Presto

PRESTO
February 5, 1920.
23
J. S. LEONARD DIES
INTERNAL WATERWAYS A SUBJECT
IN NORTH CAROLINA
THAT CONCERNS ALL PIANO MEN
Report of Chairman of Committee of the National Piano Manufacturers
Association Tells Why Canals Have Not Been Active and
Why They Promise to Be So in the Future
By N. A. FEQEN
Chairman International Waterways Committee
The p r i n c i pal
activity of the year
in behalf of In-
ternal Waterways
is no doubt repre-
sented by the Na-
tional Rivers and
Harbors Congress
which convened in
W a s h ington De-
cember 10, 11 ami
12, 1919. As chair-
man of the Inter-
nal W a t e r w a y s
Committee of the
N a t i o n a l Piano
Manufacturers' As-
sociation, and as
r e p r esentative of
the Chicago Asso-
ciation of Com-
merce, and as a
member of t h e
Rivers and Har-
bors Association, I
a t t e n d e d the
W a s hington con-
ferences and took
N. A. FKGEN.
part in them. The
activity of that congress, it seems to me, will reflect
in the main the status of the present waterway situ-
ation.
Activity of Association.
I have referred to the activity of the National
Rivers and Harbors Association. This association
is national in spirit and has undertaken its work
without prejudice to the other agencies of transpor-
tation and with only the one desire to construct a
complete system of transportation that would care
for the demands of industry and commerce. This
body favors only the improvement of waterways
that would really be utilized. It will not entertain
any project which has for its object improving a
waterway simply to offer competition to the rail-
roads. It will endorse only that waterway project
which is intended for the needs of commerce; and
not only this but it recommends expenditures of
public monies only on projects approved by army
engineers and adopted by Congress.
This body is heartily in accord with the policy of
Congress in enacting annual river and harbor bills,
making it possible for desirable waterway projects
to be completed and ready for traffic within a rea-
sonable time.
During the past year there could be no real revival
of inland waterway transportation because of the
ultimate transfer of the railroads from Government
control to the people of the United States. The
proper operation and development of waterways, of
course, depends on the suitable relation of water-
ways to the railways. Since there must be legisla-
tion for termination of Government control of the
railroads, and a laying down of conditions under
which the roads shall be operated when returned to
their owners, the efforts of the Rivers and Harbors
Congress have, for some time past, been devoted
primarily to the inclusion in the railroad bill of
proper provisions for the production and develop-
ment of waterways.
Referred to Senate Committee.
Accordingly, a committee on transportation leg-
islation, consisting of 113 members and representing
32 states and 82 cities, prepared a series of seven
amendments, embodying requisite legislation in be-
half of waterways. These amendments were pre-
sented by Senator Ransdell to the Senate Commit-
tee on Interstate Commerce, and by Representa-
tive Small to the House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce.
The legislation affecting waterways which has
been incorporated in the House and Senate bills
referred to has been proposed on the following con-
siderations. It is admitted that a few waterways
have little or no commerce and have not justified
the expenditures upon them, and it is also admitted
that some waterways are not adequately used. There
is, however, sufficient cause for both these condi-
tions which may be very briefly summed up in the
following five points:
Five Adverse Points.
First, the unfair competition and treatment by
competing railroads. As a co-ordinate agency of
transportation, boat lines are entitled to co-opera-
tion and not destruction. The proposed legislation
assures a readjustment of rail rates competitive with
waterways, and will require a discontinuance of un-
fair practices.
Second, the interchange of traffic with connecting
railroads by means of through rates and bills of
lading- has not been permitted water carriers to a
sufficient extent. The amendment to the Commerce
Act of 1912 gave the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion jurisdiction to establish interchange of traffic
between rail and water lines, but this has been
but partially enforced. The proposed legislation
will give desired relief.
Third, the owning and operating of railroads of
competing boat lines has been a distinct menace
to waterways. An amendment to the Commerce
Act of 1912 prohibited such action by the railroads,
but gave the Interstate Commerce Commission dis-
cretion to suspend temporarily the enforcement of
the law for sufficient reasons. The new legislation
provides that this particular provision of the law
shall not be amended or relaxed.
In the next place the lack of water terminals has
militated against waterways. It is essential that the
transfer between the boat and rail carriers should
be as cheap and expeditious as possible. The pro-
posed legislation provides that construction of such
terminals shall be at the expense of the state or
municipality, to be maintained and regulated as
seems best for the public interest.
The fifth and last reason for waterways not hav-
ing been used to the full is an almost general lack
of understanding on the part of shippers of the
importance of developing water transportation as
a co-ordinate part of the universal transportation
system. The proposed legislation does not specific-
ally take care of this point, but all the legislation
has, of course, had this consideration in view.
Federal Agency Proposed.
In addition, the proposed legislation took cogni-
zance of the great essential of creating a Federal
agency qualified to give necessary advice as to the
appropriate type of boats to be used, the location,
plans and costs of water terminals, and advice in
general to assist in the solution of waterway prob-
lems.
Attention was also directed to the legislative
needs of boats and barges already in operation.
Under the Railroad Control bill, the President was
authorized in his discretion to utilize canals and
waterways and to construct boats and barges for
them.
Still another amendment provides that absorption
by a water carrier of the switching, terminal, or
other charge of a rail carrier for service within the
limits of a port terminal, should not be held to con-
stitute an arrangement for a continuous carriage
within the meaning of the act to regulate commerce
and should not subject such water carrier to the
provisions of such act.
Legislation Recommended.
Finally, it was not overlooked to give due con-
sideration to the questions of water power, mer-
chant marine, and port-to-port rates. Legislation
has been recommended providing for the develop-
ment of power wherever practicable in conjunction
with the improvement of systems for navigation.
The prospect for the future of the waterways
appears better at this time than ever before. Well
directed organized effort is crystallizing public
opinion in favor of waterways. For instance,
twenty-two Middle West states, representing 54
per cent of the voting population of the country and
constituting the great Mississippi Valley, have de-
clared to the United States Congress their inten-
tion in favor of waterways. Railroads are becoming
to realize more and more that even with the utiliza-
tion of all the waterways the requirements of grow-
ing traffic can hardly be cared for.
Veteran Music Dealer of Statesville, a Wescr
Piano Enthusiast, Won Fame as Com-
poser of Songs and Hymns.
North Carolina's veteran music dealer and com-
poser, J. S. Leonard of Statesville, died Sunday,
January 25, aged 76 years. Mr. Leonard had been
in the music business at Statesville for forty years
and was widely known throughout the state both
as a piano and organ dealer, and as a teacher and
composer of vocal music. Years ago, before the day
of good roads and trucks, he operated "organ wag-
ons," having as high as ten salesmen and teams in
the field at one time, and hauling pianos and organs
to remote sections of the western part of the state.
Through honest dealings with the public, he won
an enviable reputation as a dealer, and was recog-
nized as an authority on music and musical instru-
ments. He composed over two hundred songs and
hymns, and has for years published his composi-
tions in a book entitled "Carolina Harmony," which
is widely used in churches and schools.
Six of Mr. Leonard's nine children are boys, and
three of these have followed their father in the
music business. When his father's health failed a
year ago, J. Paul Leonard took over his business at
Statesville, and on the return of Lieut. Owen W.
Leonard from army service a new Leonard piano
store was opened at Statesville, owned by J. Paul
Leonard and managed by Owen W. Leonard.
J. Paul Leonard is secretary of the North Carolina
Merchants' Association and devotes the major por-
tion of his time to his organization work. John B.
Leonard, another son, is in the music business at
Kinston, N. C. The three Leonard boys are now
contemplating incorporating the Leonard Piano
Stores and establishing a chain of stores across the
state.
Just two years after Weser Bros, of New York
began the manufacture of pianos forty years ago,
J. S. Leonard became their agent in North Carolina,
and has sold their products ever since. He was
probably the oldest Weser dealer in the country.
Within five blocks on one street in Statesville are
eight Weser pianos sold by the Leonards, four of
which have been in use over a quarter century and
one of which has been in use thirty-seven years.
The junior Leonards expect to sustain their father's
reputation in business, and continue to sell the same
established lines he handled.
The following letter to Weser Bros, from J. Paul
Leonard summarizes the association of the Leonard
interests with the Weser piano:
Statesville, N. C, Jan. 28, 1920.
Weser Bros.,
New York:
Gentlemen—In the death of Mr. J. S. Leonard,
which occurred the past Sunday, as related in news-
paper clippings which we will enclose, we know that
we have lost one of the best fathers with which men
have ever been blessed, and we feel that the Weser
piano has probably lost its best friend. It probably
marks the passing also of your oldest agent, both
in age and point of service.
Father was a most ardent admirer of the Weser
instruments and their makers, and although he han-
dled during his forty years in business the products
of many other factories, none surpassed the Weser
in his estimation. The love of the Weser has been
inculcated in us, his sons, to such an extent that we,
as you know, feature the Weser and boost it just
as he boosted it.
Because of his record in the business, we feel that
an announcement of father's death, together with a
few facts, would be of interest to the trade, as well
as to you, and I am enclosing two copies of a brief
statement which I have prepared, which I would
appreciate your handing to the editorial department
of the musical journals published in your city.
If the statement is used by any of the journals to
which you are a subscriber, we would appreciate
your forwarding to us copies containing same.
We want to take this occasion to thank you most;
sincerely for the many courtesies extended our
father during his business relations with you, and
we want to ask that you continue these courtesies
to us. We will make every effort to merit them.
Again thanking you, I am,
Very truly yours,
(Signed)
J. PAUL LEONARD.
HEXT BRANCH CHANGES HANDS.
Thomas Hext, proprietor of the Hext Music Co.,
having completed over thirty years of activity in
the music business in Colorado, has soldvthe Greeley
branch store to Edwin F. Kimbrel, who has been
manager of the store there. Mr. Kimbrel will con-
duct the business under the name of the Kimbrel
Music Co.
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