The billboard (Jan-June 1899)

JO 11 RIf 1 Iff ■?,:■ '■ill ,-1 I' I : Bildwlnsvllle. V. Y.. March 12 1SS9 Editor of -The Billboard:" ' Mr last article to "The, Billboard" wag in regard to the large advertisers billing towns through the drug stores, and whether it paid the advertiser to do so. Let tu say, emphatically, it does not pay. On February 21, C. L Hood & Co.'a man easier to this place to eover it with a folder called "Flags of all Nations." He did not look on the regular bill poster, bat got a man -who- knew nothing about this kind of work, to eover the town for less than the bill poster's rates. What was tile re- sult? The' folders were thrown on the stoops or put on the door knobs, and not one piece saw the inside of a noose. That night the wind rose, and the folders were blown all over the'streets. The next day beinK Wash- ington's birthday, was also "Flag Day" for the children. Most every child I met bad from, six, to ten of these folders cutting out the flags. . Now. Mr. Editor, does this kind or work pay?" Wip do th* work for •" e great Dr. Mil's. Dr. Kennedy. Dr. Scbenck. J. C. * J. A. Green, and others, but all our work goes in- ride the house. That is the only way to make it nay. We have lust completed billing our country rmue of forty-five towns for the Boston Med- ical Institute, of Chicago. III. Mr. Editor, we always try. when covering a town. Jo woHi no the line of goods.we are advertising. -It does not take a minute to . sneak a good word for the firm you ar» work- in" for. and it helps to sell their goods. We do not know whether the C. I. Hood people ever .will receive, any good. rpe-i«» f"-m their Mllinc of tbi« tnvn with V->r .••FlJtgv.of all Nations." We think not. The f. L ■ftoodr* Company never intended to. b»~n t1«lr jwveetWsJt matter u*ed es l» w»«. fc- thev do not .do business that way. They know it >*"»■ not pay. Tbi» Js one r>r the. best towns in t»<e Su'" for largi» advertisers to rmt on their, lists, ft is a market fm- all the tobsr^o rat"* In t*>» muiHy'. *nd there are forty-flv small tews rvrrmnndln* it.- a ereat mpny of them nmj"- fjictnrtnr towns, that are bound to elve gdbd remits for the flnn advertising-in th<>ni. We eover these towns six and,- eight tim»s a vear ar»d they ha*-* always given good re- «rlt« to-jrhe flrra billion them. Wlt»» th» b-et of w!»bes '~- the rricoess of ■p>«- Old KelieMe. "Tbe Billboard." we re- main. Yours, et-.. J. E. CUNNINGHAM. Prairie City, Iowa, March 13, 1839- Editor of "The Billboard:" I read with Interest (and amusement, too) vour article regarding members of I- A. D. who were too indifferent, stingy or something- to insert their names in your distributors" directory. , . "' last winter I sank $300 in an effort to publish a reliable directory in permanent hook form. It is needless to inform you of tbe result.- Tbe hustlers, those in cities and • "at • the -top." responded promptly, while those -in tbe smaller places* and who were in the greatest reed of such publicity, utterly Ignored my appeals. I am still receiving let- ters- of inquiry, and. a few scattering orders. -Will you please state In the columns of '"The Billboard"' that 1 am--now. and forevermore out of the directory business. Like "See Moni about it today:" it's all off. Thanking TOO for past favors, I am, -«■ Verv truly, • -...'■ FRANK V. .DRAPER. Grand Junction. Col., March 11, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Tn nearly every Issue of tbe Journals devot- ed to bill posting and advertising, we Bnd communications'coming from tbe city bill posters or solicitors, giving the country bill ■posters advice. In some respects we appre- ciate -these communications and profit by them: but don't you think the city bill post- ers- can learn? The majority of them can only tell you this much: "The country bill poster should have plenty of bill boards and locations, keep them In good condition, answer letters promptly, advertise for work,-and bustle; and he will have no cause to complain." (In some cases they might have added, "accept orders from us in sums lees than $1.00. pay us IS 2-3 per cent or more for orders we send you ' and don't be in a hurry for your pay.) We admit that the."above advice should be followed in alL eases and at all times; but when the solicitor secures an order to cover ' a state or~large territory, how does the country bill posters-fare? In our opinion the country bill poster does not secure his pro rata, of work from the parties who are hand- ling these large advertising contracts. The itty bill poster secures more than his share For instance, .here, are some orders sent hip: 20 calenders, for which I was allowed 40 -, cents. IE 2-3 off: 200 half sheets, with instruc- tions to list, protect and guarantee for 30 ' days, not posting more than two on any one " board, $5.00. 16 2-3 off; 10 twelve-sheet stands, ". for 90 days showing, and the solicitors de- manded 212-3 per cent off. The above are only a few of the orders re-. ^ reived frOm solicitors, and In all cases ft has been my misfortune to have to wait from 60. days to four months before receiving my pj""- •. The difference Is this. When I do work di- rectly tor the advertiser I receive larger or- ders. »l» oald more promptly, and do not have to s«*njjinnumerable bills with "please remit" -on them,.snd I do not have to pay any per J cent on. work-secured. . For sir years I have been bill postine for a large firm, receiving my money DromDtiy and ■'" shipments of oaper large enough to make m« * • day's work.. .About "two yars ago they" Wa<-ed their advertising in the h«p«»s of a so- "' Heltor to cover tbla territory and the anrnunt' of paper sent me has been cut down to about one halt. I waited PO days for mv nay and had 16 2-3 par cent off. I Immediately wrote ' tblT,flrm. stating the circumstanrpg and I"- ' formUjg,tbemthat I preferred to do all husi- THE BILLBOARD seeur-d their work direct, receiving larger or- ders and prompt pay. Comsequently I am one of the country bill posters wtoo aecms it his right to "kick." According to some solicitoio aiio city bill posters, 1 should keep quiet, take work in amounts of less than $1.00. pay !•> z-3 per cent or more, and consider myself lucky if I receive any work or pay irom tnem Evidently, they think the count!y bill post- er does not desire to live, merely to exist. but from my experience, I believe I can live without tbe solicitors who deal out work that cots not pay you to make a bucket of paste, keeps you out of your money for 60 or to days, demands more than 16 2-3 percent, and then kicks because you want your money. I have been in tbe advertising business long enough to learn from others, but the abuse put on the country bill posters by some of the sclicitols who have interests in the city plants, should be abated.. The sooner tbe bet- ter for all concerned, unless the advertisers wish to do business with the country bill potter, through his authorized agent, no per cent off. ' • EDWIN" A. HASKELL. Greenville. Pa.. March 17, 1S99. Editor of "Tbe Billboard:" Dear Sir—Dr. W, S. Borkhart, 121 E. Sev- enth street,- Cincirianti. O., sent samples to his distributor about two weeks ago, and were not distributed in • the proper shape. They were distributed by two small boys, their ages being only seven and eight years. They left from three to five samples in a .place, and many of tbem were wasted. The Boston Medicine Co., of Chicago, III., sent some books to this same party, and they weie distributed in the same manner. They .were- thrown around on the street and were . wasted. - We have been reading "The Billboard" for seme time, and we think it is all right. We are very busy in our work, and are kept working after night. We wish "The Billboard" and all distrib- uters success. We remain. • Yours very truly,' KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTING CO: C. M. Kyle, Manager. New City. N. Y., March 9, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Your favor of February 28th came duly to hand. Sample copy of "The Billboard" received •yesterday. Thanks for same. It certainly is • "away up. head" of anything for anyoody that is Interested ia bill posting, distriouting, etc.. I am trying to establish a distributing serv- ice in my county, and if prompt and reliable .service will insure success, then I ought to succeed, as I shall attend to all work per- sonally, then I mill be sure it will be done properly. 1 have a good territory; population 40,0f.o. anc. no competition. Nyack (my largest town) has a population of about 12.MM. iiav crstraw, with four adjoining towns, about 15.000, and twenty smaller places, ranging in population from 500 to l.ouo' all on railroad lines—a good paying teritcry for any adver- tiser. I have lived in this county over twenty-four years, and am not going into the business just for tbe fun of it, but to make a living if possible. Vvith be«t wishes for tbe success of'-'"The Billboard," I am. Very truly yours. RUFUS ODELL. Box 121. Burlington, la.. March 18 1S99 Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—In your March issue :I noticed quite a piece unaer the blueing of "A Word About Knockers," written by our dear friend Vansyckle. The article stiises Molton rather hard, and in one way I can't help but feel a little sorry for him. although I must con- fess that Mr. Molton takes very little inter- est in his distributors at large. I do not un- derstand how Molton can think for one min- ute that competition is a good thing. I think that competition odes more haim to an hon- est distributor than good and it is sure to cause mischief all'around. My idea is, that Molton has hard feelings tward the I. A. of D. and therefore is trying to get in a little dirty work whenever he can. I trust he will see his mistake in time and soon find out that he is gaining nothing by such talk as, com- petition being a good thing, etc. Thanking you for the space allowed me, and wishing you success, I beg to remain. Yours very truly, A. E. DREIER. _.,, . _ Lincoln, Neb., March 13, 1SS9. Editor of "The BuiDoard:" since writing you last we have distributed tbe lollowiug: lu.ww samples of pills lor Or. i-urkfiait, i>incinntil, o.; lo,0>w oooaltts lor ui*. iveuneoy *c ivergan, uttioit. iiicn.; t.'r» booklets for Dr. snoop Ik. uo.. kacine, \%is.; li.ouo oocklets ana 5w farm papers for (.. 1. Hooo (k. \M.. Lowell, Mass.; ,.<*.-.» sam- ples lor tne Frank O. Keaoish Co., Leioy. -•>. i*.; ana for local firms lu.uw circulars lor .Mayor bios., doming stoie; a.Ouo cue-ulars lor the Kairuers' Orocery Co.: lu.oyO circulars lor tne Fitzgerald Dry Goods Co., and 5.OJ0 circulars lor the Royal urocery snore. >>e aie not I. A. of D. meiubeis, but are perfectly willing to be. However, as there is an K-A. of u. member in this town already. we will have to truage along without It. Wishing "The Billboard" all the succees in the world, we remain, ^ ours for honest service, A. PROCTOR. Headquarters 7th Army Corps. War Depart- ment, camp Columbia, i>uciia v ista, cuua, Marco 15, lt99. Editor of "lhe billboard:" lour letter was received,-.-and : "The Bill- board" is reaching me all right. loo ask me to tell you something about bill boaias in Cuba. In a word, mere aie none. A few weeks ago there were a coupit of shows here irom tne states, but as sol- Qiers money lasts but a little while alter it is paid, the show business old not last very long either. The showmen posted a lew bills here and there on. stone pillars, and some of the old stone houses in and around Havana. As for the interior, as much as I have seen of it, has no bill board advertising of anv kind. And I do not tbink there-ever will be any such advertising as long as the people do not know how to read and have no way of learning how. There is no chance lor an American bill poster, or *^y other kind of an American business man to be successful in 'this island of Cuba, because the Spanish, the Cubans, the Negroes and the mixed bloods do not like the Americans.' Our boys are thoroughly disgusted: and tbe feelings we Trad which made us endure dar— gets and hardships, loss of health and lite, because of sympathy for Cuban-sufferings, are now turned to hatred. Many of our boys thinx tnat our Govern- ment has been buncoed. But I do-not think we have. We are not the fools they take us to be. Without delay we should encourage emigration under our homestead system, and bave compulsory education. We should treat ■all "bands" or "parties" who go to the hilis and attempt to check the advance of civiliza- tion and emigration, as we treat tbe Indians. Force them onto reservations and feed them until they become tame. For they are not tame. They are crossed between the wild Af- rican and the West Indian, with the bad blood of pirates, brigands and the breedings of slavery times. When a rush of emigration from tbe civi- lized classes comes to Cuba, they will find rich markets in tbree months for their crops. They can raise many crops a year of small truck that will pay well until oranges. I.m- . ons. bananas, cocoanuts, tobacco, coffee, etc., coroe into play.. We should not los-? any time, nor trust to anv sociable kind of promise from any man . or party in Cuba. We will have trouble with the Philinninr- for at least one generation. The leaders of the Cubans "possibly." have joined with the leaders of the Philipplneis, to help each other against the common enemy.. And so it is continuing. All their crown head friends will help-the Philippines as they helped the Turks against the Greeks (slyly). As soon as emigration begins under the protection of Old Glory i the "The Billboard" will boom the way to prosperity: create new curiosity in the minds of the Cuban-Americans with handsome pic- tures, beautiful designs, and useful articles for the body and so"l. that will help to make the people of this Perpetual Summer. ' ■ and Free. Thanking you zor tbe request. Very truly yours. J. H. SULLIVAN (Broncho John). Editor or "The Billboard:" I have just finished the distribution of n.200 samples of advertising for the Kondon Mfg. Co.. of Minneapolis, through the county, and 4.000 pieces of advertising for the Dr. Chase Co.. of Philadelphia, and have the follow- ing contracts to do" yet: Lydla Plnkham Med. Co., 8,000 for city and county; Hood & Co., ."•//■": B. P. Jackson, of Indianapolis, 2,500; D-. Jas. Ogontz. 4,000: Dayton Medical In- stitute. Dayton, 0., 3.000; Kennedy A Kergan. Detroit. 4,000; Boston Medical Institute; Chi- cago. 4.000, and local work for Myers Bros., 4.000. Very truly yours, E. A. BURROUGHS. Newark. O. Lancaster. O.. March 13. 1899. Editor of "Tbe Billboard:" Dear Sir—I think all you men posters might help me out a little, for-1 an, the only laJy among you. Although 1 am getting along pretty well without you—yet I might get along still better If you "boomed" me up by mention in different ways that you might use to benefit a lady without injuring your- selves in tbe least. Yours truly. MRS. MeNEIL. Editors Note—Mrs. John McQuigg. If iron- ton is alto a member of the I. A. of D. En Route with Davidson's Big Farmer Play. "Old Farmer Hopkins." Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Permit me to hold forth in your valuable paper in regard to some bill posters who are misrepresenting their plant". I no- tice In your March .Issue an advertisement of Mayer Bros., of Great Bend, Kan., saying that they do all of the bill posting in that town and have good boards. I was there on March 6. advertising "Old Farmer Hopkins Company." All the boards that Mayer Bros, claim to have belong tp the Great Bend On- era House, they really have onlv two boards in town, one 4il2 the other 14z9. I think that every bill poster should be honeEt enough to tell advertisers the fads about their plant. Advertising'firms spend thousands of dollars every year and bave a great deal of their paper wasted bv sending it to such people as the would-be bill posters, M»ver Rro«. The Mpyer Bros, were until recently-con- nected with the Or>era House at Gr»at Bend as bill poFters. but havlne severed their con- ""ction with the Oner» H-u'se me"»""nep' they now control practically "no boards at all. " TrvsMngDiet you will find room in you>- valuable paper for this communication. I remain. Respectful'- ' EMMETT LITTLETON. Madison. Ind:. March 14. 1S99. Editor of "The" Billboard:"' My letter which you published in your last issue was one which should have appeared in the February number, and not seeing It in that number I supposed It had T>een de- stroyed. It would have been better had it been destroyed, because when I wrote you Old Honest James O'Donnel was expecting a Government position, but he did not get It from some cause or other, and is still doing di'v-tributine in MadVnn. This is the first time I have been out of ImiI for over a week, and conseouentl? do not feel like wiiiin'g a very long letter, so I shall *' tJ "' 1 a ooiinl#» of farts and close. r.;,^«io Hill's Wild-West Show comes to Madison from May 4-s. Mr. Ithoton is no longer with inf. but Mr:-Oscar Pavey is now my assist- ant. Thanking y.-u very kindly for favors re- «.ivrd. and wishing long life to "The Bill- board." I remain, Respectfullv . " ' . , C. M. MURPHY. Chicago. 111.. March 20. 1SS9. Editor of "The Billboard:" D'-ar Sir—We have re*-rivrd any number of puhlishrd ill last month's inerte; fo' fp-t we letters in response to our letter-which you .h»ve not undertaken to an»wer them, but are simply -keeping them on file for future ref- erence. The main difficulty In distributing at fairs is figuring on the quantity of matter neces- sary for such distributions. Many distrib- utors claim to be able to put out much more matter than it Is possible to do without wast- ing. Of course, the attendance can only he based on what it was in previous years. We always reouest distributors to give us the probable attendance" on each Cay of the fair. We then figure the quantity of advertising matter to send from these figures. Of course, in rases where the weather is bad during tho fair the attendance is very often considerably reduced, and consequently the distributor is left with matter on his hands after the fair is over If he has made thn proper distribu- tion, that is, without wasting any. For such emergencies wc Instruct the distributor to let us know the quantitv he mav have left after the fair is over and we then make ar- rangement* to have thlB matter put out in the house-to-house diRtrlhution or some such manner. We would like to hear somethinir from you as to what ought to be a fair nrlce for distributing at rountv fairs, or onur<=«. Filch work is much easier than hon«»-t«- liouse distribution, and cnnRcnuopily "hm-M be much more reasonable. Wo like to «■»»• for work eeeording to its worth, no more »* ro less. However, there aeon's to b« r> '■'•"•at dio'eropee of opinion in the minds of th" •■I- f-ihutnrR as to what is the proper nW-<- '-• this rlass of work. We oh*a[pr(| verv valuable p«!d«t»nn'» I" our riietrlhutlon at fa Ira last fall tr<—- .—•• - velunhle naner. If all of your readers who do distributing' at county fairs will correspond with. ns. - glv- Init us probable nttendaneo, dates of the fair- references, frms for distributing. In f»et any Information ponslhle, we will give their "•nmmunlcetlons attention In due time. If cNFtrll.titors and bill posters were more par- ticular'In giving full Information thov wm.ld •""•«• POVert|..,> r s considerable Mm" and lahor and wo-jld Insure, much more business for themselves. Voiira triijv HAMLIN'S WIZARD OIL CO. •HAS. -BERNARD, of Savannah, (la. tn- gethcr wliji Lou White and WHcox, hn ee- enred the inclusive miimiKone.nl or all privi- leges and concessions nt Tybce Beach. Sa- viiiimih. The season nt this ro*ort op«ns May IB. and a big sennon Is assured. Mr. ' I ° rn , nr " wl " nay o openings for legltlroato And now Its the Lithographic Trust. We have been expecting it.'- -Every other line has Its trust and the lithographers have rights, even if they are trampled under foot with singular and great frequency. , . ., Mr. Koerner, of Buffalo, Is the Napoleon of the new movement. He has'eighty millions of dollars' behind him with which:.to ac- complish his design. If he has.v'It will be an easy trick, ir h'e'bas not, be wtJL.flnd it tough r slid'ingl;,'. ,,i As'for selling the stock—that Is'easy' .In- vestors, are grabbing any old thing these do ys. and-paying'good prices for ,1,. at that. However, we shall see what wesha'Hse.e. Senator Gorman has. introduced a bill pro- viding that all printers in . the Government Printing OfficeJ>e paid fifty ce^nts ^n' i^Jur- tor time actually "employed: About twenty years - -, . - tyeijty year ago the' wages were' reduced from fiftv' to forty cents per.hour. "and it Is sa)d a,vigorous effort to secure'the former'figure will be made at this, session. .^ * ;. t "Posters, in^inlature" is a work contain- ing illustrations of tbe representative styles of the leading poster artists of the world with many; portraits. Jt should be in the hands of every poster printer. Copies may be bad of Howard Lockweod & Co.,-143 Bleek-. er street, New York.- The offlcers of the United Typothetae of America are.as follows: President. Cornelius S. Morehouse, .New Haven. Conn. ^ '"., Secretaiy, . J. ' Stearns Cushing, Norwood. Mass. , . ,,-- ".,.-' ■"■ . Treasurer. R^ R. Donnelly, Chicago,'til. F(rst Vice President, George H. Ellis. Bos- ton^ Macs. I Second Vice President, Edwin '." Frecir St. Louis, Mo. Third Vice President, Everett Waddey, Richmond. Va. Fourth Vice President, R. J. Morgan, Cin- cinnati. -' -, ', ' Fifth Vice President. John v\V Campsi'e. Mil- wai|Irpp ^tbTIr e Sixth 'Vice President, Fred. L. Smjth^'Min- neapolis. Minn. . ..- ;.;-. EXECUTIVE 'COMMITTER?, ',.-. Joseph J, Little, Chairman, JJew York City. \V. J. Dornaq. ^Philadelphia^ . * '.. Amos Pettlborie, Chicago. 111. C. W. Horhick. St. Paul. Minn. C. A- Wenborn?. Buffalo. N. Y. Jas. H.'Brucc.--Nashville, Tenri. " , Franklin Hudson. Kansas City, Mo. It will pay poBtcr priritefs to advertise in "The' Billboard," We say it will payt-be- rause we are certain.of It.' We do not mean infrequent or occasional advertising, but the constant, never-mtss-an-issue kind. Spas- modic advertising seldom pa>'S anyone. Any poster printer who will cbntract with us for a year's advertising and agree to change his copy every issue and try to make his space pay. may do so on a basis of "money back if you are not satisfied." That is the way In which we back our claims up and testify to the faith that is in us. Large edition print- ers of distributing matter can also use our • spare to advantage. We have the circulation. The new Werner Company, at Akron. O will be capitalized at X3.500.000. Non-union employing printers of Kansas city propose to test the constitutionality of the city ordinance providing that public print- ing be let only to firms authorised to use the lahel adonted hy the allied printing trades Hearing or the case is set for April 16. Manager Horton has left the Enternrl"e Show Printing Company, and Is now with W J. Morgan & Co.. of Cleveland. O. Mennegan & Co. added a Brown folding ma- chine and a wire stitcher to their equipment during Mar.-h. Jas. Henderson is meeting with great suc- cess with the superb line of stock posters of The Donaldson Lltho. Co. The Donaldson's are running night and day. :IL Purely Personal. Small Talk Pawing Current Among Bill- posters. ■ - ,>• Mrs. W. K. Walker, city bill poster of liurlltiRtnn. Vt.. assumes the management of Howard Opera House, that city, on May I. P. G. Stout, who n few years ago had a ine of bulletins and bill boards In St Louis, has gone Into newspaper advertising in that . city. -, Here Is the way Cnxton's Caveat wel- ■ comnH him: "Tile P. O. Stout Newspaper Advertising Company. P. G. Stout. Manager. Hol'and Building, St. LouIr. Is asking rates from I'ubllBliors for advertising for' Louis Ernst ;.°i' s l: ko"'": Sunshine Publishing Co.. .,"!!" „ s J ,r " 1 K". Cnl„ and Economy Vnoor Bath Cabinet Co., St. LouIr, The Louis Ernst ,.<-o. Is Mrs. Fnnnle Stout, dealer In toliet aonps. and who Is the wife of the mnnnger of tho agency. The Sunshine Publishing ^o.. Palm Springs. Cal... advertises that I'.very person who sends us |3 for one venr's subscription to "SiiiiBhlne." will receive a warranty Joed to a town lot In Palm Springs. !,nl i 0r i" a " f . r ££ of ,,, >" f Sc. with taxes paid nnt June. 1898 These lots, says the ad- vertisement, are 25 feet front each. The „ w.h ni . > 'K V . apo r« 8 » th c «»"net Co. advertises a bath tub for $5, and seom auxlous to secure THE BILLBOARD. The supply ot 25-foot front lots In Palm Springs must be Inexhaustible, or else tbe Sunshine Publishing Co. does not expect very many people to send $2 away out to Cali- fornia for "Sunshine," when they can buy all kinds of "sunshine" and "blue skies" around home for 31.98, with the'explosion on the lake front thrown In. Doesn't this adver- tisement bave a good deal of the ring the Casey crowd advertisements had when they were flourishing in St. Louis, and through the 'Globe Advertising Agency." promoting the Keystone Investment Co., Iron City Dish- "washer Co., and other schemes which were 'suppressed by the post ofllce authorities? It will be remembered that Casey and Latham were arrested, and the Newspaper Collection Agency closed out the Globe's alleged $5,000 assets for a little less than $25, which was 411 the publishers- realized from quite large -liabilities. • . We understand that Mr. Stout claims bis agency is carried on by a partnership. He does not give the names, but denies connec- tion with the Casey crowd." ARTHUR E. EVANS, of Highland Park. 111., has retired from the bill posting .field, and .will succeed to his father's business- brick making—established for twenty-three • years. Molirie, HI.—A new advertising company, by name "Moline Bill Posting, Advertising & Distributing Co.." with ofllce at corner /Third Avenue, and Seventeenth Street, has recently been formed by R. H. Taylor and P. A. Mcrryman, both of this city. We have received letters from disaffected bill posters, denouncing the Associated Bill Posters, and evidently written under the Im- pression that "The Billboard" opposed tbe association. Of late letters of this nature have reached us with such growing fre- quency that we deem-it best-to advise our readers that we are in no way antagonistic to the A." B. P. On the-contrary, we believe it has exerted a great and good influence on the business which has resulted in untold benefit to members and non-members also. Believing this, as we do sincerely, we can not conscientiously admit anything to: our columns which would reflect discredit on the organization. ■ It has done much, very much, for bill posters, and is it a fair way to ac- complish more. So long as it does, it will always have our endorsement and aid. our help and our sup- port. . MRS.. VOGEL. mother of the (ate Chas. Vogel, of Steubenville, 0..,has si,ld the. bill posting husiness -she came rhto ai'her son's death tj Sam D. Hunter, and the latter wants to join {he. Ohio. Association. HERBERT- A. RUGG. city bill-poster of Barre, Vt., called on "The Billboard""March 3d. Mr: Rilgg.has long been an enthusiastic friend of the paper, and business having brought him as far west as Columbus,- he • traveled'two hundred and forty miles further . just to shake hands and say howdy. Barre Is a thriving town of 10,000 people, situated in the heart of the great granite ■ quarries, .seven miles from Montpeller. the capital of the State. Mr. Rugg controls the billboards, bulletins and distributing of the ' town;., ;. ■ ^ v - ,--,-■. AJn*w, opera house, now building, is engag- lb!K.-con«derable of^is*- time. He is also owjser and manager of the race track. He disclosed a wrinkle in paste making whan.bilt posters in, small towns will do , weff to note. He DiaKeB. his paste at a laun- dry, using flour, and mixing with it' such unused" starch as the laundry may have left over after the day^is^donel" This latter is given him. and* not only saves that much, flour, but he says makes the paste better.'" * " W. C. TERR1LL. of Lima'. O.. is on a tour of Central an* Eastern Ohio. He will make about thirty towns in all. V. K. WISE, of Crowfordsville. Ind.'. writes that he joined; the Indiana State Association last August.' He says that he holds a receipt from Dobbins for the money, but thatOs all. He has written Dobbins several times and got no answer. SAN JOSE. CAL.. has passed an crlinance fixing the- bill posters' license at $10>ipef quarter, or $25 per annum. The local'bill poster favored it SAN MASEQ. CAL.—The Leader' of-Vthis city said, ifi Its Issue of March-4: "It will not be welcome news to th; residents of this peninsula to learn there is a prospect of see--- Ing constructed on both sides-of the Southern , Pacific right of way, between San Francisco , and. San lose, an almost unbroken line of the hldeouB sign boards: so common in San~ Franclsco. : .. Owen & Varney, the bill boarl" ■ men, this week secured a lease of the prlvi-. lege from the Southern Pacific Company, and- . nothing now prevents the firm from erecting I their hideous boards.-and covering tbem with the usual' advertisements. Last -Monday evening bur Board of Trustees took the first step to, prevent the disfigurement of .'• the • landscape of this locality, by announcing that - at th» next, meeting an ordinance will be Introduced imposing a heavy license on such enterprises;- :i '-.unfortunately, the Board has ' jpt^ejioyer to prohibit the erection of the bill boards^-altogether, but It can impose a higher licepso than the promoters of the scheme can afford to pay." -,-■■-.-■ v. f ! vh 5 I ¥i.^ ,0 court " «et through with' San Mateo's license there will not be much of. It left, bur there will be more wisdom in San Moteo.—Editor.) »•.,... • ' M^SSRS^ALi AND CHAS. BRYAN . In- B'sted^on Toledo. :heJoce the meeting oP the Ohio Bill Posters Association will take place In thalcUy,May-8^and 9, ..:..., ., ■;..>. The Southern SUtes are proving that iBelr. regard for it-he North Is practical as* well as sentlmentak- JTHe Cold Snring Packing Com-_ pany. Atlanta. Georgia, is making nrepara- . tlons for Introducing a tuacy food through- out thOjCbuntry. • !<■; • ..- JAMESf'tuCteST, Of Klvvood. Iud„ advertises H. H. BERTRAND, of Williamsport. Ind.. has erected bill boards in that city and de- sires the agents to list him. E. R. CRAIN, of Bakersficld, Cal.. says "The Billboard" is "the one and only." A. M. CHEESEBRO. Glen Falls. N. Y.. is one of the enterprising and progressive bill posters of tbe Empire State. He coveis Glen Fails, South Glen's Falls, Sandy Hill and Fort Edward, with a. combined popula- tion of 30,000. . . GEORGE CRAMER, of Carlisle, Pa., has erected several beautiful new boards. '■' J. RINALDO COX is doing nicely at Char- lottesville. Va. J. W. COOPER owns the boards at Green- 'joaEtlc, Ind. JAS. V. COOK, of Danville, Ind., is well spoken of. Advertisers pronounce his serv- ■'* kc firs*. cl?ss. E. R. EUDLEY. of Mansfield. O. writes: "Our commercial work has commenced after a dull period of two or three months. Since writing you have posted and distributed for Foley & Co.. Chicago: Dr. Chas. .of Philadel- phia; Church. Dwight & Co., of New York City, and put up several local jobs. Our plant is in a fine condition and we can take care of any kind of work as fast as it comes in. Our theatrical posting runs from 800 to 1,000 sheets a week. The Rex Medical Company, 104 Park Row, New York, is reported as a new. user of space on New York and New England bill beards. An' addition to the advertisers of stoves and ranges, is the firm of Bromell, Schmidt & Company. York, Pa. Win. Funk, of Anderson. Ind.. says the weather in that section has been the worst in yars. John H. Emery. Claysville. Pa., is reported as a new advertiser of cigars. HENRY HERGG, of Wabash, Ind.. writes: "In your last issue I notice under 'Personal* Mr. J. M. Harter states that be controls the bill boards, etc., this is incorrect. While they have some boards. I own all the prominent locations in our city, and get two-thirds of all the job work that comes to'Wabash. My boards have been covered all winter with work from the leading advertisers. I have been bill poster here since 1876:" E. C- HO.YT is going to give. Yankton. S. D., a better service. It needs it. August Moses never liked the business and .besides* is now so crippled up that it taxes him to the utmost to handle the opera house work alone.' M. M. IRWIN, of Fremont. Neb., says: "The Billboard" bas been a wonderful help to me and I can not find words strong enough to express my appreciation. SANDEDS & BEALS are the proprietors of the Phoenix. Ariz., Bill Posting Co. M. O. Thompson, manager of the Sioux Falls-.(S}".Dak.) Bill Posting Co..' writes as follows:- "It has just occurred to us 1 that in sending you remittance to cover- your bill for tbe insertion of- our name in your bill poster's directory, we. inadvertently enclosed our check, and as there is no 'discount on the good your paper is doing for the craft in gen- eral and the information we derive therefrom, we beg to hand you herewith stamps to cover cost of collecting fame. • S. A. SCHLOSS, of •Wilmington, N. O. writes: "Tbe spring season is opening up- very nicely. I control and own all the desirable locations in the city. I do all kinds of ad- vertising, give it my personal attention and guarantee good work-in all cases. ' -SMITH BROS., ot Gainesville. Ga.. are bill posters, distributors and sign lackers at that point. In a recent letter they write: "We take great pleasure in saying that your paper Is one of. the few trade journals that seeniB ever alive in-the interests of the mem- bers of our trade", and we can't understand how any bill poster can be satisfied without having it come to him as a regular visitor. "The business in our section is yet in its infancy, but we hope, by honest dealing to see it become a great deal better in tho near future. With our best wisnes ro- your suc- cess and promising you our hearty support we are." ■ • A compositor made a "bull" in the ad. ot the Indianapolis Paste Company, last month. He made us say that a sample barret held 'over 150 lbs., when it should have read over 250^ lbs.;.. This prepared paste is finding a market among bill posters. 1 . Those "who have used it? pronounce it excellent and "we are told that it goes farther and costs less than the home-made article. The makers assert that, its -principal advantage becomes ap- parent with the approach-of hot weather—it does not., sour.*-.-... FRANK LlftLE &. SON.' of Portlard. Mich./ own all the boards and control the . show lot at.that,point. W, J. PATTERSON, of Los Angeles. Cal., though hot engaged in the bill posting busi- ness any longer, still continues his subscrin- tlon to "The'Billboard." and says he enjoys It as-keehly as-ever. They'say that once a bill .r-bster one Always remains po 'itv'«nl-'t. and the saying seems to be exempliflei in Mr. Patterson. Mr. 1 Patterson is now President' of a savings bank and loan-association. ..'• /HONEST OLD GEORGE WEST. i't'hV bill 'po*t(?r of Redwood City. Cal. is nrdbably bn- t'er known throughout the West than vy oth- ""rr'"e>-uptry"hill fiosTer. ' He was swiwdT'oTro- eently by a friend (?). a man he had known for o»er fort;- years and came p"ar losln<r everything. His fnanv friends will h» glad f» learn thjit be is.on his feet again and^com- n J. A. MADDOX, of South McAlester. I.T., writes that he has built a number of new' boards and Is now prepared for the spring rush. G. H. Otting & Co.. of Newport, Gy.. and O. P. Falrchild. ot Covington, Ky„ each will receive twenty stands from Van Buren for "Worcester Sauce—Mr. Stahlbrodt's paper to the contrary notwithstanding. Obituary. John B. Hebart is dead. He was the city bill poster at Menominee, Mich., and bad built up a fairly profitable plant at the time he suc- cumbed to pneumonia. The deceased was born in 1860 at Muskegon. Ills., and went to Menominee in 1873. He married in 1873. His wife, nee Miss Heir, is -reft with -nine small children. -" *,""** A portrait of the deceased appears on an- other page. W. K. Walker, city bill poster of Burling- ton, Vt., died of pneumonia February 23. We reproduce his latest photograph oh an- other page. Our Prize Offers. In the March issue we offered two prizes for contributions. As a result we have been flooded with tbem. A great many of those received, though doubtless good, will never be published, because the writers bave-bad no experience in the preparation of copy, for publication. On this account we are moved to offer the following suggestions to those of our readers who may favor us with articles in the future: ... 1. The proper size for copy paper is about nine inches wide and twelve inches long. 2. Write only on one side of nhe paper.' 3. Write the short way of the,paper, and leave a wide mareln down the, left hand side of the sheet. Each line of writing will then be about eight inches in length. 4. Proper names should be -written very plainly. . 5.- Be careful about initials that look like something else, as for'example, "T" and "J." 6. Underline • the • letter "a" .and overline the letter "n." if there is the slightest chance of their being mistaken one for the other, as is the case with many words. 7. Print out foreign, words.or phrases, or any very unusual wcrd. 8. When you mention an advertiser's name, give bis address In full, and be'sure to get it right. Do not guess at It- Hunt up his letter-head. card, or what-not and copy it. Get the initials right- Get the firm name right. Get the street address right. Get the town and State right, 9. Leave plenty of room between lines for change in copy. 10. A pencil is better than Ink, but It must be a strong black'pencil. 11. Typewriting is the best ot all, unless the lines are very close together—then it Is very bad. 12. It does not matter how scratched-up tbe copy looks if it is actually legible. 13. When you scratch words out do it thor- oughly, or tbe compositor may use them. 14. Don't leave an Isolated word among a lot or stuff that is; scratched out. It may be overlooked. 15. Always use a caret mark when you write words in above. 16. Do not say "we" if you are writing over your own signature, and do cot use the pionoun I if you are writing impersonally. We publish stuff frequently that we do not wish to father. If copy is likely to convey the impression that it is a staff article, unless we endorse its every word. 17. Never roll copy, and never fasten the sheets together. Mail it flat between paste- board. • IS. Don't ask to have your manuscript pre- served. Keep a copy instead. 19. Number your sheets. If you destroy a sheet, and when you rewrite make two of it, mark the number on each one with an "A" or a "B." thus: "5-A," "5-B." If, a sheet is thrown out entirely give the next sheet two numbers, as "5 and 6." 20. If you want an abbreviation".extended draw a circle around it. Avoid the abbrevi- ation *"&'" for "and." 21. Always reread your copy after it is written. ' 22. Don't be afraid.to, use commas. If the compositor finds' an unnecessary one- he will omit it. and the others help him to the meaning. t-v 23. Avoid long and involved sentences. 24. When you have something to say go right at it, and don't make a great business of getting ready. 25. Paragraph frequently, and unless it is indicated by a very short preceding line use the paragraph mark. 26. If your stuff isn ; t headed up when you have finished it, leave plenty of room to put - the head on. 27. Use simple language, in direct, terse style. Don't wander about all over a thing. Unless matter is of exceptional Importance . and interest, bell it down. 28. Run In a bit of conversation here and there in news stuff it feasible. It helps to break tin the monotony. 29. There is no such thing as italics any more, so don't underline words. ■■:.'. 30. If the article is entered in competition mark it "Prize Contest." If you expect pay fcr it. set the price in plain figures. Enclose your full name and address, and stamps for return. Correspondents -who observe these -rules will find that their stuff will "go' in" with p'nch greater frequency than that cf thosa who do not. You may tell a girl you love her In a soft, low-whispered.sigh: But when you're talking business, Roar^-with posters t»n*ajt high: