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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
FIRE VISITS FOSTER-ARMSTRONG FACTORIES.
The Haines Bros., Foster & Co. and Marshall & Wendell Plants Totally Destroyed—Fire One of the
Most Disastrous That Has Ever Visited Rochester—New Building Leased in Which Operations Will
be Starated at Once—All Scales and Patterns Saved—Foster-Armstrong Co. Are Going to Work
Hard to Prevent Extended Delay in Shipments.
all that could be done was to prevent its
Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1903.
spreading. T h e fierceness of the blaze
Last night Rochester was visited by one may be judged from the fact that although
of the most disastrous fires in its history, tons of water were poured into the struc-
entailing a total loss of more than $350,000. ture it was not until late this afternoon that
The first fire started in the Sherwood the fire was got under control. There is
Leather Co.'s building on Mill street, and much discussion at time of writing regard-
gave the firemen a four hours' stubborn ing the origin of the fires. Incendiarism
fight. This had no sooner been mastered is suspected judging from the way the fires
than it was discovered that the Foster- started and their progress.
Armstrong Co.'s piano factory on Commer-
In factory A, the first destroyed, the
cial street, near by, was on fire. Within Foster-Armstrong Co. had over two hun-
twenty minutes the flames had made a dred pianos ready to ship to meet holiday
complete sweep of this structure and the orders of the dealers.
one adjoining, the falling walls 75 feet high
The approximate loss sustained by the
carrying down every vestige of flooring. Al- Foster-Armstrong Co. is $160,000. A
most immediately following the collapse of large insurance was carried, but it was nol
this plant the fire started in the Haines enough, however, to cover the loss.
Brothers plant and the piano factory of the
The company have established tempor-
Marshall & Wendell Co., at North Water ary offices at 103 State street, and they
street and Central avenue.
state that with their other plants, and the
It was impossible to tell just where the leasing of new quarters, they expect to be
fire came from, so suddenly did the flames able to fill all orders without any great de-
leap up and wrap themselves around the lay.
four walls of the structure. The fire de- The
Foster-Armstrong Co-Operative
partment were unable to check the fire, and Mutual Benefit Association will hold a re-
[Special to The Review.]
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•»•••»• J«- J - 1 * - , | * - . * | •"•! I--I_ -_-*-i !•— -~ 1- 1-1 n r-i . f ~ i _ r - _ n _ — -
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11
ception and dance at Colonial Hall, Friday
evening, Dec. 18. The members of the as-
sociation are composed of the employes of
the burned-out piano factories and the pro-
ceeds now will be applied to aid the men
in securing new tools to replace the ones
destroyed by fire.
*
* *
FOSTER-ARMSTRONG LEASE NEW BUILDING.
In a telegram which was later followed
by a letter from the Foster-Armstrong Co.
they confirmed the foregoing despatch
from our correspondent to the effect that
the Haines Bros, factory, Foster & Co., and
Marshall & Wendell as well, which is four
blocks away, were completely destroyed by
fire. They say further:
"We have leased a large new building
and will start operations in same not later
than Thursday next. T h e fire will discom-
mode us for a short time only as we have
duplicate scales and patterns of all the ones
destroyed."
This is the kind of work which might be
expected from such enterprising men as
Geo. G. Foster and Geo. B. Armstrong. I t
will take more than a fire to down such
progressive brainy ^personalities. In the
loss which they have sustained they have
the sympathy of the trade, and the heartiest
of good wishes for success in their new
quarters.
~ ~
WAQENER BACK FROM EUROPE.
the representation of the A. B. Chase piano voted to Agriculture. We have a great num-
in New York. His opinion of the piano as ber of schools devoted to the Science of Me-
Had a Stormy Trip by the Umbria—Conditions in
expressed was that it is representative of chanics, the Science of Mining and the Sci-
England Very Much Up-set Owing to the
the
greatest value with which is combined ence of Finance, but none to teach the Sci-
Fiscal Agitation—Some Pertinent Comments
on the Situation—Optimistic About the dignity and prestige of no inconsiderable ence of Business. The Review, at various
Apollo Outlook in This Country—Enthusiastic degree. Mr. Wagener also stated that in times, and a couple of associations, notably
About the A. B. Chase Connection—Secures addition to the A. B. Chase pianos and the the National F'oundrymen's Association,
Schiller Representation.
Melville Clark, the New York establish- have done a great work with their own peo-
ment
under F"red Kann had undertaken the ple in pointing out the fact that but very few
Chas. H. Wagener, of the Apollo Co. ar-
representation
of the Schiller piano which know the cost of doing business or how to
rived in New York from Europe on Tues-
will
strengthen
the line considerably. A. H. arrive at it. 1 would like to lay down the fol-
day, after a trip on the "Umbria" which
Kay
ton,
eastern
representative of the lowing propositions as suggestions for the
broke all records for hardship, in fact Mr.
Schiller
piano
will
in
future make his head- discussion of this subject.
Wagener says that in all of his experience
"1. The establishing and promulgating
quarters
at
the
Apollo
warerooms on Fifth
on the ocean this trip was the most severe.
certain basic principles and rules for the de-
avenue.
When seen at the Apollo warerooms on
Mr.' Wagener left for Chicago 011 termination of cost of producing and market-
Wednesday, Mr. Wagener said that to ap-
ing goods.
preciate thoroughly conditions in America Wednesday evening, where he has not "2. The fidelity with which these princi-
people should live for a time in London been since early in October. He will be ples and rules are observed shall be a large
and the difference would make them realize back in New York around the middle of factor in determining the credit rating.
"3. Goods in good condition shall not be
where America stands commercially. H e January, and he will then in all probability sold
at less than cost.
take
another
little
trip
across
the
ocean.
says that everything is in a most feverish
"4. In case of a business failure when it
state in England and financial circles never
can be proven that the goods were sold at
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS
less than cost as determined by these princi-
have faced a more critical outlook.
The country is still suffering from the Appropriately Styled the "Science of Business"— ples and rules, the members of the firm or of-
ficers of the company shall be individually
Some Suggestions on This Pertinent Subject
Boer war and Mr. Wagener says still more
liable for the debts of the company and to
From a Manufacturer With Years of Ex- criminal prosecution.
from the uncertainty caused by the stand
perience in the Piano Trade.
"These principles and rules could be made
taken by Chamberlain. Mr. Wagener is a
comprehensive enough to cure the trust evils,
protectionist clear through and he thinks
"Cost of doing business should be called and as we are sure to have legislation on the
that unless England protects itself in this the Science of Business," said a philosophical subject, I submit that it would be wiser to
particular it is doomed. But he finds con- member of the piano trade to The Review, have a convention of representative business
ditions on this side of the water encourag- the other day, "and all business men are now men, who might adopt this new creed instead
ing in a marked degree.
waiting for a Moses who will deliver to them of waiting for legislation, which may be
harmful."
Mr. Wagener spoke with enthusiasm of the laws governing this science. We have a
the steady advance made by the Apollo Science of Farming taught in schools sup-
Theo. L. Uusinberre's latest trip to New
Company in the furthering of their ported by the taxpayers, and we also have a England was productive of excellent re-
products and lie is also delighted at having department of the National Government de- sults. At the factory, business is brisk.
POOLE
Appeal to cultivated tastes. T hey are
marvels of beauty and form at once a
valuable accessory to any piano store
and 7 APPLETON STREET, BOSTON, MASS.