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V O L . x x x v i i . No. s.
REVIEW
Pnljlisliefl Every Sat, by Eflward Lyman Bill at 1 laiison Aye,, New Tort, km. 22,1903.
PIANO MAKING A REVELATION.
A Member of the Trade Surprised at the Marvelous
Structures Devoted to Pianomaking in the
West—Equipped With Up-to-Date Machinery
and Appliances—Rushed to the Utmost—Busi-
ness Prospects Excellent.
It was not his first trip West, but S. Will-
ner, of the Willner Wood Co., New York,
had never before availed himself of the op-
portunity of visiting 1 many of the large wood-
working plants, including a number of lead-
ing piano factories in that section. He got
back Monday after a fortnight's rapid travel-
ing, and was more than pleased with the jour-
ney. Talking to The Review Tuesday he
said:
"What a difference between the Western
and Eastern people? T am something of a
traveler, having been all over Europe, and
from the North Pole to South Africa, but
what I saw in the middle Western States
was surprising. This was not mv first visit,
but the present trip was of such a nature
that I came into closer contact with the busi-
ness people, the large manufacturers and be-
came better acquainted with their establish-
ments and methods. In my opinion the East-
ern business man surfers by comparison with
his Western confrere. Here they are atten-
tive, persistent and busy; but there all this is
intensified, and the results show for them-
selves. The piano plants! Why they are mar-
velous, gigantic, alongside those in the East.
T called simply to pay my respects, and talk
in a general way of our products, especially
the new colored wood, and was received right
royally, a trait for which Western men are
greatly admired, and deservedly so.
''Are the plants busy? Well, you would
think so if you had the same opportunity of
observing as was my good fortune. Every
factory of anv note seems to have all it can
handle, and goods are shipped out as soon as
finished. In short piano manufacturing as
carried on out there is a revelation, and the
magnitude of the business is marvellous. The
buildings are substantial structures of brick
or stone, they are equipped with every up-to-
the-minute device and appliance in the ma-
chinery line, while their surroundings are in
many instances delightful. Then the owners
and managers of these establishments are
wonderfully well organized; no slip-shod
methods, no shiftlessness is tolerated in any
department, and each branch of the business
works along lines productive only of the best
results.
"The recent flurry in Wall street never oc-
casioned a ripple in legitimate Western busi-
ness centers, especially among manufacturers.
As a truth they abhor everything pertaining
to New York's so-called financial barometer.
I found a degree of stability and firmness
and solidity quite astonishing. If a proposi-
tion cannot be placed on a substantial, reliable
basis from the start, they will have none of it.
Then they know what they want, and if any-
thing is offered them their decision as to its
utility or futility is forthcoming without
much delay.
"We have taken space in the woodworking
section of the St. Louis Exposition to ex-
hibit our products, and are contemplating ad-
ditional room in the art sections for the same
purpose. Our display will be interesting,
vitally so, I believe, to many others besides
the manufacturers of pianos and organs. The
exposition promises to be a memorable affair,
and preparations for its completion and open-
ing are being carried forward on a stupend-
ous scale, artistically and mechanically. It is
certain one, perhaps two, pianos, with cases
of our colored wood, of beautiful design and
finish, are to be a part of our exhibit, and they
will be worth a journey to see."
AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW
Of the Business Situation—Prospects Br'ght in
the West.
The decline in securities, great as it has
been, has affected trade at large in a very lim-
ited manner.
How little the decline in value of securities,
great as it is, has affected trade at large is
clearly set forth in the interview which Gov-
ernor Odell gave out on Sunday on his re-
turn from a trip across the continent. In the
course of his six weeks' tour the Governor
has visited such States as Iowa, Colorado,
Utah, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon, Washing-
ton and California, and has come in contact
with hundreds of bankers, manufacturers,
merchants and farmers.
Being a business
man himself, the Governor looked carefully
into conditions, with a view of discovering, if
possible, the cause of the decline. So far
from finding anything which warrants "that
blue feeling,'' the Governor saw overwhelm-
ing proofs of prosperity. He described the
wheat and corn crops as big, the farmers as
cheerful and confident. Factories and mills,
he says, are in full swing, orders are coming
in without any evidence of weakness, mines
are showing increased wealth, and there is
work for everybody at good wages.
In the West, as in the East, strikes were in
evidence, but, be it noted, they were strikes
for higher wages or shorter hours, not pro-
tests against lower wages.
The bankers everywhere reported plenty of
£W YORK
LIBRARY,
LENOX WfD
QUNDATION8.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PCS YEAR.
money and stated that there is so much actual
cash now in the West that the East will not
be called upon this year for as much money
as usual to move the crops.
A banker in
Omaha told the Governor that he had just
sent $50,000 to discount the notes of New
York men.
It is the opinion of Governor Odell that
the break in securities was the result of over-
speculation, in some cases of overcapitaliza-
tion, and in no wise reflected the general con-
dition of the country.
Such optimism is borne out by reports from
other sources. The Government crop report
issued on Monday indicates a yield of corn
of 2,245,000,000 bushels, which means, if
realized, a quarter of a billion bushels above
the average of ten years and the third largest
crop on record. It is true that the crop is
late, and that there is danger of frost in Sep-
tember, as well as of heat and drought.
In winter the promise is for 650,000,000
bushels, which is not so satisfactory as in
the case of corn, the spring wheat yield be-
ing somewhat disappointing.
If, however,
there should be a deficiency in wheat of 20,-
000,000 bushels compared with last year's
crop, will probably be fully made up by high-
er price.
SOME SHONINOER PUBLICITY.
The Shoninger agents are doing some
very effective advertising. One of the most
prominent, in announcing the Shoninger
piano, thus expresses his views:
SHONINGER PIANOS.
PURE, R I C H TONE, PERFECT ACTION, BEAU-
TIFUL F I N I S H .
Leading pianists of every nation have given
their heartiest endorsement to this splendid
instrument. It possesses to the point of per-
fection every quality of the ideal piano.
Another example is as follows:
SHONINGER.
A PIANO OF EXCEPTIONAL EXCELLENCE.
Although sold at a lower price, the Shon-
inger ranks in quality with the foremost in-
struments of the world. Tone, action and
finish are beyond criticism ; it is a high grade
piano in every sense of the word.
' There is nothing equivocal in these state-
ments. They are plain, straightforward and
have the true ring. The Shoninger agents
are well pleased with the Shoninger piano of
1903—and they have every right to be.
Robt. L. Loud will supply the new Niagara
Falls High School with a piano. He has ar-
ranged with the committee on supplies and
has closed a contract to supply them with a
Knabe grand,