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THE
RfYBW
flU JIC TIRADE
V O L . X L V . No. 5. Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at I MadisonAvc, New York, August 3, 1907
PROSPERITY HERE TO STAY.
Some Twenty-six Leading Authorities Write
The Times on the Situation and All Prac-
tically Declare That the Skies Are Every-
where Clear for a Good Business.
The New York Times of Monday last contained
a most exhaustive symposium on actual condi-
tions which prevail to-day in the trades and in-
dustries of the United States, contributed by
twenty-seven leading authorities in the world of
trade and commerce. It is an almost unanimous
chorus of optimistic forecasts, and briefly put
means that prosperity is here to stay. The
Times, in its introductory to these valuable and
interesting contributions, says:
"For the last few years a period of almost un-
precedented prosperity has prevailed in the Unit-
ed States. Wages, on the average, have never
been so high, nor have the comforts and necessi-
ties of life been within the reach of so many.
But this continued prosperity, apparently, has
begotten a certain amount of uneasiness which is
easily discernible in an increasing tendency to
predict disaster in the near future.
"There are not lacking those who say that the
good times of recent years cannot last, and that
they will be replaced by a period of business de-
pression, the effect of which will be far reaching.
"Will the United States be able to maintain the
present era of prosperity? The pessimist says
that this is not possible, and, as a proof of his
contention, he points to the existing stringency
in the money market. But a genuine, reliable
forecast of the future is not dependent for its
data altogether on the fluctuations of finance.
In order to reach a thorough grasp of the busi-
ness situation of the country as a whole, the con-
dition of its various industrial activities are to
be considered.
"Is the volume of commerce on the decrease?
Are the manufacturing interests showing any
signs of decadence? Is the demand for labor
less than it was a year ago?
"The answers to these queries are to be found
in the actual conditions which prevail to-day in
the trades and industries of the United States.
To ascertain these conditions and to derive from
them something upon which to base a conserva-
tive estimate of the country's immediate indus-
trial future, The Times has asked for an expres-
sion of fact and opinion from leading authorities
in the world of trade. The result of this canvass,
as here given, is gratifying in every sense of
the word. With scarcely an exception, each line
of industrial activity that has been consulted
shows an encouraging degree of progress, and in
no case is there a forecast of the future colored
by pessimistic forebodings.
"These trade authorities, arguing from present
conditions and tendencies, see in the outlook a
continuation, and even an increase in the pros-
perity which the country is at present enjoying.
It is pointed out, as the one negative feature in
the situation, that there is a scarcity of money
in the markets; but this very lack of money ip
quoted as an evidence of business activity. For
the moment, it is believed, this stringency may
act as a check to the development of new enter-
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
prises. But in the end, it is argued, whatever
force this money scarcity may exert, will be
counteracteu by the uniform stability of the
country's crops and the disinclination on the
part of business to decline from its present
standard of activity.
"Thus, on all sides, America's business future
is deemed to be built on a solid basis, and there
is no room given by these experts in trade con-
ditions to the belief that the threat of coming
hard times is visible on the country's horizon."
We regret that space prevents any extended
reference to these contributions, but we must
thank The Times for printing such an inspiring
symposium—one that cannot fail to strengthen
the backbone of our friends who have been pes-
simistically inclined.
not been possible for the association to make
any contributions to the freight bureau. Dealers
can appreciate the necessity of an income with
which to carry on their business, and the same
condition applies to the traffic manager, and un-
less the contributions are received promptly he
will not be able to carry on his work to ad-
vantage.
Once more the officers of the association ask
that the members make their remittances for
the freight bureau promptly.
FREIGHT CONCESSIONS.
The Berryman Music Co., Wichita, Kan., have
taken the agency for the Mehlin line and have
already placed three grands in one of the lead-
ing conservatories of Wichita. This firm deal ex-
clusively in pianos and players, and have built
up an excellent business in their section, the
summer trade proving surprisingly good. They
have secured the services of F. H. Guthrie, for-
merly manager of the Matthews Piano Co.,
Omaha, who holds the same position with them.
Traffic Manager, Thomas C. Moore, Secures
Further Concessions for Shippers of Pianos
and Organs—The Details in Full.
(Supplied by Chairman of Press Committee.)
Freight Traffic Manager Thomas C. Moore re-
cently attended the meeting of the Western
Classification Committee at Charlevoix, Mich. The
session lasted for a period of ten days, nearly all
of which time was devoted to the interest of
shippers and receivers of pianos and cabinet or-
gans. At this meeting Mr. Moore succeeded in
securing the following concessions:
Piano chairs and music cabinets to be shipped
with carloads of pianos as part of carload.
Two second-hand pianos to be shipped in with
carload of emigrants' movables in carload.
The minimum weight, 8,000 pounds on pianos
and cabinet organs in carloads to be continued.
It was intended to advance this minimum to 10,-
000 pounds, but Mr. Moore was able to prevent
the advance.
Shipments of cabinet organs unboxed in car-
loads to be taken without requiring that same
be wrapped. The other provisions of the classi-
fications, however, for loading must be thorough-
ly complied with.
Pipe organs in carloads, second class, 10,000
pounds. Pipe organs had heretofore been shipped
at first class in any quantity.
Mr. Moore naturally feels much gratified by
the concessions secured at this meeting of the
Classification Committee, and trusts that it will
be thoroughly appreciated by the manufacturers
and dealers.
Right in this connection the officers of the
freight bureau desire to request the members of
the association who have promised their assist-
ance to the freight bureau, as well as those who
have not, that they make their remittances to
Mr. C. R. Putnam, secretary, 120 Boylston street,
Boston, Mass., promptly, as the freight bureau is
in need of immediate funds for the advancement
of the work. Mr. Moore, the traffic manager,
cannot maintain his office without support, and
i s r a t the present time in need of liberal sub-
scriptions. The fund which was subscribed for
this department during the year of 1906 and 1907
was entirely exhausted in May previous to the
Chicago convention, and since that time it has
MEHLIN WITH BERRYMAN CO.
The Wichita Dealers Have Already Placed
Three Mehlin Grands With a Prominent Con-
servatory in Their Goahead City.
TOLEDO SALESMEN WANT EARLY CLOSING
Owing to "the fact that one piano house in
Toledo, O., refused to close on Saturday after-
noons, the salesmen of that city have organized
and joined the Central Labor Union in order to
force recognition of their grievances. It is said
that the salesmen will combat the dealers' organi-
zation. Several attempts to form a national
salesmen's association have failed, but the move
of the Toledo men will be watched with interest.
BUFFALO MUSIC CO. MAKE THEIR BOW.
The Buffalo Music; Co., Buffalo, N. Y., is the
title of a new concern, who will occupy the quar-
ters recently vacated by C. Kilrtzmann & Co. A
J. Cook, formerly of C. Kurtzmann & Co., will be
manager for the new house, and they will handle
the Ivers & Pond pianos as their leader.
FREIGHT TRANSIT BY TROLLEY.
Music trade men of Meriden, Conn., are con-
sidering a proposition from the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad and the Consoli-
dated Railway Co. for the delivery of freight
directly to their doors by means of a trolley
express. The Charles Parker Co., piano stool
manufacturers, are much interested in the
scheme which was first mentioned some time
ago by President Mellen, of the New Haven and
Hartford Railroad.
HAMMETT IN NEW QUARTERS.
T. J. Hammett, who handles the Hazelton
and other pianos and player-pianos in Redlands,
Cal., and who recently removed his business from
13 to 24 State street, that city, has had the latter
premises fitted up in handsome fashion to meet
the special requirements of his business.