Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
scheme, such as is now in vogue in Dolge-
ville, and for the past twelve months his
views have been taken up by the leading
economic authorities, as well as by the
leaders of thought and progress, and they
have been widely and favorably discussed.
, This year Mr. Dolge's suggestions anent
a federated system of banking again reveals
the thinker—the originator. The financial
question is undoubtedly one of the most
vital which concerns the prosperity of this
country to-day, and Mr. Dolge's statements
and deductions in this connection are pre-
cise and well sustained. He shows clearly
that while we have made amazing progress
in industry and commerce, we have been
at a standstill in the matter of banking.
As he so very aptly puts it, "banking is
still in the hand-labor period."
He also goes to the root of the present
discontent in agrarian and labor circles in
the matter of non-circulation of money,
and intimates a remedy which we think
will commend itself to those financial
leaders whose views are sufficiently broad
not to be dominated by private interests.
Mr. Dolge's entire speech, which is re-
published in another part of this paper, is
a masterly discussion of questions of
present and practical interest. To him is
due all honor and credit for having pro-
posed a panacea for our present financial
ills which is destined to compel the atten-
tion of profound thinkers and honest legis-
lators just as did his suggestions anent the
nationalizing of the labor pension and in-
surance system which were enunciated
in his memorable speech some two years
ago.
Mr. Dolge's review orthe business situ-
ation for the past twelve months is compre-
hensive and satisfying. Considering the
times, the showing is perhaps unparalleled.
His prognostications for this year may be
considered optimistic, based, no doubt, on
the forthcoming change of administration,
and the inauguration of a wise tariff policy
which will again set the wheels of industry
in motion, stimulate progress, and enable
ths country to move ahead, instead of re-
trogressing.
The transformation of Dolgeville from a
wilderness into one of our great manufac-
turing towns is significantly set forth in the
following figures which Mr. Dolge pre-
sents: In 1874 there was not quite $30,000
worth of assessable property in Dolgeville;
at present it is estimated that the various
industries employ alone nearly $3,000,000
of capital, while the pay rolls of the factories
amount to over $500,000 annually in ordi-
nary times.
This wonderful advancement was re-
tarded through Mr. Cleveland's policy of
tariff reform, but with protection again as-
sured, there can be no question that Dolge-
ville, equipped as it is with countless natu-
ral advantages, will become a greater and
more prosperous manufacturing center than
we now dream of.
In our opinion, few men have more ably
handled the relation of banking to business
than has Mr. Dolge in this address. He
speaks not as a theorist, but from the stand-
point of the practical, every-day business
man. His conclusions are logical and ex-
pressed with such felicity and such dis-
crimination that his words will take a strong
and enduring hold on the public mind; let
us hope with beneficial results.
Mr. Dolge's views on matters industrial
and economic are of such moment that his
annual address to his employees is no
longer a private affair. It is reported far
and wide by the newspaper press, and
looked forward to by a wide circle of think-
ers and readers in and outside the industry
of which he is such a prominent member.
While it is not given to all men to win
the trust, the respect, and affection of their
employees as has Mr. Dolge, yet were our
leaders in the manufacturing world more
prone to study the relations between capital
and labor, and more thoroughly to under-
stand and sympathize witht heir employees,
we would witness less friction, less differ-
ences, and a more cordial feeling between
employer and employee.
The great secret of Mr. Dolge's success,
it seems to us, is that at all times he goes
to the root—he masters whatever he under-
takes to solve. He has achieved greatness
by working for it. He is of the people;
he has worked at the bench, and he has a
warm and hearty sympathy for the aspira-
tions of those employed by him. Instead
of limiting these aspirations he has persist-
ently endeavored to study them, in fact
augment them by making the struggle for
life less hazardous, and a living for the
workingman more secure. This is well
illustrated in his insurance and pension
scheme. He recognizes that an employer
has certain obligations, and these obliga-
tions are not founded on philanthropy
alone, but upon justice between man and
man.
Quite a number are made in Leominster,
Mass., for New York houses. The duty
on piano cases is 35 cents, and this may be
said to be prohibitive, as apart from the
tariff German makers cannot with profit
furnish the wood which, in such a delicate
instrument as the piano, can stand the
severe and changeable climate of this
country. There are two piano-case fac-
tories in Harlem, which employ 150 men
each, all, or nearly all, Germans, who
learned the trade in the fatherland. Of
course, not reckoning New Orleans or
other towns and cities of the French region
in and around Louisiana, a few very
wealthy people import high-priced pianos
direct from France and Germany, but as
the duty is on the whole instrument, cases
do not figure in it.
Musical Instruments.
If Boston can justly lay claim to mu
sical culture, certainly New York is with-
out doubt or question the market of Amer-
ica for the importation, sale, and to a great
extent manufacture of musical instruments.
In New York City proper there are a
number of reputable houses which transact a
yearly business ranging in amount from $3,-
000,000 to $4,000,000 in musical instruments
exclusive of pianos. This number includes
importers and domestic dealsrs and agents,
and all agree that the present outlook is ex-
cellent for the future.
The last few seasons have convincingly
demonstrated that there has been an enor-
mous increase in the musical instrument en-
terprise business, not only among import-
ers and manufacturers, but with the jobber
and retailer. Notwithstanding the fact
that thousands of all classes were to a
greater or less extent idle in* the year just
gone by, sales were better than anticipated.
It is furthermore gratifying to note that
in this branch of trade there are just now
more purchasing agents of musical instru-
ments in communication with New York
dealers than at any period since 1892.
So far as the tariff schedule is concerned,
an authority declares that it is for the pres-
ent not so much a question of duty on mu-
sical instruments as it is what goods shall be
legitimately listed.
The sudden and complete return of the
mandolin into popular favor has been due
to two facts; first, the recognition of its
power and sweetness as a solo instrument,
and secondly, the marked improvement
in mandolins of American make.
Great strides have also been made by
American manufacturers of the zither.
Harps, autoharps, flutes, and even musi-
cal boxes, and also that wonderful solo in-
strument the cornet, are in increased
THE MUSIC TRADE INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK.
demand.
[(Continued from 1st page.)
Good authorities attribute the continued
There are only five establishments demand for musical instruments to the fact
in New York which dedicate themselves that it has, notwithstanding the hard times,
exclusively to the manufacture of cases, always been possible to purchase and pay
and the value of the total product is about for, on the installment plan, from pianos
$4,000,000 annually. The factories employ down, where reputable parties were con-
400 or 500 hands, but, then, the majority cerned.
of piano-makers, the larger ones exclu-
Certainly, in this industry the feeling is
sively, manufacture their own cases. healthful and hopeful.