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THE MUSIC TRADE
JANUARY 19, 1918
REVIEW
11
GOVERNMENT WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PIANOS
Fuel Administration States That Every Effort Will Be Made to Furnish the Piano Industry With
Coal Sufficient for Its Needs—No Attempt at Arbitrary Curtailment Planned
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 14.—Many of the
details in connection with its program to cur-
tail coal shipments to industries not absolutely
essential to the war were given to-night in a
statement by the Fuel Administration. The
industries involved were assured that no effort
would be made to eliminate them entirely, as
such a move, it was held, might result disas-
trously to the "industrial fabric of the country."
Here.is the statement:
"The discussion of the 'limitation of non-
essential industries' started with a very unfor-
tunate misuse of words. The idea, as ex-
ploited in the newspapers, that the Govern-
ment intended to cut off 'non-essential' indus-
tries had in it possibilities for disaster.
"All industries are closely inter-related. For
instance, pianos and jewelry may be sent to
Chile to pay for nitrates needed for ammuni-
tion, and no large class can be arbitrarily cut off
without seriously upsetting the entire indus-
trial fabric of the country. Certainly no in-
dustry is 'non-essential' to the workmen and
capital employed therein, and when one consid-
ers that over 10,000,000 people and $13,000,000,000
of capital are employed by 'non-war' industries,
the need of caution in dealing with this problem
is manifest.
'On the other hand, our industrial equipment
is limited. We do not have materials, ma-
chinery, transportation, labor, or capital suffi-
cient for fighting the great war and for normal
business at the same time. The war must be
prosecuted to the utmost, and business must
shrink to provide the necessary equipment. The
problem is to provide this necessary equipment
with the least possible injury to the business
of the country.
"If so-called 'non-essential' industries are 'cut
off,' as suggested, many of them would be ruined
and others permanently crippled. The Fuel
Administration has worked out a plan which
provides for necessary restrictions with the least
possible injury to industries. This plan is as
follows:
"(a) A complete coal budget with a detailed
estimate showing:
"1. Total coal production in 1918 (Bureau of
Mines estimate).
"2. Coal needed in 1918 for direct war work.
"3. Balance left for non-war industries.
"4. Coal used in 1917 by non-war industries.
"5. Total coal curtailment necessary for non-
war industries.
"(b) Provide for necessary coal curtailment
by the following steps:
"1. Voluntary agreement by eacli non-war in-
dustry to limit the least essential parts of its
product—each industry making the reduction
where it will do the least harm.
"2. Formal order from Fuel Administrator
making legal and binding on the entire industry
the various restrictions voluntarily agreed upon.
"This plan applies directly to actual coal
THE LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Grands, Uprights
and Players
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Players
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
Uprights and Player-Pianos
If your competitor does not already have this
line, go after it at once.
Weaver Piano Co., Inc.
FACTORY
Established 1870
YORK, PA.
consumption only. The actual effect is to limit
production. Consequently limitation in the use
of coal will make a corresponding saving in
transportation and in the materials needed for
the war.
"Committees representing each of the prin-
cipal industries will be called to Washington
and the necessary saving of coal arranged for
along the lines suggested by the industry itself.
Among the methods of saving are the follow-
ing:
"(a) Reduction of hours.
"(b) Reduction of lines manufactured.
"(c) Elimination of new lines or designs.
"(d) More efficient management.
"(e) Transfer of product from non-war to
war.
"The coal saved will vary according to the
character of each industry. Our figures show
that if each industry does its share the coal
necessary can be obtained without cutting down
any industries so as to permanently injure them.
Experience shows that these restrictions may
even prove a benefit by eliminating wasteful-
ness and inefficient practices which have grown
up by careless management or stress of competi-
tion.
"The above plan has already been tried out
enough to prove its practicability. In each case
the industry has given its heartiest support and
shown its desire to co-operate with the Govern-
ment in every possible manner. The volun-
tary saving shown by the industries already
called into conference promises to be over 15,-
000,000 tons. The brewers have voluntarily
agreed to save 700,000 tons; the box board man-
ufacturers will cut their running time to five
days a week. This will save 1,000,000 tons of
coal and take 30,000 cars of merchandise off the
railroads."
SCHMIDT CO. HOLDS SALE
Disposes of Used Instruments Through Medium
of Excellent Advertisement
The Schmidt Music Co., of 111 West Third
street, Davenport, la., recently held a special
clearance sale of eleven used pianos which had
been taken on exchange. The sale was fea-
tured in the local papers by means of a large
advertisement which was admirably constructed,
and which contained none of the offensive fea-
tures so often found in clearance sale advertise-
ments.
The advertisement set forth that eleven
pianos of various makes had been taken in ex-
change for other instruments, and that the con-
cern desired to dispose of these instruments, as
it did not wish to carry them on its annual in-
ventory. The makes of the instruments were
given, but no prices were published. The ad-
vertisement appeared continuously for two days
prior to the sale, and excellent results were ob-
tained.
The Schmidt Music Co., which is known as
Iowa's oldest music house, holds the local
agency for the Steinway instruments, and in ad-
dition to its main store in Davenport conducts
a branch store in Muscatine. The concern did
an excellent business during 1917, and has
bright prospects for a continuance of the same
during the present year.
SUFFER SERIOUS LOSS FROM FIRE
BEAUMONT, TEX., January 15.—In a lire which
destroyed the large warehouse of the Beaumont
Transfer Co., Fannin & Park streets, this city,
the Pierce-Goodell Piano Co. lost twenty-eight
pianos and thirty Victrolas valued approximate-
ly at $14,000, which were stored in the building.
It is generally believed that the insurance on
the contents of the structure will cover the
losses.
The Public
KEEPS
IT
GOING
because there
are many excel-
lent features
about it that the
public is willing
to pay to hear.
COINOLA
is Troubleproof
and has the ability to
stand up under hard
usage.
It will prove a profit-
able addition to any
dealer's line. Write to-
day for particulars of our
Free Trial Offer
Operators Piano
Company
LOUIS M. SEVERSON, Pr«.
Clybourn Ave. and Osgood St.
CHICAGO, ILL.