spray, which looks
like myriads of diamonds ; curling and twisting, tumbling hither and thither, flinging itself
into the basin below, then gliding silently, yet swiftly along ; again with fresh impetus
tearing and thundering onward with leap after leap, till it joins the calm and peaceful
river below. PYom a table of rock underneath the falls we watch the vast volume of
water as it rushes down in one unceasing torrent. Farther down we came upon a deep
basin, calm and still, clear as crystal, it is too inviting ; all seem to be of the same opinion,
so in almost less time than I take to write, splash after splash is heard, as one after the
other takes a header. Oh, what a frolic, who will forget it. We are like a lot of boys let
out of school for a holiday, and we are making the most of it, surely. After disporting
for some time in the water we turn our steps homeward, and after rest and dinner find
carriages awaiting to convey us to
THE FULLING ROOM,
or, as it might be called, the gymnasium, for here hard labor, bone and muscle, coupled
with experience, are the chief requisites, was the next point of interest.
Another
drying room off this and from there we pass into
THE FINISHING ROOM,
where we walk between high piles of felt, much of it finished, while some was undergo-
ing the final processes. Another invention of this house is seen here which gives them an
advantage not possessed by other manufacturers. We had an opportunity here of more
closely examining the felt, and, after seeing the different processes through which the same
material passes until it becomes ready for the market, could understand more fully the dif-
ficulty in the production of such a perfect article as Mr. Dolge makes. Messrs. Frasier &
Smith, the hammer-coverers, of Boston, and the representative of their New York house,
Mr. J. R. Jones, were of our party, and were much surprised and pleased, and took great
interest in all they saw in the manufacture of the article which they probably use more
of than any other house in the country. The reputation they have for producing the
THE GREAT FOREST.
best hammers that are made, and their long experience in the business makes their verdict
Six miles of up-grade and we are met at the entrance gate by the Forester, a gentle-
a valuable one, and they were loud in their praises of all they saw, and the verdict they
man whom it is a pleasure to meet, educated in Germany for this special calling, under-
pronounced was "Excelsior."
standing every variety of wood and the art of cultivation to its highest extent, and well
THE WOOL BINS.
may he be proud of the noble forest of 17,000 acres of which he is the king. One can
Having thus completed our tour of inspection on the ground floor, we ascended to the travel for days and see nothing else but timber everywhere, spruce principally, inter-
upper floor which is exclusively devoted to wool bins. Here are kept from 35,000 to spersed wi>h maple, ash, oak and pine. We continue through the dense and in some
40,000 lbs. of wool imported from Europe, and, large as this room is, being 350 feet by places almost impenetrable wood, and at last reach a clearing where is to be erected the
60 feet, its holding capacity is insufficient, and next season the owner intends to erect Forester's house. Already a large barn has been put up, capable of housing 30 double
teams. We wander about, looking with wonder at the gigantic trees, the growth of cen-
another story.
Time occupied like this passes rapidly, and it is already past noon, while, to use the turies. But we have come here for a purpose, viz., to dedicate this new edifice, and surely
never
before was such a dedication. That over we start homeward, and our ride in the
words of one of our party, Mr. J. H. Gibson, of the house of Henry F. Miller, Boston,
" we are tired, and have seen enough for six months." Our host smiles and leads the way pale, silvery moonlight is beautiful beyond comparison.
to the house, where rest and dinner await us; and with two such gentlemen as Alfred
HOME AGAIN.
Dolge and Karl Fink he would be a very misanthrope that could not enjoy himself to the
full. Dinner over we again start for the mills eager to see more, and wend our way
Monday has come, sad to say our last day ; we feel we could stop here for weeks
through the office over a short covered bridge, and enter the mill where sounding-boards but we have ties which compel us to return to the scenes of our labors ; so, after paying
are produced as if by magic.
another visit to the mills, confirming and strengthening the favorable impressions we had
formed, we bid good-bye to our kind and worthy host and his associates, and take the
SOUNDING-BOARDS.
Iron Road and start for our respective homes.
Saws, planing and other machines whiz and whirr, and in an incredibly short time
A TRIBUTE TO MR. DOLGE.
convert the rough but well-seasoned timber into the highly finished sounding-board.
Taking the elevator we ascend two stories to where the lumber is picked out and assorted
No trip could have been pleasanler in every way ; not only was our reception and
by men whose special duty it is. One might go a long distance and visit many lumber- treatment while staying with Mr. Dolge most princely, but everything we saw gave evi-
yards before finding as large and fine a lot of spruce as is piled up in this immense room. dence of how perfection may be attained, when industry, skill and perseverance are
Every kind, red, white, coarse grain, fine grain, are to be seen, each in their separate class, all brought to bear. To Mr. Dolge himself alone may all the credit of being the first
to meet the requirements of the different piano-makers. Descending one flight, we come and foremost in his line of business be given, and well he deserves it. He has had
to the jointing and gluing room, where we find other new inventions in machinery, the difficulties to contend with but he has surmounted them all, and carried off, as he richly
jointer, not the ordinary machine of that name, but one invented by this house, which deserves, the palm, which, from all appearances, he is not likely soon to lose. I can only
does its work in a very superior and perfect manner, making every joint reliable; also, a say, in conclusion, that one, if not the greatest, secret of his success is the thorough un-
new and original method for gluing, and then a clamping machine, both of which are derstanding which exists between employer and employed, and other manufacturers
perfection in their way. Our steps now take us into the finishing-room, and here we see would do well if they followed in Mr. Dolge's footsteps in this respect.
M.
still another invention, original with the house, a planing machine that cuts the boards
with the greatest precision to any thickness and taper; another machine for smoothing
and sandpapering meets our view, and then we turn to look at the thousands of boards
piled up, every one of them perfect, while box upon box stands ready for shipment.
PAYING UNPREFERRED CREDITORS.
WHAT AN EXPERT SAID.
To quote the remarks of Mr. Gibson, a man who stands at the head of the manufac-
turing department of one of the leading nouses in the country, that of Henry F. Miller,
of Boston, and who is known to be very exacting, that " h e had used Mr. D.'s boards
ever since he began manufacturing them, and never has found a poor one or a blemish,"
shows a perfection in material and workmanship characteristic of all that Mr. Dolge
does. His sole aim is perfection in all things, and he carries it out to the very letter, even
to the minutest detail of his work. In the next room are two large sawing-machines
with band-saws which dispose of a log two or three feet in diameter in a very short time.
Down stairs again to where the moulding and carving is done, and more sawing.
THE DRY HOUSES.
Then out of this huge building, 200 feet by 65 feet, and four stories high, to the dry
houses, of which there are two with a holding capacity of 100,000 feet and 60,000 feet
respectively; these are supplied with heat from two large boilers.
HUGE LUMBER SHEDS.
From there we pass to the lumber-sheds, alone well worth a visit, the main shed
holding 1,250,000 feet, full as were the others, altogether containing from 3,000,000 to
3,500,000, maple, spruce, ash, cherry, bass, beech, oak, rosewood, etc., all culled timber
of the finest class and quality. Here the piano manufacturer might pick and choose to
his heart's content, feeling assured that he would find all he required in so well-selected a
stock, and saving to himself a world of time, anxiety and money, in dealing with a firm
where nothing can be had but the best.
Thus we had spent the whole day in company with our host in passing through and
inspecting the various departments where he employs some 220 workmen ; we could
not help remarking the happy countenances of all, and the kind words passed between
employer and employed, A look of contentment was visible upon every face, as if work-
ing for the master were a pleasure, not a toil, and later we had the fact more fully
demonstrated.
THE EVENING'S ENJOYMENTS.
Again our "bright light dawns upon u s " with the welcome announcement that
" Supper is ready; will you never come?" Yes; tired, hungry but happy and contented,
we would come, and that right willingly, and following our host's lead we were soon
again seated around the table. We felt that we had done a good day's work and were
enjoying our cigars, a quiet feeling of repose stealing over us, when we were suddenly
aroused by that fun-loving gentleman, Karl Fink, who exclaimed, " Come, gentlemen,
T HE following appeared in the JV". Y. Watch Tower, June 3d.
A REMARKABLE RECORD—A RARE TRANSACTION IN MERCANTILE HONESTY.
"May 21, 1879, Horace Waters & Sons, (pianos and organs) on account of high
rents and bad debts, went into liquidation. Their assignee has paid the preferred credi-
tors 87^ per cent, and has enough, when collected, to pay them one hundred cents on
the dollar. This is a good showing for the late firm to their preferred creditors ; but the
most wonderful transaction is yet to be related. The day after the assignment Mr. Waters
obtained $1,000 of a friend, and commenced business as agent, and June 12th obtained
power of attorney. October 6th, by the aid of the same friend, the store rent was paid
in full and the lease cancelled. Mr. Waters then rented a store at 826 Broadway, and
received such cordial and friendly assistance from the trade, the press, and the public
generally, that he soon found the road to prosperity again. Having been released by
his creditors, he started business in his own name, December 13th, and seven days after-
ward began paying the unpreferred creditors, who had little prospects of receiving any-
thing from the assignee, and May 15th, less than one year from date of assignment, they
were all paid in full. For a man to pay his unpreferred creditors after they had signed
a release, and that, too, before the preferred creditors had been paid in full, is a singular
example of personal integrity and a transaction rarely heard of in mercantile circles.
The firm is now Horace Waters & Co., and will be highly prosperous if Mr. Waters
meets with the share of success his great practical abilities and honesty of purpose entitle
him to."
The certificate from the assignee supports and verifies the statements
made in the above article copied from the N. Y. Watch Tower.
LOST HER VOICE.—The London Figaro saya that although no engage-
ment has yet been made with Mme. Christine Nilsson for the United States,
and although she declares Mr. Mapleson has not even broached the subject
of an engagement to her, it is not at all unlikely that the prima donna will
go to America in the Winter on private and financial business. Mme. Nilsson
invested £40,000 in Boston and £6,000 in Chicago real estate, and as her
business affairs here have become somewhat involved, she thinks of coming
in person to attend to them. That she will not sing if she comes is highly
improbable.