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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Prosperous Times the Report.
PROMINENT MEN IN EVERY SECTION OF THE COUNTRY WRITE THAT THE ADVANCE AGENT OF
PROSPERITY HAS ARRIVED HE IS BOUND TO VISIT THE MUSIC
TRADE IN DUE COURSE.
Reports anent business conditions from
all parts of the country continue to be
optimistic to a pleasing degree. In line
with the report on the trade outlook in
last week's Review we quote some further
opinions on this subject sent to a promi-
ent and interested New Yorker by leading
men in the several States mentioned.
They certainly afford testimony that is
most convincing of the betterment which
is becoming only more manifest as sum-
mer wanes. In face of such views the
members of the music trade industry in
common with their brethren in other
industrial lines have reason to be of good
cheer.
The reports from Alabama vary some-
what, but on the whole they are good, one
correspondent saying that the crop outlook
is good and the manufacturers are busy
and all men employed. Another corres-
pondent in the same State says that the
building of 200 miles of railroad in the
State and the recent discoveries of large
quantities of high-grade brown ore, which
it is believed will largely reduce the cost
of the production of pig iron, form a basis
for the very hopeful feeling among the
people.
Several letters from Florida speak most
hopefully. The outlook for lumber is
good, and there promises to be a decided
improvement in the fall. The fruit crop
of 1898, it is believed, will be profitable,
and the silver sentiment has at least not
gained ground.
From California comes the following
letter: '
"Confidence shows great improvement.
I believe this sentiment has a good basis,
and as a reason for this opinion I name
protection for wool, lumber, and fruit, our
hree chief industries which free trade
nearly ruined. . . . Prices for wool at our
sales last year were from 9 to 10 cents, this
year from 14 to 15, and there has been a
material increase in the price of wheat and
other products. Crops are good. Most of
the manufacturers are profitably employed,
and the number of unemployed is less than
last year. There is little change in rela-
tion to silver. People want to see what the
Administration will do to restore it to
monetary position."
From Colorado comes the news of re-
viving prosperity, but no decrease in the
silver sentiment. A letter says:
" People in this section are very hopeful
that business will improve this fall. All
indications point to a material increase.
. . The gold output in this State shows
material increase for the last six months,
with a prospect for a good increase for the
year. The increase in the gold output, to-
gether with the continuous output of other
mines and slight improvement in the real
estate market, all seem to indicate that
there is a good basis for this opinion. The
crops in this vicinity are probably better
than ever before in the history of the State.
There is probably not much change in re-
lation to the employed and unemployed
from a year ago. If anything it is in
favor of more people being employed than
then. There has been no change in the
silver sentiment in this community, it
being now, as it was in 1896, practically
unanimous."
A Georgia banker writes as follows:
"I am very hopeful of the future. The
prospect for a large crop of cotton is cer-
tainly very flattering. Good stands and a
larger area than ever before, but a little
late. The corn crop is excellent, and the
wheat crop better than for years; now har-
vested.
"Manufacturing cotton, in my opinion,
is as good business, or better, than any
other in this country.
"The street corners are not filled with
loafers and idlers now, as was the case a
year ago. . . . The farmers owe nothing
and are contented and happy.
"I do not look for prosperity from legis-
lation. It must come from natural causes.
The earth is the source from which it must
come. Economy of the farmers is unpre-
cedented, and from this source is my hope
for the future prosperity of this country."
Another letter from the same State says
that all factories are running on full time.
Twenty per cent, more people are em-
ployed than at this time last year, and little
is heard of silver.
From Minnesota come hopeful letters
based on the magnificent crops. Manufac-
tories (chiefly lumber) show signs of im-
provement, and no man need be idle there.
There is a decided diminution of the free
silver sentiment. One letter ends by say-
ing:
"Now, as touching upon conditions not
specifically inquired for in your letter, but
by the general scope of it. If the crop
now in prospect is actually harvested, it
seems likely it will bring fairly good prices;
that the railroads of this section will be
taxed to their utmost to handle it, that our
wholesale merchants will find the demand
from country merchants whose stocks are
low all they can supply, and, as collections
in this section are already good, and there
has been a most thorough clearing out of
business houses that were not conducted
on business principles, we see no reason
why this section should not be in the front
rank of the forward industrial march."
From Virginia come letters of equally
promising tone. Crops are good and re-
turns good. Manufacturers are busy, al-
though in the lumber trade the margins
are small, and there is little excuse for
idleness among the men. From Tennessee
like reports come. The silver sentiment
seems to be decidedly on the wane there.
From Texas comes news of a decided hope-
fulness based on the actual condition of
the country. They have the largest wheat
crop in the history of the State, a large
corn crop, and a cotton crop which will
approximate 3,000,000 bales. The few
manufacturing enterprises are prosperous,
and there is a scarcity of help in all dis-
tricts, and this, with big crops and work,
is putting a quietus on silver talk. Like
messages come from North and South Care
olina. From Nebraska comes the sam-
news of good crops and reviving prosper-
ity among manufacturers, with a lessening
of free-silver feeling. In Mississippi there
is going to be a good cotton crop, the fac-
tories are busy, and there has been a most
decided revival already. From Michigan
comes good news. A letter from one of
the cities says the feeling is hopeful, based
on the favorable tide that has set in. The
crop prospects are good, and most indus-
trial institutions are busy. More men are
employed than at this time last year, and
wages about the same. As to free silver, a
reaction which set in for it after the elec-
tion is lessening and now seems to be de-
cidedly on the wane.
There are many other letters that bear
witness to the same state of affairs. In
fact, the only State from which the letters
seemed despondent was Arkansas, and
even there they hoped for good times, but
did not know when they were coming.
Pacific Town Talk, that bright and
always interesting San Francisco monthly,
has just reached our desk in a special dress
in honor of its fifth anniversary. It
abounds in valuable and timely reading
matter covering the political, literary,
social, musical and dramatic fields. This
paper has been steadily enlarging in size
as well as in the intrinsic merit of its
contents, and The Review extends the
heartiest greetings on this festive occasion,
Emile Levy, of the Everett warerooms,
will return from his vacation on Monday
next.
J.K.M.Gill,with the Schaeffer Piano Co.,
Chicago, is still sojourning in the East.
RECEIVER'S SALE
OK THE PROPERTY OF
Tfie flmerican music Box Company
TO BE HELD AT FACTORY,
Cor, Third and Clinton Streets, Hoboken, N. I
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9,
1897,
AT 2 P.M.
Property consists of complete plant for
music box factory, in first-class order,
machinery and tools to a large extent suit-
able for general manufacturing. Bids for
purchase at private sale will be received at
office of subscriber until September 6, 1897.
For further information, address,
HENRY M. NUTZHORN,
Receiver.
Newark & Washington Sts., Hoboken, N. J.