The billboard (Jan-June 1900)

THE BILLBOARD. he Billboard. Published First of Every Month, at [7 East Eighth Street, Cincinnati, O., U. S. A- Address all communication* >r the editorial or business departments to THE BILLBOARD PUBLISHING CO. Subscription. Sr.oo Per Year, In Advance. ADVERTISING RATES: Advertisements will be published at the uni- rm rate of ten cents per agate line; no dis- unt for time or space. Copy for advertise- ents must reach us on or before the twenty- th of the month. Our terms are cash. The Billboard is sold in London at Low's Ejc- flnge. Si Charing Cross, and at American Ad- rtising Newspaper Agency, Trafalgar Build- ers, Northumberland Ave., IV. C. In Paris, at ■entano's, 37 Avenue del"Opera. The trade sui- ted by the American News Co. and its branches. Remittance should be made by post-office or ex- rsi money order, or registered letter addressed d made payable to The Billboard Pub. Co. The editor can not undertake to return unsolicited nuscript: correspondents should keep copy. \iyhen it is necessary to ivire us the instructions id copy for advertisements, great saving in the •titer of telegraph tolls may be had by recourse to Donaldson Cipher Code. Entered as Second-Class Matter at Post Office Cincinnati, Ohio. J The JVew Year Has Begun. To those wlio errtertain that "view, le new century has started, at any Ac, the season for making good reso- tioms and for proclaiming your plans r the future is at hand. We desire to announce t<hat during e coming year, no pains, labor or oney will be spared in the endeavor keep "The Billboaird" in the plane which It has risen, and to have it that a trades paper should be. e believe that the object of a tie paper should be, not alone to in- rm the members of the profession of ets, events atid matters in general ferring to the trade, and to give sug- ■tions that may be of use and value them, but also to further their in- [Tests by mtaMng those who have tilings with the trade, acquainted ith the doings of the latter. A. trade paper which only circulates long the members of the trade, erefore does not completely fulfill mission. The advertfisfng, to do any must extend outside of the lim- cirele of the trade. It must reach who eUttoer have dealings with ie trade or expect Do have such deal- gs in the future. According to this ry, the contents of a trade paper tould mot only be interesting to the vertSsers. but also to the readers of e advertisements—that is. the pa- tos of the trade. Although this hafe bser/. the aim of Ms paper in the past, our efforts in re f nttrre in this respect will be more eonounced than ever.. We will with- ;it abridging trade interests, endeavor > make our paper acceptable to a Hde circle of readers, i Y »*» \ The advent •ot "street fairs" into the lass of business enterprises, which Jdlectively may be called expositions, las called forth more discussion and omment, both favorable and adverse, ian any movement in the show world ': ->r many years. The managers of eonoty fairs, who lectare that the street fair is a menace to morality, and of n"o specfial interest to any one but the fakirs, who, on every available occasion, seek through the medium of the agricultural and the daily press, to disgust the public with the new idea, evidently have in mind visions of failure and decreased gate receipts. They, instead of accustoming themselves to the in- evitable, attempt to dethrone t'.ie street fair from the great popularity it en- joys. The advantage's of the street fair over the old style fair are many. They are held in the business center of the town. They afford new and novel amusements at a small cost; they re- lieve the monotony of trade, tend to bring merchants closer together, and promote concentrated action. If the country -shows hope to fight the gay street fair, with any chance of success, they must cast off their old fogy methods and contend with the new comer with equal weapons. They must add to their shows those features of the street faiT which have made for it the place it holds—in the hearts of the people. One disadvantage, and the only one which we can think of at present which the agricultural fair can not avoSd, is in the matter of position. The fair grounds can not be moved— but after all, the situation of the fair matters but little, provided a large attendance canr be secured, very little trouble is experienced in induc- ing merchants to exhibit where a crowd "is assured. Then to draw the people is the question. Attractions win accomplish this feat. Experience has taught us that the more numerous and the better the attractions offered, the larger the attendance and the more ^satisfied the people will be . ^ The question arising from the indis- criminate distributing of samples of proprietary medicines have become most serious. Many have been the or- dinances passed of late which render it unlawful to put out such samples. Although in most cases the ordinances can not bold, nevertheless they serve to show the general.tendency and to point out in what light the public views this method of advertising. These are but rumblings before the cyclone, the skirmish before the bat- tles in which are found the warning to both distributors and advertisers. Should these c&ses of criminal negli- gence continue to occur with the fre- quency which they have of late, the whole system of distribution will be in danger. The blame can not be placed upon the shoulders of the pro- fessional distributors, who very seldom get into any trouble because of care- less distributing. They know their business and have their prices, charg- ing aceordtmg to the kind of service expected by the advertiser. The fault lies with the advertisers. It should and does rest alone upon them; not upon all of them, but upon those who in the vernacular would be called "short skates" or "cheap screws," men who to save a few dol- lars, send work to a town and allow It to be done by scab labor or boys, who have no reputation to uphold, and are therefore indifferent to conse- quences and every other consideration except the money they get out of it. Tins practice not only places in jeopardy the lives of thousands of children, but also tends toward the abolishment of an advertising medium, which brings munificent returns to the advertisers of the country and gives employment to thousands of men throughout the entire land. The remedy for this evil is found in these tradesmieu employBng reliable men, who follow this work as a pro- fession paying them the necessary amount, "which in no case is exhorbi tan*," to assure a good, honest, reliable service. This would in the end bring better results, and be of more benefit to these advertisers than have been ob- tained through the irregular methods heretofore employed. The past year has been the most encouraging, the most prosperous and the most successful peroid in the his- tory of the development of poster ad- vertising. The advertisers who at the present time firmly believe in the efficacy of bill posting, and are its loyal support- ers, are numbered in the thousands. During the past twelve months hun- dreds of firm's have been added to the list of active billboard advertisers, while but few, very few. have been the advocates of this medium who have ceased posting to try other methods. This general tendency of partiality towards bill posting has not been with- out its good effects upon the system, or its benefits to the bill posters. The boards throughout the country have been so crowded that almost every posting plant proprietor has been forced to erect many new boards, while plants have been started in towns heretofore unable to support one. The advertisers have received ex- cellent returns from their posting, which resulted In the bill poster get- ting plenty of work; consequently enabled him to spend some of his earn- ings in developing and Improving his service. Bright as the past has been, the future appears even more radiant, for with all of the advantages of the past year still before them and no ap- preciable drawbacks, the bill posters of the country should In the ensuing year be able to prove to a host of ad- vertisers that posting is a sure and quick method of securing trade. A New Association. The A. B. P. A. no longer to have a Monopoly. For the last few months there has been whispering throughout the bill posting world that an association composed of bill posting plants now running in opposition to the As- sociated Bill Posters members (an* maybe others) were to band themselves together for the furtherance of the bill posting Interests. These rumors have spread enormously. Many bill posters who have beard of the movement but who have not been able to get hold of any particulars, have written to "The Bill- board" for information, which until the pres- ent time was impossible for the paper to give, although nothing definite concerning the line of action of the new movement has been found- out by the bill posters in general, enough is known at present by those most in- terested to present the shock of the great surprise from injuring their health—to cause many of them much joy and a number of others considerable anxiety. For some time the promoters of (he new organization have been considering the ad- visability of joining forces, but no definite plan of action had been mapped out. It seems that they have now come to an understand- ing, and the active work of organizing will begin Immediately. The men whose names are associated with this excellent movement are men who are known throughout the entire advertising field by bill posters and advertisers alike, as men of sterling worOr, untiring energy, and ab- solute integrity, men whose names alone would insure the success of any undertaking with which- they are associated. That there is room for another association can not be doubted. With only one associa- tion In the field, a system has developed which- is nothing short of blackmail, the vic- tims being the entire membership of the as- sociation, outside of those who run natters and the general advertisers of the country. Ad advertiser may be discriminated against, and the billboard space of the members pro- hibited to him. simply because of the personal spite or the individual interest of the Grand Mogul. The interest of the members is never considered for a minute: they receive or- ders not to do this or to do that, and they are afraid to do otherwise, for fear that the solicitors will not send them paper, or that they will cut down the number of sheets which should be sent. Will not an associa- tion which will eradicate these evils be wel- comed with open arms by the bill posters of the country? Will not an association which will accord to the advertisers fair and open treatment be endorsed by them? But we are saying too much concerning why there should be another association, when the purpose of this article is merely to announce that there is a new association. That the asso- ciation will have a big field in which to work, can be seen from the fact that opposition plants are now being conducted Independently in San Francisco, Kansas City, Cincinnati. New Orleans, New York, and many other large cities. With all these, or a majority of these as centers, together wKh the hun- dreds of small towns where there are opposi- tion plants or unaffiliated plants, a sen-ice can be offered which would suit any ad- vertiser. Notes From New York. torn W. Hoke was a "Billboard" caller Christmas week, and although he talked a great deal, the majority of what he said was distinctly understood not to be for publica- tion. We presume, however, that be will not object to the publication of bis statement that business with him never was better, and that future prospects for the Fifth, Avenue Bill Posting Establishment Is very bright. He reports that at the time of his leaving New York, the New York Bill Posting Com- pany's imprint boards had not yet appeared - on the tops of the old Reagan, Clark and M-uneon billboards, but at the same time these boards seemed- to be well filled with paper. ; He gave It aa his private opelnion that be- fore many moons there would be only one bill posting company in New York City, but he would not state whether he believed! It would be "A. Van- Buren & Co." or "New York Bill Posting Co." Mr. Hoke was loud In bis praises of 9am Pratt's Suburban Bill Posting enterprises, such as the Newark Bill Posting Co., the Elizabeth Bill Posting Co., and all their rami- fications in the thirty or forty towns sur- rounding Newark. Hoke Is now placing paper throughout America for the following articles: Jav- -, Mar-Mo Coffee. Is and 8 sheets; Henry ■ George Cigars, is, 4s, Ss, and 16s; George W. '■' Child's Cigars, all sizes of paper from Is to 24s; Gloria Cigars, 8-sbeets. He has new posters under way for a num- ber of large concerns, among them being the - Ooi. Amor Cigar, for J. L. Haroly. Kansas - City; the Early. Bird Tobacco, for P. H. T Hanes & Co., Winston, N. C, and some others which the advertisers are not yet ready to have announced*. Incidentally. Jam IV. paid for his ad<. In "BfUboard." and bad some money loft, which seem to Indicate that "Billboard" advertla- THE BILLBOARD m K<:-it.ir of "The Billboard:" Huir Kir—Business is line here, and I have ali.-lit all 1 can do. 1 find that 1 am getting !»■«■ customers each season, and at the same time retaining all of the old o-nts. Have now on the boards paper for Dr. N. c. Davis and Shiloh Consumption Cure, be- sides a great deal of local paper. Have dls- ii-ibut<d in the paint few weeks for the fot- li.wing firms: Dr. N. C. Davis, StaHoh Con- Mimirtion Cure, Peruna Drug Co., and) Lydia I'inkhani. Early In the fall, I had a very irliuMint call from Mrs. B. H. Beban, repre- sentative of Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root Co.. Ulnslioniton. N. Y. She left me a lot of mat- ter for two distributions. 1 am going to rebuild some of my boards ami will also erect some new ones. Although 1 run the opera house and consequently have a large amount of show paper, 1 never allow it to conflict with my commercial work, and when necessary I can get all the lumber I desire, and can also obtain good locations. Vours for business, H. E. HOOT. I-aiaiuie, Wyo. Editor of "The Billboard:'* Dear Sir—it is a long time since we have written- you, and in that period we have dis- tributed the following: 4,000 booklets for C. 1. Hood & Co., Lowell, Mass.: 2.500 for Dr. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind.. and am wailing for the Sen-Sen Gum potters. We are expecting work from the following firms: l"eruna Drug Co., Columbus, O.; Lydia. E. Pinkhani Med. Co., Lynn. Mass. Have signed contract with the Dr. Shoop Med-. Co., of Ra- cine, Wis. Wishing you a happy New Year, we are, truly yours, VALLE & BROS. Brownsville, Texas. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—We have distributed the follow- ing: 23.000 almanacs for the Thatcher Med. Co.. Chattanooga, Tens.: 2.500 almanacs for Street & Smith, New York City; 5.000 book- lets for Lydia E. Pinkfaam. Lynn, Mass.; 3,000 booklets for Hood & Co., Lowell, Mass*.; 2,500 almanacs for W. H. Comstock; 2,500 almanacs for Peruna Drug Co., Columbus. O.: 5.000 booklets for St. Jacobs Institute. Chicago. 111.; S00 samples for Church & Co.. of New York City, and tacked 27 signs for Pahst Chemical Co., Chicago. III. J. W. FOSTER, Guthrie, OMa. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Please tend the Old Reliable for another year, for which you will find money order for same. In the post month we have distributed work for the following firms: Pe- runa Drug Co.. Columbus, O.; Dr. Chose Co., Philadelphia, Pa.—by the way, this Is the fifth distribution we have made for this firm this year—; Beers & Hawk, 150 Nassau Street. New York. We are expecting work every day from the J. C. Hubinger Co., Keo- kuk, la.. Very truly yours. JAS. D. CLAXTON & Co. Hallstead, Pa. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—In the past few weeks I have dis- tributed samples for Dr. W. S. Burkbart. Cin- cinnati. 0.; Dr. Miles Med. Co., Elkhart. Ind.. and books for Dr. Chose Co., Philadelphia, Pa., and Dr. Shoop. Racine, Wis. Am expecting work from the Providence Medical Institute. Chicago. HI.; The Dodds Co.. Buffalo. N. Y.; The Chattanooga Medi- cine Co.. Chattanooga, Tenn. Truly yours. Carthage. Mo. W. A. LOWREY. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I never say much about my "would-be competitors" because I have none. There Is no such person as Geo. Oostinor In Newcastle doing bill posting:. He sold out to Mn Jacob Genfctnger. The latter gentleman and myself control the city. I wish to state through your columns that I am a member of the I. A. of D. and not one of the I. D. A.'s. Respectfully yours. J. G. LOVING. .Newcastle, Pa. Editor of "The Billboard:" Hear Sir—Your December number is a splendid paper. The distrlbutin in Pontiac comes along rather slow. It Is either all work c.r none. I have iust finished some work for the Dr. Chase Co.. Philadelphia. Pa, A few days ago quite a number ot boys came here from Detroit to distribute. I wish Hie advertisers employing them would fol- <m- them and sec how their work is put out. 1 met one man and asked how much he was paid for Ms work, and he sold, one dollar « day and carfare. He had 2.000 for the houses, and- he told me ho expected to get them all out. Now. 1 know that this is Im- possible; If a man puts out from 700 to SCO a day he la doing a very good day's work. How long will It be before the Advertisers are convinced that If they want good returns they must pay good prices to have their sam- ples distributed? This Is a good field for ad- vertising, and I hope tire day Is not far dis- tant when the advertiser wakens up to the 'act. that It Is the honest man who docs the «<H>d work. Yours truly, Pontiac. Mich. S. J. BURGESS. Editor of "The Billboard':" 1'i-ttr Sir—Our copy ot the December Issue came safety to hand, and would say that I mink it a very handsome copy. I notice tlint some one from our city has reported the • J"' } v - 9 - Burkhart's distribution of pills. At the time of this distribution I was work- ing on circulars for Peruna Winter Lectures on t.ntarrh, and noticed a crippled man cone- 1 ne down tbe street with a satchel full of the packages. He wan casting them on the floor or the business houses and handing them to the people on the street. Garfield Tea Is now meeting with the same fate. Dr. Miles' Medicine Co. had a distribu- tion made here early in the fall and I can find any quantity of them in corners of yards. Have just finished a 20,000 distribution for C. I. Hood & Co. Dr. Morse Indian Root Almanacs are being distributed by a repre- sectavive, 1 suppose, and two negro boysi You may find these almanacs everywhere, and S. S. S. "Routing the Enemy" was dis- tributed the same way. Wishing you and my biotber distributors a happy New Year. I am. respectfully yours, Atlanta, Ga. JOSEPH S. ALFORD. Editor of "The Billbcard:" Dear Sir—I am pleated to report the fol- lowing work: J. W. Brant Co.. Albion, Mich.. 3.000 pieces; Chattanooga Med. Co.. Chatta- rxoga, Tenii.. 2,500; two batches from Dr. Miles Med. Co.. Elkhart, Ind.: one sample of Anti-Pain Pills and the other booklets-, making a tota! of 7,000. Dr. Chose Co., Phila- delphia. Pa.. 2,500: Saturday Evening Post (local*. .1,000 sample copies; John- J. Mil- bourn. Eaton Rapids, Mich., 2,500 pieces. Am expecting work from the Central Pub- lishing Co.. Battle Creek, Mich.; also, Wi H. Ccnistoek. Morristown, N. Y.; John Morrow ■ & Co., Springfield, O. The W. H. Hill Co., Detroit, Mich., has samples of Cascara Bro- mide Quinine Tablets thrown around on stoops and any old place by their traveling lepresentatlve. This firm is one of your "cheap John" advertisers, and- will not pay an- honest distributor for doing good work. -;Since my iatt report, I have become a mem- btr of the eld reliable I. A. of D. Wishing "The Billboard." the 1. A. of D. and all dis- tributors a happy New Year. I am. respect- fully yours. NELSON' MATTESON. Flint, Mich. Editor of 'The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Have distributed 20.000 pieces for Novelty Plaster Works, 10,000 for Dr. Miles Med. Co., 17 deliveries in Waterbury, Water- vllie. Union City. Advertisers. I am the only distributor In this city now. The L. E. Pink- ham Co. had some distributing put out here, but the majority was sent through the moils. The W. H. Comstock Co. has received the worst service I have seen in yeara Their representative come here and hired two small boys, instructing them to leave two booklets in each house. This was done on one street, while on the next they left three in each house, throwing them on the veranda floor. Some advertisers expect good results, but they will not pay to hove their work put out in the proper manner. J. A. NEEF. Waterbury, Conn. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—A few lines to keep you posted as to work in this part of the world. Am. pleased to say that we have been busy during the past month, with good prospects of continua- tion of same. Judging from the contracts made recently through recommendations of druggists, we attribute our success to the fact that we do our work well. During rhe last few weeks we have put out work for the following firms: Hobacker & Bros, (local): -I. Aarons (local): Foster- Mllburn Co.. Buffalo, N. Y.; Peruna Drug Co., Columbus. O.; Akron Cereal Co., Akron, O. (Paul & Guilett. of Pitts-burg, are agents for the above firms in their production-, "Mother's Rolled Oats");Xema Kure Co.,Har- risburg. Pa.; J. P. Urban & Son. Drugs. Al- legheny, Pa.: Muscatine Oat Meal Co., Mus- catine, la.: The Dr. Chase Co., Philadelphia, Pa^; PH-'.sbury Milling Co., Minneapolis, Mrntv.; ten- S-sheet stands and & miscellaneous lot of matter for distribution. Since Dec. 1 we have distributed, and now have on band, E. Dunn. E. D. Turner (local). Yougniogheny Light. Heat & Power Co. (lo- cal): Duffy Malt Whisky Co., Rochester, N. Y.: J. C. Hubinger Co.. Keokuk. la. We ore also advised of two shipments of ad. matter. One of our druggists received a communication a few weeks ago from an ad- vertiser, requesting him to have their mat- ter distributed at S1.50 per thousand. The communication was turned over to us and we replied, saying that we would do the work for $2 per thousand, and do it right, tut if they wanted their almanacs put out as they were the last two seasons, we would do It for J1.00 per thousand. Suffice it to say that we have their contract at our own price for nearly all of our territory. While on the subject of prices', will say that "it seems to me like a mystery" why advertisers do not realize the fact that when they allow their matter to be distributed at less than $2 per thousand, it must be poorly done, as H is an assured fact that & distributor can not moke money (not even good wages) at less than $2 per thousand. Just here let me mention air instance bearing on this point, at least one side of it. We lately contracted and distributed 7.000 books for a large concern at $2 per thou- sands . The books were more voluminous than we had thought and- nearly half of them had to be carried around to the side or bock door (we seldom leave anything in sight from the street). When we sent our bill, we mentioned the fact, and said -that the work was worth 25 cents per thousand additional. In remit- ting they generously conceded to our request and added 25 cents per thousand to our bill without a murmur. We duly appreciated- it. and shall always remember them as an ap- preciative firm. I withhold the name of the firm, as perhaps it would not be the proper thing to give it here. Fearing that my letter may become weari- some, will only say that th« December mim- b^r of "The Billboard" was handsome, up-to- date amd full of good, interesting matter. Wishing you a happy New Year, we are, yours -truly, THE CLOWES ADV. & DIST. CO.. ConncllsvUle, Pa. Wo. Clowes, Mgr. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Just a few lines to let you know what we are doing. Have just finished distri- bution for Dr. Miles Med. Co. and have a quantity of posting, sign-backing and distrib- uting on hand tor the Cartetedt Me*. Co. Also have 150 sheets.on boards for the Real Widow Brown. Wishing "The Billboard" and all my brother bill posters and distrib- utors a happy New Year, I am, yours for business. L. A. DICKSON. Princeton, Ky. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Keep my name in the distrib- utors' directory for another year, for "The Billboard," together with the 1. A. of D., has been- eueeesEful in bringing me a goodly number of the best advertisers in the coun- try, and I would not "kick" if price was double the amount. I never knew the full worth of an advertisement until I bad given Harae a fair trial in "The Billboard." I ex- tend my best wishes for the continued success of "The Billboard" for 1900. I also' extend my best wishes to the prosperity of all mem- bers of the International Association of Dis- tributors for 1900. Yours truly. Frankfort, Ky. GEO. W. REOCK. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Work here, with the exception of the theatrical posting is very light ,as it like- ly will be until the spring trade opens up. We have posted this week, 40 eight-sheets Sen-Sen paper from E. A. Stahlbrodt, New York; 8 eight-sheets Pancake Flour, from Chicago Bill Posting Co., and 650 one-sheets for the Porto Rico Cigar Co., Cincinnati O. Have done distributing for J. G. Vetter & Co. Cleveland; Koenig Medicine Co., Chicago, 111.; Van Camp Bean Cookery, Indianapolis. Ind. Respectfully, E. R. ENDLY & CO. Mansfield, O. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—To give ycu an idea of what is going on- in Willhunsport, Pa., I enclose you my report. I distributed 15.000 for C. I. Hood & Co.; 8,000 for the Dr. Chase Co., Philadel- phia, Pa.; 5,000 for the Boston Med. Institute; 8.000 for the Lydia E. Ptokham Med. Co.; 7,500 for Peruna Drug Mfg. Co.; 8,000 for the Dr. Kilmer Co. (Swamp Root); 7.500 for Dr. Miles Medical Co.; 8,0u0 for Foster-Milburn Co., and there are 8,000 samples on the road from the Kondon Mfg. Co.; also, same num- ber from the Lydia E. Pinkhom Co. for spe- cial delivery in January, 1900. I am now working on 7,000 for the Wyeth Chemical Co. Their agent. Mr. Ccwen, is on the ground to oversee the work, and he re- ports to me that his work is being done well and that it is perfectly satisfactory to him. Mr. Cowen is a gentleman, and he knows when work is well done, as he is an old dis- tributor. I take pride in knowing that work placed in my hands Is being well done, and to the advertisers' best interests, whether they are en the ground to look after it or not. I em- ploy only good, sober men (no boys). I see too much work put out by boys, and I fed satisfied that if the advertisers could see how some of their printed matter is wasted, they w« uld put an end to it. Some of this kind of distributing is given to advertisers who have sent out their own men, and the firm no doubt believes they are receiving good service but they ore not. If these advertisers were to inspect the work done by their men as zeal- ously as they inspect that of the local dis- tributor, they would find a vast difference between the two. I do not want to say that I am the only distributor doing good work, but I do know that my service is appreciated by the advertisers, if one can judge by the letters I receive from them. Yours for honest ™t S. M. BOND. Willramsport, Pa. Member I. A. of D. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I hove just posted some 24-sheet stands for the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston. N. C; also some local work. Have distributed 1,500 booklets for Dr. Miles Med- ical Co., Elkhart, Ind.: 1.000 booklets for Will A. Molton. Posted the paper for the Bruns- wick Fair. Put out samples of Kage's Cor- dial of Cod Liver Oil, prepared by the Koth- ermon Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo., and I have 1.000 booklets for the Chattanooga Med. Co.. Chattanooga. Tenn. I am now a mem- ber of the Southeastern States Bill Posters' Association. Wishing my brother bill posters a happy New Year, I am, yours truly. Fitzgerald, Ga. A. H. JONES. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—We have arranged the dates of our fair for 1900 for July 31, Aug. 1, 2, and 4 —four days in all, and intend to make the coming fair even better than the one held last year, which surpassed any we have yet held. 16.000 people attended on one day last year, and there was a large attendance on the other days-. Four hundred members of the National Editorial Association of America were present on the lost day. We attribute our large attendance to the fact that the ex- hibits were more numerous khan in any pre- vious year. "The Western Manitoba Big Fair" is now looked upon as the Agricultural Fair of the West, and we intend by judicious increase In prize money and accommodations for exhibits and the general public to warrant the good opinion expressed on all sides. Our half-mile link-shaped track has for some time held the record 1 for trotting and pacing. At the last fair the time was- again lowered by one and one-hulf seconds. Each year, a large amount is expended on tree planting and arbor culture and other improvements on the grounds, and we expect to spend $5,000 this year on additional build- ings. Our attractions and amusements are always flrst-ciass and refined. Yours truly F. J. CLARK, Mgr.! Western Manitoba Big Fair. Brandon, Man. Editor of "The Billboard :«• Dear Sir—In- my distributing department I hove put out the following: 4,000 for Boston Medical Institute. Chicago. 111.; 1,000 Scho- ner & Miller, Ann Arbor, Mich.; 14.250 (four distributions) Hood & Co., - Lowell, Maes ; 9.000 Drs. Kennedy & Kergan. Detroit. Mich.; 4.000 Ohio Coffee & Splee Co., Columbus O.' 9,000 Providence Med-. Institute, Chicago,'111.; 'I* - 3.800 Lydia E. Pinkham Med. Co., LynniU Mass.; 2,500 Peruna Drug Co., Columbus, O.'j l|l 5.400 Kondon Mfg. Co., Minneapolis, Minn. Yfi 5,500 Dr. Kilmer & Co., Binghamton, N. Y.?*' 5,500 for W. H. Comstock Co., Morristown "h N. Y.; 12,750 (Ave distributions) Dr. Chas-f Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; 15,000 miscellaneous-i making a total of 104,700 pieces distribute, during the year. In my posting department I have postei. 1.650 sheets. How is that? 1 am going int." the business for all there is in it. I am think, tng of joining the I. A. of D. The notions, advertisers appreciate my work, as I am get' ting new contracts every week. I make 1 specialty of carrying the towns of Milan Dundee. Britton. Tecumst-h, Clinton, Mar? t-hester. Saline. Dexter, Chelsea, Wayne, Ply. mouth, Northiville, Belleville and Willis, tak* ing 5,500 pieces. Hoping for a busy spring. I remain, your.- for business. w. B. REDMAN. . |h Milan, Mich. -** Editor cf "The Billboard:" * Dear Sir—I find much pleasure in readini your very valuable paper, and would not b without it for anything. It certainly merit the support of all distributors. Our busines- in the pott year has been fairly good; we hav' distributed 77,000 pieces more in that tim- ,* •■■ than in the previous year. This is due to ! M : il strictly honest and reliable service. Wisfaini Wri "The Billboard" and my brother distributor *' a happy New Tear, I am, yours very truly Burlington-, la. A. E. DRBIER. Editor of "The Billboard:" 1 Dear Sir—I submit-herewith my annual re port. This has been a. great year with, me •* and I expect to double same in 1900. Previout T to the time I took up the work here, it w»-'S f ajmost impoKible for the advertisers to hav»T!' their work put out as it should be. but thaA 3 ' is all past now, and all matter sent to me i put out according to instructions. Please le- me say to you that I owe a great deal of m- sucecee to "The Billboard" and the I. A. o p. The association is honorable in all 01? rts dealings, both with the advertiser and dis* tributor, and I hope it will continue to gro» until its good effect is felt by every distrib utor and advertiser throughout the Unite* States. j As for "The Billboard," 1 could not ge 1 along without it. and I think that every biW poster and distributor ought to subscribe fo f- it. In the year I have distributed 200,00ii it books, samples, leters, circulars, etc.. etc 5 Have posted 5.000 sheets, from one-sheets t« ' twenty-eight-sheet stands. Have tacked 7.00T cards, banners, etc. Yours truly Sherman. Tex. j. iioXG „ . Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—The toHowicg Is a list of tin work put out by me since October: 2.000 dodg- % T U°l ^ e RePUMlcan Executive Committee. „ 2.400 books for C. I. Hood & Co., Lowell si Masa; 2.000 Kid-ne-oids books, and tackee I S^.^^ 1 * 1 ?^ 01 " tte Joba Morrow Co., Spring I neio:, o. (-through Molton's Agnecy)- °00( « books, and put up hangers in all the ttro- 9 S 6 ^ ^2^5' ft>r tte J " B - F<>t * Co - Wyan- dotte, Mich, (received this also from Moltor Agency); 2.800 books for Dr. Miles, Elkhart; Ind\; £800 headache tablets for the Wilsorj H i Drug Co., Lexington, Ky.; 2,500 almanacs foi '* Peruna Drug Co., Columbus, O.; 2.500 sam-' *, pies (liver cure) for the Dr. Chose Co.. Pbila- i* delphwn, Pa.; 3^300 Kay'g Headache Powder* 1 at Ironton, Coal Grove and Hanging Rock J C. and RusseM. Ky., for the In** SpfcS« Drug Co., Marietta, O.; 2,500 Ladles' Birth- day Almoraaes for the Chattanooga Medleinti Co.. Chattanooga, Tenn.; 2,500 Seven Bark? Almanacs for Lyman Brown. New York City; 2^00 song books for Hamlin's Wizard OH Co , « Chicago. 111.; 1,000 pamphlets, for J. A. Rog'3 V, ere^Ironton, O., advertising the "Walk-Over W< Shoe for men and "Queen Quality" tor worn- 1 ?*i n^.f vea J a ^f 6 'Mstrihutions were for V nrms for whom I have never done any work; S The Globe Remedy Co.. of New York, whej •» have been in Ironton for two mouths sellin* f and advertising their medicines by giving a >* sample to those who colled on them, wounS i up their business Saturday, and have gone 1 i fil a ?ivJ r 5f y ,J >romised to st** me «>me workK the first of the year. Wishing "The Billboard" and all of mw brother members of the I. A. of D. a happy New Year, I am, yours very truly * Ironton, O. H. C. CROSSLEY. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Business with us is on the In-! » crease and will be much more so after the I ££« ear . T & s ,;P I f t has nvt absorbed oun | Plant; nor is it likely to. We are working f along nicely and attending strictly to busA 1 ness. We could increase the output of our 4 pcst fJ jJWrtment ir the gang in tMs cityj l *£,"?, dls ^?£ more hisioess acumen and not I act like children. | We know of several good poster custom- 1 ers who hove been queered by their unbusi-l I nesslike methods, and we have also talked 5 S^.?!?^ °, ut ^ f P1 "laaeJpWa who would use f the bill boards here if they were treated witW i .if' We do ""*■ want •» he classed as : knockers, ' but are only stating facts that 1 i can be proved. f The W. J. Morgan Co. posters have the carf <*■ among the local merchants, and we have" I quite a lot of orders in view for spring trade. : F Our sign and wall departments are busy on h work for Friend's Oats. Emerson shoe, Pond's 1 f Extract. Blue Label Whisky. Douglas Shoe.'! Royal Blue Cigar. Oxus Ogarros, Campbell's '\ Soups, Mayer's Soap, etc., etc. In our poster department we are now run- ' ning one-sheets for Logue's Hats. Bonks CM-^ lege. Active Grocers, nearly all the standard ,' magazines, etc., etc. : ; -,IL?I ,ttle of ae °- X Gua * sray matter was;: divided among the bill posters and sign ad-- . vertisers throughout the country their paths would be among roses instead or thorns. With best wishes for "The Billboard," lit ^'hi^SIf-^-o D ' C ' HUMPHRYS Philadelphia, Pa, ^ -,-, »i