Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
are so great as to defy competition." Its for-
ests of hard wood suggest vast industrial
possibilities. " In the great mineral and timber
belt, which stretches from Virginia to Northern
Alabama, there is a concentration of mineral
and timber wealth greater than can be found in
any other equal area in America or Europe,
with ideal conditions for its profitable develop-
ment."
Such in outline is the story of Southern pro-
gress and promise told by Mr. Edmonds.
Bright hued and rosy as it is it is not a picture
of fancy. It bristles with facts and figures that
give it the element of reality.
To the cynic, the pessimist, the calamity
prophet, it may be discouraging. To every one
who rejoices in national progress, it is some-
thing for congratulation. Southern prosperity
is American prosperity.
All praise to the South for its past achieve-
ments. All success to its future enterprise.
But a few years ago its territory was dotted
with fresh battle fields that told memorable
stories of devastation. Its people were im-
poverished, its industries paralyzed, its future
clouded. Devastated by war, oppressed by re-
construction legislation, menaced by Northern
political domination, the South has shown a
pluck and enterprise, and achieved a success
that cannot fail to command the admiration of
the world. May it move steadily on in the
highway of industrial and commercial progress.
*
* *
SOME LABOR STATISTICS.
AN examination of the items in Commissioner
Peck's report shows that the increase in product
as well as wages was in old established lines,
indicating that the improvement in business is
of a solid and permanent character. There is
no sudden injection into business of speculative
or ephemeral enterprises, which may live for a
day and then pass away.
For instance, the production of clothing
increased in value $7,566,390, with an increase
of the aggregate amount of wages paid of
$2,705,202; the next item in importance of
amount is that of tobacco, cigars, etc., which
reaches $4,379,050, the increase of wages being
$447,147 ; then come the following : metals and
metallic goods, increase of product $3,379,615 ;
in wages, $518,026; oils and illuminating
fluids, product, $2,781,478; wages, $22,191;
food preparations, product, $2,017,880; wages,
$190,523; liquors, etc., product, $2,305,498;
wages, $104,458; carpetings, product, $1,881,-
738; wages, $240,143; furniture, product, $1,-
501,367; wages, $157,937; railroad equip-
ment, product, $1,459,343; wages, $136,790, etc.
The average increase in wages to the individ-
ual worker runs from $139.25 per annum to em-
ployees in hair work, to $177 to those engaged
in the cork industry, making cork soles, etc.
Employees in wooden ware manufactories re-
ceive an advance of $113.55 P e r annum ; railway
car and equipment shops, $105.19; salt, $98.93 ;
ship and boatbuilding, $98.86; paints, colors,
varnishes, etc., $88.25; gas lighting, $91.83;
the manufacture of cooking and heating appar-
atus, $90.42; chemicals, acids, etc., $77.48;
artisans' tools, $62.45 J drugs and medicines,
$59-63 ; fireworks, matches, etc., $60.75 '> linen
factories, $55 ; machines and machinery, $60.11,
etc.
»
* *
ANOTHER LITERARY GEM.
THE new factory of the Lester Piano Com-
pany, of Philadelphia, has turned out a model
of its kind, and the Lester Piano, with some
additions and improvements, will be one of the
running favorites this season.—Musical Courier.
We had been led to believe, until we perused
the above, that the Lester Piano Co. were
" turning out " pianos instead of model facto-
ries, but we suppose The Courier is correct.
Again, the words "running favorites" are
suggestive of the race track rather than of
musical instruments. Perhaps the article was
written by the turf editor.
TRANSPOSITION NECESSARY.
The Indicator of May 7th stated in a self-
laudatory comment regarding its own powers of
originality : " I t will originate ; others may try
to imitate.''
In view of the fact that our cover colors were
appropriated (without credit) by our Western
contemporary, we would suggest a transposi-
tion of the above sentence, as follows: " I t
will try to imitate ; others may otiginate.
***
While writing of the Indicator's wonderful
power of originating, we would ask if it is
beyond that sheet's power of invention to
originate something besides stale puns on
names ? We think others would very much
like to see originality in the columns of our
Western contemporary, its present method of
conducting business being of such an imitative
character. This method, coupled with its
humorous powers, will, no doubt, win it a
name—as a plagiarist. Perhaps we ought to
consider ourselves complimented by this West-
ern carper's stealing our colors, and then en-
deavoring to hide its theft beneath a silly tirade
of nonsensical comments upon T H E MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW.
THE bronze panels manufactured by the
Homer D. Bronson Co., of Beacon, Falls, Conn.,
are constantly increasing in favor with the piano
manufacturers.
WEGMAN & Co., Auburn, N. Y., are a busy
concern. Their immense factory presents a
most animated scene throughout. The Wegman
piano possesses original features which have
caused it to constantly grow in the estimation
of dealers and the general public.
I I I
A MAGNIFICENT CATALOGUE.
IA^E have at hand the new catalogue ot
Chickering & Sons. It is worthy of
more than a passing comment, as it is a work
of art from cover to cover. The covers them-
selves are masterpieces of the paper-maker's
skill and are tastefully ornamented. The intro-
ductory pages of the catalogue state in clear
and candid language the career of the house of
Chickering from its inception to the present
time, but lengthy descriptive details are care-
fully avoided, thereby rendering the history of
this important house exceedingly interesting to
the general reader. On the pages following are
illustrations of some of the styles of pianos
manufactured by the house, and these presenta-
tions are accurate reproductions which give the
observer a correct idea of how each instrument
would look in parlor or boudoir. A partial list
of the medals received by the house during its
career of three-score and ten years is given as
follows:
'' A First Prize Medal awarded us at the Great
Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, 1851.
" A t Paris, in 1867, at the International Ex-
hibition, The Highest Award Over All Compe-
tition and awarded only to Chickering & Sons,
The Imperial Cross of the Legion of Honor and
First Gold Medal. This double Recompense
placed us at the Head of all competitors.
" The First Grand Gold Medal, and a special
Diploma of Distinction, at the Exposition in
Santiago de Chili, in 1875.
"The Grand Medal and Diploma at Philadel-
phia in 1876.
'' The First Award and Diploma at the Inter-
national Exhibition at Sydney, N. S. W., 1879.
"The First Medal and Diploma at the Great
Exhibition in Cork, 1883.
'' First Gold Medal and Diploma at the Crys-
tal Palace, London, in 1884.
1
' Three First Gold Medals at Exhibitions in
the United States during the year 1884.
'' In all a total of One Hundred and Twenty-
eight First Medals and Awards.''
There also appear letters of commendation
from some of the greatest musical artists in the
world indorsing the Chickering piano. Among
the names appended to these letters are those of
Liszt, De Pachmann and many other celebrities.
The book likewise contains an illustration of
the first piano made by Jonas Chickering in
1823, which was recently recovered by Mr.
George H. Chickering. The various parts of
the instrument are in an excellent state of pres-
ervation notwithstanding its many years of ser-
vice. Messrs. Chickering & Sons' catalogue is
certainly a chef-d'ceuvre which cannot fail to
command the pleased attention of every reader.
BROS. & BLIGHT have issued a very
neat catalogue containing illustrations and de-
scriptions of their different styles of upright
pianos. On the first three pages are separate
cuts of Joseph Keller, Charles Keller and W. M.
Blight. Their special studio 6y$ octave piano
is meeting with considerable favor, while their
THE Standard Action Co., Cambridgeport, other styles are very much in demand.
Mass,, have been compelled, as previously an-
F. MuEHLFEU) & Co. inform us that the best
nounced in these columns, to enlarge their man- month's business done by them since they began
ufacturing facilities, and if trade continues to to manufacture, was in August, when they
increase with them during the next few months shipped fifty-one pianos from their factory, 462
in the same proportion that it has of late, they East 136th street. Although the state of trade
will have to make still further additions.
was generally dull during the past month, it
FRANK N. SCOTT, editor of The Leader, Boston, has not been so with this firm, as they have
Mass., has been compelled to resign from that been compelled to run on full time in order to
paper owing to a severe trouble with his eyes. meet the demand for their pianos. Messrs.
We sincerely hope that Mr. Scott will be Muehlfeld & Co. are to be congratulated on the
popularity their pianos have achieved.
speedily restored to health.