Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 12, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
commercial life of the country should be interfered with and dis-
located as little as possible, and the public may rest assured that
the interest and convenience of the private shipper will be, as
carefully served and safeguarded as it is possible to serve and
safeguard it in the present extraordinary circumstances."
The taking" over of the railroads, of course, has meant a
temporary disturbance, augmented by the unusually cold weather
in the East and by a railroad and ice congestion which has dis-
turbed all kinds of traffic to a considerable degree. Within a
very short time, however, it is expected that the railroads will
be able not only to equal the service of the past, but to trans-
port freight more quickly and satisfactorily, because of the pool-
ing of all the various operating companies.
It is important now that Congress should act quickly in
translating the President's recommendations"into law, for the
sooner our national Legislature gets busy, the quicker the trans-
portation industry can be adjusted to the new conditions. This
is not the time for needless debating, or theorizing regarding
what the Government may or may not do with the railroads
after the war. The fact faces us to-day that we are at war, and
that the railroads are in the hands of the Government, to be
administered to the best possible advantage of the nation, not
only in connection with speeding up war necessities, but in
stabilizing the industries of the country. It is up to Congress
to act, and to act quickly.
HE general disruption of railway freight transportation, due
T
to war conditions, has affected practically every line of indus-
try, except such as are actually engaged in supplying Govern-
mental needs. The result has been to attract attention to other
modes of freight transportation, and regular inter-city service by
motor truck has been announced to take care of freight in various
localities, particularly in the East. One route as planned will
operate between Springfield, Mass., and New York City, and be
extended later to cover other New England points. Another
route is between Philadelphia and New York, and others are in
contemplation. In view of prevailing conditions piano men
should be interested in such projects for relieving transportation
tie-ups, and they should carefully study the opportunities that
lie in that direction.
HE official report of the United States Chamber of Com-
T
merce regarding general conditions throughout the country
says significantly: "The transformation within a twelvemonth in
certain sections of the South in agricultural and business condi-
tions seems almost unbelievable. Today the reports throughout
these 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."'
The statement set forth is of particular interest to the mem-
REVIEW
bers of the music trade, and particularly the manufacturing inter-
ests. Business records show that the South is developing and
developing rapidly. From an agricultural standpoint that section
has undergone a complete revolution and rejuvenation. Cotton is
not king, but it is at least a very important princeling, and the
farming element have learned to diversify their crops to the great
advantage of their incomes. Then, too, mining and manufactur-
ing operations in the South are expanding steadily, and that sec-
tion of the country may be expected to furnish a business volume
that will more than offset any unexpected slump in any other sec-
tions. The Southern field is worth looking into and cultivating.
DVERTISING is acknowledged to be an essential force
A
in business, and the* merchant who does not at this day
and date believe in advertising and as much of it as his busi-
ness will stand is not going to be able to meet competition and
progress for very long. Intelligence in buying advertising space,
however, is just as essential as intelligence in the selection of
merchandise to advertise.
It is far better for the merchant to advertise in an estab-
lished newspaper that is published regularly than to waste his
money, no matter how little, upon souvenir programs or special
publications of similar nature issued in the interests of balls,
church affairs, clubs, etc. There are some cases where the
merchant feels that he cannot afford to jeopardize his stand-
ing with certain customers, by refusing to support the affairs
in which they are interested by advertising in the program, but
through co-operating with one and another and joining together
in a refusal to spend money on such schemes, merchants in
many sections have cut such waste down to a minimum.
Once in a while there appears a program in which it might
perhaps pay the merchant to advertise, but that single an-
nouncement will bring about his ears a host of other solicitors
of program advertising.
The value of the souvenir program is aptly set forth by
Montague Glass in one of his stories: "And the Greatest of
These." An advertising solicitor working on the program of
the Ladies' Society approaches one of Mr. Glass's characteristic
business men, and is turned down. She remarks that she under-
stood that the particular business man was a believer in adver-
tising, and brings forth this reply: "I do believe in advertising,
lady, but a sow-veneer program ain't advertising, y' under-
stand. Advertising is telling somebody who has got to get
what you got, that you've got it, and you've got it good and
cheap. But when you advertise in a sow-veneer program y'
understand you are telling somebody which don't give a
,
which don't care what you've got, that you are adding to the
cost of your merchandise by spending money foolishly."
It is a thought on advertising that is worth preserving, not
only by piano men, but by business men generally.
GETTING DOWN TO PLAIN PLAYER FACTS
The education of the public along player lines is a necessity for the expansion of the player business.
There is no doubt of that; and education of the piano merchants and salesmen is also a vital necessity,
because through them will come a powerful force in the education of the public; and right here we wish to
remark that we have produced a line of books upon the player-piano which comprehensively covers the
entire player situation.
In this respect this trade newspaper stands alone, for it has been the principal source from which player
information has been available for piano merchants and salesmen for a period of years. Our latest book,
"The Player-Piano Up to Date"
is the best of the series. It contains upwards of 220 pages of matter bearing directly upon the player.
Every piano merchant and piano salesman should have a copy of this book within easy reach. It
gives to readers a fund of information not obtainable elsewhere.
It contains a series of original drawings and a vast amount of instructive and educational matter, as
well as a detailed description of some of the principal player mechanisms.
It costs $1.50 to have this book delivered to any address in the United States, and your money will be
refunded if you are not satisfied with the book after examination. No one yet has availed himself of this
opportunity. Foreign countries, 15c. to cover extra postage, should be added.
Estate of EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Publisher
373 Fourth Ave., New York