Music Trade Review
Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 11 - Page 11
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From a Traveler's Note Book.
5cP5(«)xn><5>x«^^
PASSED THE LAST MILESTONE
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN
DIFFERENT SECTIONS TRADE CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH THE EAST IS NEGLECTING A
RICH FIELD CHICAGO IS LOOKING CLOSE AFTER IT SOME FIGURES QUOTED WHICH
WILL INTEREST A LESS PER CAPITA INDEBTEDNESS THAN ANY OTHER SECTION
—MUSIC TRADE IN MEMPHIS—O. C. HOUCK & CO. A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
CONCERN D. H. BALDWIN & CO.'s BRANCH — E. W1TZMAN & CO.
JOHN LUDWlt; IN TOWN—MARDI GRAS AT NEW ORLEANS THE
CITY GIVEN OVER TO THE REIGN OF REX—AN INTERESTING
OLD CITY THE PRINCIPAL MUSIC STORES RENE^GRUNE-
WALD'S SUCCESS WILL DOUBLE HIS FACTORY
FACILITIES—NORTHERN VISITORS WHO
SAW MARDI GRAS.
HE last milestone on the turn-
pike of commercial and indus-
trial depression seems to have
been reached and from now
on, if we may judge from in-
dications, there is ahead of us
a good clear business road, asphalted
with confidence.
During the past two and a half months
I have been afforded opportunities to study
the trade in different sections and as I
have written you previously I have seen
indisputable evidence of the incoming
tide of prosperity. To sura up the situa-
tion by sections, trade in New England is
better than in almost any other part of the
country. I should include also as special-
ly favored points, New York and Pennsyl-
vania.
The most depressed conditions prevail
in the Central West, and the losses created
by the recent floods there will tend to ac-
centuate rather than to lighten the busi-
ness gloom. In the Northwest the trade
barometer is down close to the bulb, but the
conditions are a trifle clearer than in the
Middle West. .
In the South I have found a much better
condition of things commercial than I had
looked for.
Notwithstanding the low prices of the
great Southern staples, cotton and sugar,
this country has prospered and on every
hand I can observe signs which indicate
material advances since my last visit to
Dixie.
For the benefit of some of my readers
who are uninformed as to the financial
status of the South I respectfully submit a
few figures.
To my mind the average manufacturer
in the East has overlooked the rich field
south of the Ohio River.
Chicago has not, she has on the contrary
cultivated it to the disadvantage of New
York.
Chicago is after Southern trade in all
lines and what is more, she is getting an
enormous slice of it. She is getting it in
musical instruments and our Eastern man-
ufacturers should look well to their laurels.
The Southern people owe less money to-
day than the inhabitants of any other
section of the country. The average land
mortgage indebtedness, per capita, accord-
ing to statistical figures, in the fourteen
Southern states, is $25, whereas in fourteen
Northern and Western states it is $129.
The average ratio of land mortgage indebt-
edness to assessed valuation in the four-
teen Southern states is n . 6 per cent.,
against 32.5 per cent, in fourteen Northern
and Western states.
*
*
*
*
The land mortgage indebtedness of the
two states of Kansas and Iowa exceeds by
more than fifty million dollars the aggre-
gate land mortgage indebtedness of all the
Southern states, including Texas. The
interest on real estate mortgages in Kansas
amounts to $14 per annum per capita,
while in Alabama it is only $2 and in Ten-
nessee $1.37. It is shown that the aver-
age per capita, counting municipal and
school districts, debts for the New England
and middle states is $23.91; for the South-
ern states $5.75, and for the Central West
$11.33-
Another interesting statement is that the
last census reveals that the assessed value
of taxable property per capita in thirty-five
principal Southern cities increased 25 per
cent, between 1880 and 1890, while the
bonded indebtedness per capita for the
same period shows an actual average de-
crease of over 12 per cent., being in 1890
only $42 per capita against an average of
$70 in the largest American cities and
against an average of $120 in the leading
foreign cities, such as Paris, Brussels,
Liverpool and Antwerp. I may add too
that the South did not vote for free silver in
the last election but for the Democratic
party.
The importance of Memphis as a distribut-
ing point is steadily augmenting. In
former years the terrible visitation of that
Southern scourge, yellow fever, caused it
to linger by the wayside of progress. The
Memphis of to-day, with its modern system
of sewerage and its clean, well paved streets,
need no longer fear a plague, the germs of
which fatten on filth.
O. C. Houck & Co. have developed a
splendid Southern trade. The firm was
established in 1883 and work a large ter-
ritory in three or four states. They are
agents for the Steinway, Vose, Steger, Ster-
ling, Singer, Hardman, Majestic and
other pianos.
Besides, members of the firm are stock-
holders in the Kershner Piano Co., and
although a new instrument it is rapidly
growing in favor through the influence of
O. C. Houck & Co.
April first Jesse French Houck, a brother
of O. C , will be admitted to partnership.
At the Tennessee Centennial at Nash-
ville, the Houck firm will make an exhibit
of Kershner pianos with the " Angelus "
attachment and the Symphony as well.
D. H. Baldwin & Co. have a branch here
under the management of Mr. Griffin,
whom I found to be a most affable gentle-
man.
Few realize, except travelers, the far-
reaching influence of the great Baldwin
house of Cincinnati.
Their branches in Southern and Northern
states are manifold.
Mr. Griffin said that his business during
February, 1897, had increased over that of
1896 one-third, and a remarkable increase
in cash sales.
When I walked into the establishment of
E. Witzman & Co., 221 Second street, who
should I see talking to the proprietor but
John Ludwig, of New York. He has been
out of New York some weeks and has
closed some very handsome business deals.
Mr. Ludwig is one of the few manufac-
turers who believe that it pays to travel
and thus keep in touch with his constitu-
ency. I notice that he builds pianos that
sell and that his business is steadily ex-
panding. By the way, we journeyed South
together. John Ludwig likes Mardi Gras,
and I must confess to a personal weakness
in that direction as well. But to return to
Mr. Witzman. He is a veteran of the
Memphis trade, having passed twenty-five
years in that city. He sells the Knabe,
Kimball, Ludwig and Krakauer pianos.
Threlkeld, Bard & Co. have a piano fac-
tory at 121 Union street.
This is the
only piano factory in the South. Mr. Bard
has seen service in some of the well-known
factories of the North. He said to me that
they proposed to push their business, and
had, on the day of my call, arranged to se-
cure more commodious factory quarters.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From a Traveler's Note Book.
5cP5(«)xn><5>x«^^
PASSED THE LAST MILESTONE
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN
DIFFERENT SECTIONS TRADE CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH THE EAST IS NEGLECTING A
RICH FIELD CHICAGO IS LOOKING CLOSE AFTER IT SOME FIGURES QUOTED WHICH
WILL INTEREST A LESS PER CAPITA INDEBTEDNESS THAN ANY OTHER SECTION
—MUSIC TRADE IN MEMPHIS—O. C. HOUCK & CO. A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
CONCERN D. H. BALDWIN & CO.'s BRANCH — E. W1TZMAN & CO.
JOHN LUDWlt; IN TOWN—MARDI GRAS AT NEW ORLEANS THE
CITY GIVEN OVER TO THE REIGN OF REX—AN INTERESTING
OLD CITY THE PRINCIPAL MUSIC STORES RENE^GRUNE-
WALD'S SUCCESS WILL DOUBLE HIS FACTORY
FACILITIES—NORTHERN VISITORS WHO
SAW MARDI GRAS.
HE last milestone on the turn-
pike of commercial and indus-
trial depression seems to have
been reached and from now
on, if we may judge from in-
dications, there is ahead of us
a good clear business road, asphalted
with confidence.
During the past two and a half months
I have been afforded opportunities to study
the trade in different sections and as I
have written you previously I have seen
indisputable evidence of the incoming
tide of prosperity. To sura up the situa-
tion by sections, trade in New England is
better than in almost any other part of the
country. I should include also as special-
ly favored points, New York and Pennsyl-
vania.
The most depressed conditions prevail
in the Central West, and the losses created
by the recent floods there will tend to ac-
centuate rather than to lighten the busi-
ness gloom. In the Northwest the trade
barometer is down close to the bulb, but the
conditions are a trifle clearer than in the
Middle West. .
In the South I have found a much better
condition of things commercial than I had
looked for.
Notwithstanding the low prices of the
great Southern staples, cotton and sugar,
this country has prospered and on every
hand I can observe signs which indicate
material advances since my last visit to
Dixie.
For the benefit of some of my readers
who are uninformed as to the financial
status of the South I respectfully submit a
few figures.
To my mind the average manufacturer
in the East has overlooked the rich field
south of the Ohio River.
Chicago has not, she has on the contrary
cultivated it to the disadvantage of New
York.
Chicago is after Southern trade in all
lines and what is more, she is getting an
enormous slice of it. She is getting it in
musical instruments and our Eastern man-
ufacturers should look well to their laurels.
The Southern people owe less money to-
day than the inhabitants of any other
section of the country. The average land
mortgage indebtedness, per capita, accord-
ing to statistical figures, in the fourteen
Southern states, is $25, whereas in fourteen
Northern and Western states it is $129.
The average ratio of land mortgage indebt-
edness to assessed valuation in the four-
teen Southern states is n . 6 per cent.,
against 32.5 per cent, in fourteen Northern
and Western states.
*
*
*
*
The land mortgage indebtedness of the
two states of Kansas and Iowa exceeds by
more than fifty million dollars the aggre-
gate land mortgage indebtedness of all the
Southern states, including Texas. The
interest on real estate mortgages in Kansas
amounts to $14 per annum per capita,
while in Alabama it is only $2 and in Ten-
nessee $1.37. It is shown that the aver-
age per capita, counting municipal and
school districts, debts for the New England
and middle states is $23.91; for the South-
ern states $5.75, and for the Central West
$11.33-
Another interesting statement is that the
last census reveals that the assessed value
of taxable property per capita in thirty-five
principal Southern cities increased 25 per
cent, between 1880 and 1890, while the
bonded indebtedness per capita for the
same period shows an actual average de-
crease of over 12 per cent., being in 1890
only $42 per capita against an average of
$70 in the largest American cities and
against an average of $120 in the leading
foreign cities, such as Paris, Brussels,
Liverpool and Antwerp. I may add too
that the South did not vote for free silver in
the last election but for the Democratic
party.
The importance of Memphis as a distribut-
ing point is steadily augmenting. In
former years the terrible visitation of that
Southern scourge, yellow fever, caused it
to linger by the wayside of progress. The
Memphis of to-day, with its modern system
of sewerage and its clean, well paved streets,
need no longer fear a plague, the germs of
which fatten on filth.
O. C. Houck & Co. have developed a
splendid Southern trade. The firm was
established in 1883 and work a large ter-
ritory in three or four states. They are
agents for the Steinway, Vose, Steger, Ster-
ling, Singer, Hardman, Majestic and
other pianos.
Besides, members of the firm are stock-
holders in the Kershner Piano Co., and
although a new instrument it is rapidly
growing in favor through the influence of
O. C. Houck & Co.
April first Jesse French Houck, a brother
of O. C , will be admitted to partnership.
At the Tennessee Centennial at Nash-
ville, the Houck firm will make an exhibit
of Kershner pianos with the " Angelus "
attachment and the Symphony as well.
D. H. Baldwin & Co. have a branch here
under the management of Mr. Griffin,
whom I found to be a most affable gentle-
man.
Few realize, except travelers, the far-
reaching influence of the great Baldwin
house of Cincinnati.
Their branches in Southern and Northern
states are manifold.
Mr. Griffin said that his business during
February, 1897, had increased over that of
1896 one-third, and a remarkable increase
in cash sales.
When I walked into the establishment of
E. Witzman & Co., 221 Second street, who
should I see talking to the proprietor but
John Ludwig, of New York. He has been
out of New York some weeks and has
closed some very handsome business deals.
Mr. Ludwig is one of the few manufac-
turers who believe that it pays to travel
and thus keep in touch with his constitu-
ency. I notice that he builds pianos that
sell and that his business is steadily ex-
panding. By the way, we journeyed South
together. John Ludwig likes Mardi Gras,
and I must confess to a personal weakness
in that direction as well. But to return to
Mr. Witzman. He is a veteran of the
Memphis trade, having passed twenty-five
years in that city. He sells the Knabe,
Kimball, Ludwig and Krakauer pianos.
Threlkeld, Bard & Co. have a piano fac-
tory at 121 Union street.
This is the
only piano factory in the South. Mr. Bard
has seen service in some of the well-known
factories of the North. He said to me that
they proposed to push their business, and
had, on the day of my call, arranged to se-
cure more commodious factory quarters.
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