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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
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L
ABOR, too, is an important item, and still, in spite of all these
elements which have contributed to the increased cost of a
piano, there has not been the substantial advance in wholesale
prices which conditions would seem to warrant. This state of
affairs, of course, accentuates the difficulties of manufacturers ;;ud
it creates a necessity for the increase of output, in order that the
bulk of business may compensate for a decrease in profits on indi-
vidual sales.
n r ^ H E piano merchants throughout the Southern States would
X • no doubt welcome thousands of new workers in their midst.
It would materially increase the possibilities of the piano business
and, sold as instruments are to-day on small monthly payments, it
places them practically within the reach of all who work for daily
wages. Ask the leading piano merchants of the South if they
would not like to see a tide of emigrants turned southward and we
are inclined to the belief that they would answer in the affirmative.
O
I
NE leading manufacturer remarked recently to T H E REVIEW,
while discussing prices, that the manufacturers in all other
lines accepted the condition and acted accordingly, but in the piano
trade it seemed that each manufacturer, fearful lest his dealers
purchase elsewhere, hesitated to raise his prices, which, he remarked,
was an unsound business policy to pursue. He said: "There is no
argument with the lumber man. He simply asks so much more,
and we must pay it or go without the goods. Varnishes the same,
and everything else, and still piano manufacturers to-day are receiv-
ing but a slight increase, when their actual costs have advanced
from twelve and one-half to twenty per cent., thus wholly eliminating
the profits in many cases."
Naturally, these are not pleasant conditions, and it would seem,
judging by all laws regulating trade, that the manufacturers should
receive more for their instruments than years ago. However, we
have been confronted by problems in every stage of political and
industrial history, and the adjustment of prices, with the changing
conditions, is a serious problem. No one can deny that.
T
HERE seems, however, to be no indication of a decrease in
the cost of anything; on the contrary, the trend is still
upward, and it certainly will be easy for the dealers, with such
conditions, to get more from retail customers. They will pay more
because they have more money, and it is up to the consumer
finally to pay the advance. He is the last man on the line, and the
end man invariably gets it.
The price problem is an important one, but there are others;
and one of the problems some say, which, like the poor, we have
always with us, is the question of emigration ; nor is this apart from,
or foreign to, the music trade. . But is it really a problem? If we
receive a million people from Europe annually who add to the
wealth and development of this country, it means that there is a
tremendous piano purchasing power growing steadily, aside from
our own increase in population. And if this inflowing stream from
Europe is to continue, it means that instead of manufacturing
upwards of 225,000 pianos, as we have during the present year,
there is no reason why, in ten years, we should not reach a half
million annuallv.
' T ^ H E figures quoted above are not extravagant, for the inrushing
X
trade from Europe will add to the wealth of the country.
Immigration is good for this country, and the future of many
industries become dependent in no small degree upon immigration,
for it is asserted by good authorities that the production of cotton
in the South has pretty nearly reached its limit, for the reason that
the number of workers, if not on the decline, is at least stationary.
The colored people of the South are flocking from the farms to
the cities, and many are migrating to other sections, and for some
time thoughtful Southerners have been impressed with the desir-
ability of a class of immigrants who would be valuable as farmers
and plantation hands. And offers are being made by a number of
to induce some of our newcomers to settle within their borders, and
thev will add to the wealth of the country.
T
HE cotton mills of the South have been complaining of the
scarcity of hands, so that it is not only in the fields that the
South needs the labor. Many of the mills have tried colored
operatives and found them useless. The supply of white help, on
the other hand, is limited, even though children of tender years
have been pressed into service. Under these circumstances the
expansion of the South's cotton manufacturing industry is threat-
ened with a serious check. Every merchant and every manufac-
turer is dependent upon the general prosperity of the country, and
therefore the class of people who are admitted to our shores, their
ability to forge ahead and help in building up an immense industry,
pro matter? of vital importance to all citizens.
NHERE is no success without system, and a system inaugurated
by some of our leading piano institutions has been the creative
and impelling force which has made their instruments a power in
the land. It is a liberal education indeed to those uninformed
to go through a systematically conducted piano factory, to note
the care, the intelligence, the nicety of detail work, the rigid insist-
ence upon excellence which is evidenced on all sides.
Take the Chickering factory of Boston. One does not wonder
after going through this splendid factory why the Chickering pianos
have won and maintained a prestige for over eighty-three years.
There has been an ever present desire to accomplish betterment
wherever possible—an increasing emphasis on development both
tonal and architectural. It is that system, that desire to do, which
is obvious in all departments w'lich have been instrumental in
creating the Chickering reputation, and then one of the most
notable features in that system is the absolute loyalty of the men
to the organization.
This is manifested in the pride which they take in their work.
They work to attain perfection. Now it takes years to develop a
system—that is, a system which results in producing finished prod-
ucts of the highest type. There are plenty of believers in the
statement that there must be an absolute harmony running through
every department to win the desired results.
A
GOOD system means the combination of all efforts in a
mighty force. When this is used for the accomplishment of
a definite, clean-cut purpose, it cannot fail to win desired recognition.
The successful men are those who have adopted system, and
who have adjusted their action towards the attainment of a certain
clearly seen object. They have worked with a definite aim in view,
and it pays any individual or concern to so systematize commercial
life that every individual connected with an institution is imbued
with the same idea which dominates the chief. Every subordinate
should be specific in his aim and use specific means to attain it.
Push, persistent, systematic effort in meeting each day's difficulties
is the one thing that will keep a business well to the forefront in
these days—for success lies in continuous effort along a certain
line.
L
EADING trade publications are pretty apt to reflect general
trade conditions in the particular industry in which they are
published, and 1905 in point of advertising and subscription re-
ceipts surpasses that of any previous year of Music Trade Review
history. Our readers understand that we control a competent and
well equipped newspaper organization. They know that The Re-
view is a helpful adjunct to the industry—that every department
is managed with the end in view of promoting the legitimate inter-
ests of the trade. They know that fair values are delivered to
advertisers and subscribers. They kno.w that the one dominating
principle of the paper is to make it more useful in every particular,
and a greater power for trade good. And an institution which
can put forth a weekly publication averaging sixty pages and a
monthly publication of forty pages is one which possesses some-
elements of strength and usefulness.
The institution, of course, could not be maintained without the
hearty co-operation of all departments of the trade, and that our
work is appreciated is best evidenced in the fact that many of our
advertisers have increased their yearly contracts for the new year.
They would not do this unless they had received a fair equiva-
lent for their expenditures in the past.
Our plans for 1906 will result in augmenting the usefulness of
The Review in every essential, thus making it more valuable to sub-
scriber and advertiser. There will be no halting on the vantage
ground won.
With the steadfast desire to promote the best interests of the
trade. The Review extends New Year's greetings to its readers
and patrons everywhere,