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THE
REVIEW
fillSIC TIRADE
vOL. XXXVI. No. 18
Pulped Every Sat. by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, May 2,1903.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
A FREIGHT CONGESTION IN SIGHT.
THE STEINWAY AND ROYALTY.
McARTHUR TO MAKE PIANOS.
Time Enough to Remedy the Matter if Proper
Precautions are Taken—Piano Dealers do Not
Desire a Repetition of Last Fall and Winter's
Experience.
In the course of an article on "Monarchs
and Music" in the current issue of the Strand
magazine, the Steinway piano comes in for
a very gracious reference in speaking of the
ability of the Queen of England as a musi-
cian. It says:
Lease Factory in Savannah Which They Will Fit-
tingly Equip With Up-to-Date Machinery—
McArthur to Visit the East For the Selection
of Superintendent and Workmen.
Experts in transportation are looking for-
ward with anxious apprehension to the in-
evitable congestion of rail traffic when the
heavy merchandise movement for the fall
trade is in progress. If the crop promise is
realized in any sense and the enormous har-
vests now predicted are gathered, the most
serious car and locomotive shortage the coun-
try has ever known is to be expected, and
in the opinion of traffic managers there is "no
help for it." The cars and engines neces-
sary for the adequate equipment of the rail-
roads cannot be built, if every piece of ma-
chinery available fo r their production is run
to the breaking point.
This is a serious condition, and one which
should not be permitted to occur without
everything- possible being done so to sys-
tematize and facilitate rail traffic as to min-
imize the loss and inconvenience resulting
from blockades. We had an experience last
fall and winter, from which the resulting
losses to the productive and distributive in-
dustries of the country were almost beyond
calculation. The possibility of a recurrence
of congestion in September should lead those
who can handle such freights as fuel and
ore early in the summer, when the railroads
are comparatively clear, to take advantage of
the opportunity of doing so.. As the Times
properly says, it will show good business
judgment on the part of the management of
the railroads to impress this view upon those
depending upon them for freight accommo-
dations.
CHANGES IN DANE CO.
Jules F. Valois has been elected president
and Bernard Rolf secretary and treasurer of
the Dane Piano Co., to fill the vacancies
caused by the resignations of James H. Ma-
loney and Ernest L. Dane. August Stahl
has been appointed manager and superinten-
dent
SOME RECENT ACCESSIONS.
A rather odd happening occurred in Lewis-
ton, Pa., last week when two music stores,
conducted by women, were opened up on the
same day. The ladies who have fallen in
line are Miss S. H. Bratton, 17 Valley street,
and Mrs. William Hontz, whose sign is hung
out at No. 40 Valley street..
We have in our own Royal lady so ex-
ceptional a musician that many a profession-
al would find it difficult to hold his own with
her would she condescend to a conversation
on the subject.. I have intentionally chosen
the word "musician," because our Queen is
not only a very accomplished pianist, but
her knowledge of concerted music is quite
astonishing. She can quote the theme of
many a classic trio, quartet or quintet—an
achievement not often met with among ama-
teurs. Her facility of reading music is so
extraordinary that the ladies of her Court
would contemplate with some misgivings the
honor of playing with her, were it not for
the kind and indulgent manner with which
Queen Alexandra overlooks shortcomings.
The Queen possesses a Steinway piano, pre-
sented to her by her daughters, on which
she sets great value.
ANXIOUS TO SECURE PLANT.
From all sections of the country Roth &
Engelhardt are receiving communications
relative to the announcement that they were
looking for a location for a branch of their
factory, which is now situated at St. Johns-
ville, N. Y. More than one hundred cities
are anxious to secure a branch of this valu-
able plant, which employs an army of work-
men. Owing to the growth of the various
departments of their business Roth & Engel-
hardt find themselves short in the matter of
room as well as supply of labor.
Roth & Engelhardt are now manufactur-
ing seven piano players, each of which has
found a separate market, and the demand is
such that it has been really difficult to pro-
duce goods fast enough. In their action de-
partment they are also very much behind
and it has become imperative that another
plant be secured at an early date.
INCORPORATE IN MICHIGAN.
The Cable Piano Co. have filed a certifi-
cate of incorporation with the authorities of
Michigan for the purpose of dealing in pia-
nos and musical supplies. Capital, $5,000.
F. S.. Shaw, of Evanston, 111., is the prin-
cipal stockholder.
Blake & Fowler have opened up in the
piano business in Honey Grove, Tex. Both
gentlemen were'in business before.
[Special to The Review.]
Savannah, Ga., April 27, 1903.
The McArthur & Sons Co., of this city,
have purchased the brick building at 121-123
Congress street, West, wdiich they intend to
convert into a piano factory. The building
has fifteen thousand square feet of space,
giving ample conveniences to manufacturing
and storage. They expect to commence work
about the middle of May.
F. E. McArthur will leave in a few days
for New York and other points for the pur-
pose of securing a practical man to take
charge of his plant as well as workmen for
the different departments.. He will not re-
turn before the Convention of the National
Piano Dealers' Association which occurs at
Buffalo.
The McArthur & Sons Co. have had a long
experience in the piano business, and for
some time they have felt the need of having
their own pianos made directly under their
own supervision rather than having them
manufactured for them by outside people.
They have built up quite a following for the
McArthur piano which they will hereafter
manufacture for themselves. When they
commence manufacturing they will have the
only factory devoted to piano manufacturing
south of Baltimore. They intend to give
considerable attention to rebuilding and re-
pairing, not only for themselves, but for the
trade generally in the South.
The new move of the McArthur & Sons
Co. has met with the warmest support from
the local papers, which have contained edi-
torials and encouraging words regarding
this new addition to the manufacturing con-
cerns of the South.
GUESTS OF JAMES H. WHITE.
James H.. White is entertaining a distin-
guished party of Englishmen at his home
in Meriden, Conn. They are the Hon. J.
Herbert Marshall, Miss Marshall, Ernest
Marshall and Sir Thomas Wright. Mr.
Marshall has long been the representative in
England of the Wilcox & White organs and
Angelus piano player, and has placed these
instruments in practically every part of the
globe. Previous to their leaving for Meri-
den the party spent the day in New York
with James H. White, who met them at the
steamer.