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JANUARY 5,
1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
GREAT TRANSFORMATION IN CONDITIONS IN SOUTHLAND
Review of General Conditions Published by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Shows Unusual De-
velopment and Prosperity Which Has Come to the Southern States During Past Year
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 31.—A bird's
eye view of business made public to-day by the
United States Chamber of Commerce shows
that extraordinary and abnormal demands made
upon everyone from farm boy to corporation
head have left the nation steady and with heavy
reserves coming up for the new year. The re-
port is made by the Chamber's permanent com-
mittee of statistical experts of which Archer
Wall Douglas, of St. Louis, is chairman.
The attitude of the business world toward the
future, runs the report, seems to depend more
upon local conditions than upon any general
sentiment. In those sections where the crops
were poor there is a great deal of natural con-
servation and caution in making purchases and
commitments; for the common sense of the buy-
ers generally prefers to await the results of the
coming crops.
In some sections of the East there is more or
less of this same hesitation and doubt, despite
much industrial activity, and apparently because
of drastic economy among the purchasing pub-
lic, also the pinch of the high cost of living,
and the realization that all of war's burdens
are yet to be felt. In general, however, in the
larger portion of the country the buying power
of the many is greater and more widespread
than ever before, so that the general view seems
to be a sustained confidence, tempered by the
realization that no one can possibly divine what
the future holds in store for us, and consequent-
ly all purchasing is for needs and wants, with
the element of speculation almost entirely elim-
inated. Apparently, the general volume of busi-
ness seems assured at something like its pres-
ent status during the coming winter months.
The report sets forth, for instance, that, al-
though the early and severe frost and wet
weather resulted in much soft corn in the Cen-
tral West, the corn crop in the South is very
large this year and is of most excellent quality.
The South has corn to ship after taking care
of all its own needs, and has also an abundance
of other feed for live stock.
"The transformation within a twelvemonth of
certain sections of the South in agricultural and
business conditions seems almost unbelievable,"
says the report. "There were portions of the
Central South at this time last year that were
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) have the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
We fix " o n e p r i c e d -
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
in the slough of despond. Crops of all kinds,
owing to the boll weevil and excessive rains,
were almost complete failures. Negroes, the
staple agricultural laborers, were leaving in
thousands for the North and the East, and the
future seemed to offer nothing but that grim
endurance which the Southern people have so
often experienced and practiced.
"To-day the reports throughout these same
regions are optimistic beyond expression, and
indicate that the boast of the South that 'it is
the land of opportunity' is in reality a sober
truth. If some crops, such as rice and sugar
cane, were not as large as in some years past,
these products now bring great prices which
more than make up the difference to the pro-
ducers. It is true that the same September
freeze that hurt corn so badly this year likewise
blighted a large area of cotton in Tennessee,
Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama. But, again,
the appreciation in price of this great staple
brought its compensation to the farmers and
planters. An interesting side light on cotton
is that it is being successfully raised, though in
a moderate way, as far south in Florida as the
bay of Tampa."
The report also goes on to say that the South
is learning much through its experience in the
diversification of crops. It also states that,
owing to drought, cattle raisers in Texas and
New Mexico have suffered severe losses, and
many have turned to the raising of goats and
sheep, which can be carried through these emer-
gencies with greater success.
After reviewing the crop and live stock sit-
uation in detail and most interestingly, the re-
port takes up the labor question as follows:
"Labor shortage is everywhere marked—in
mines and the lumber business, in manufactur-
ing, and in every phase of distribution. The
familiar feature now in this connection is the
steady substitution of women for men in all
manner of employment. After the initial train-
ing they are usually found very faithful in their
duties, industrious, and are usually less trouble-
some than men, even though they do not in
all cases possess man's initiative."
CAMERON CO. ENTERTAINS STAFF
Music House of Allen town, Pa., Celebrates
Eleventh Anniversary of Its Establishment
ALLENTOWN, PA., December. 31.—The manage-
ment of the Cameron Piano Co., 905 Hamilton
street, last evening entertained its employes at
a banquet at the Hotel Columbia, the event be-
ing arranged to commemorate the closing of the
eleventh year of successful business of the com-
pany in this city, and to instil a get-together
spirit among the employes of the firm.
During the course of the evening there were
a number of short addresses, which were fea-
tured by remarks from members of the firm, who
spoke of the vast show of co-operative spirit
which bespoke the advance of the company.
The Cameron Co. started business in this city
in 1907 at their present address, with but small
warerooms on the first floor. It was soon seen
that larger quarters were necessary and the
second floor of the building was then leased and
to-day the entire structure is the home of the
enterprising concern.
It was to commemorate this phenomenal
growth and to show the appreciation of the com-
pany to the employes, all of whom have been
selected for their personal fitness for their posi-
tions, that the banquet was arranged.
Among those present were: E. D. Cameron,
F. E. Freed, H. M. Gingrich, H. M. L. Henry,
J. G. Margargai, H. N. Pakenham, P. E. Remaly,
J. P. Shanahan, Wilson G. Snyder and Howard
Sommons.
The concern handles the Lauter, Milton and
Weser Bros, line of pianos and players, to^
gether with the Columbia Grafonola.
11
IMITATION
BUSINESS FOUNDED IN
EIGHTEEN
fltTY-HX
I
MITATION may be flattery, but
to sell the piano buyer an imitation
of a standard make, when he thinks
he is getting the genuine, comes under
the head of unfair dealing.
Such substitution can only be practiced
in territory where the genuine instru-
ment is unrepresented, for it is well
known that all imitations are of inferior
quality.
There is some open territory on
DECKER
PIANOS
and
PLAYER
PIANOS
Now and always made by members of
the Decker family. When musicians
refer to "the Decker Piano," this is
the piano they mean—the 61-year-old
Decker, and this is the piano the people
expect to get when they buy a Decker.
It has been proven that the tone of a
high-class piano cannot be successfully
imitated, and this is especially true of
the Decker.
If you want the agency of the genuine
Decker, write for prices and litera-
ture to
DECKER & SON, Inc.
697-701 East 135th Street
NEW YORK CITY