Billboard advertising (Jan-June 1900)

S i THE BILLBOARD THE BILLBOARD BillRdsterI department ^ seven out cf ten want to buv their goods and when they place a lot in a city, that they get sick cf seeing such an amount or books around that they throw them in the stoves, and the advertiser gets no results for h.s expenditure. j. M . MAYO. I '<■■ 1 fl i . i L m :!la is! Local Commercial Work. There are two separate sources from which bill posters derive the paper that'is to be posted on their boards. From the middleman generally comes the large advertisers' work, commonly called national, "and from the bill posters' own efforts does he usually receive the local business, which' he must dig up and develop in his own territory with the assist- ance cf shrewd and experienced poster sales- men. Both of these sources possess, from the busy and up-to-date Mil posters' point ct view, distinctive features of importance which must be recognized and carefully nour- ished, so that he will be sure to obtain his share- of work at least each month in the year. It is our purpose in this article to treat particularly of local work and reserve the national phase of the subject for a subse- quent effort. One of the flrst things that | a bill poster should do in order to improve and build? up his local commercial field is to arrange with some reputable printing con- cern to secure the agency for its stock post- ers. But this arrangement should be made in such a way as not to conflict with the occasional trips made by the regular poster salesmen, representing the printing estab- lishment. Then with' a good stock of sample posters, covering a variety of lines of trade, he should devote all his spare time to solicit- ing, or explaining to his proposed customer the cheapness of this method of advertising and how results can be derived. To the bill poster in the medium-sized towns or even smaller communities, this pro- cess of gradually educating customers to his method of promoting publicity will, with con- tinuous and energetic efforts, eventually be- come his largest, surest, most reliable and independent means of obtaining revenue. For this is a case where he deals direct with the advertiser, and cf course there is no com- mission to be deducted or split up; moreover, he does not have to wait from three to six* months for his money. It can be readily seen, therefore, that local work is worthy of every care, attention and application. There are many fine points involved in this local work question, which can only be ap- preciated by experience and close observa- tion. Fcr instance, it has been discovered by students cf the subject that certain lines cf business demand certain sizes of posters to get the best results from a display. An eight-sheet poster is known to be a very effective clothing bill, while a furniture house would require nothing short of a six- teen or twenty-four-sheet stand. Then again, a three-sheet seems to serve the purposes of a haberdasher cr a hatter very well. Thus onward through the various trades, each seems to have its special requirement, and it is the duty of the bill poster to give consid- erable thought to this matter. Posters for commercial lines are more fre- quently made too small than too large, the latter event being of rafe occurrence. That poster which can bring the best returns on the amount invested in it, is just the one that the advertiser requires. The bill poster should be familiar with all these little points cf the trade, so that he can furnish wise counsel to the merchant who is inexperienced in the art of bill board publicity. idra that the bill posters are an overworked aL«5 poverty-stricken lot should have seen the jolly and comfortable looking set of busi- ness men gathered in front of the Marshall House last night. The bill posters are not only a prosperous lot but they have read the signs cf the times and formed a close cor- pcrat.on among themselves, by which one man controls the business in each city, only ore man being admitted to membership in the association from each place. The asso- ciation is governed by rules which result in keeping the business pretty closely confined to its own members. This was the chief cause cf the discussion at yesterday's ses- sion. There were rival applicants from two or three cities, and as each had friends in the association, there was quite an animated d scussion as to who should be admitted to the privileges and who left out in the cold. As the result of the day's work, new mem- bers were admitted from the following cities- Charlotte, IT. C: Tullahoma, Tenn.; Norfolk" va ; Columbia, Tenn.: McComb, Miss.; Mur- freesboro, Tenn.; Clarkesville, Tenn.: Jack- sen. Tenn.: Thibodaux, La., and Portsmouth. Va. This makes fifty-five towns and cities represented in the association. Mr. H. E. Stoops, of Chattanooga, is presi- dent, and- Mr. Charles Bernard, of Savannah secretary. Others in attendance were W A Sheetz. cf Nashville; R. S. Douglass. Bir- mingham: J. D. Plummer. Asheville: J R Bam, Spartanburg; Frank Powers, Macon- Burton B. Smith, Montgomery; W. H Gru- zard, Columbus; J. W. Griffith. Greensboro; Consolvo & Cheshire, Norfolk: J. D Bur- Ir.dge, Jacksonville; C. C. Parson. Tampa; I. G. Jones, Anniston. Some of those pres- ent represented more than one city. Several well-known theater managers were among the members in attendance. Mr Sheetz is manager of two opera houses at Nashville: Mr. Douglass is a member of the firm cf Theiss, Smith & Douglass, which co-n- il 0 ™ aI1 tne °P era houses in Birmingham': Mr. Plummer is manager of the opera house £t Asheville, while Mr. J. D. Burbridge is the well-known manager of the Jacksonville Opera House. Susquehanna, Pa., Squibs. Among the recent firms distributing here are Dr. A. W. Chase. Buffalo: Washington Med.eal Institute. Chicago, through Will A Moulton: Dr. Kilmer & Co.. Binghamton; Dr. David Kennedy Company. Hondout: Dr. Chase Company, Philadelphia, all through local distributers. Mayer's Soap matter was wasted by traveling representatives, who em- ployed small boys. Pillsbury's Flour "is on the boards here. The arrest in Binghamton. N. Y.. of W A Whitehead, traveling distributer for a yeast houses on the charge of violating the section cf the penal code relating to the employment cf children during school hours. will work to the advantage of legitimate-distrib- uters whose business has been injured by such methods. Mr. Whitehead's defense was that the boys in question claimed to have certificates allowing them to take such-em- ployment. After hearing the testimony, the recorder fined the agent *10 and costs. Owing to the fact that two cf th e :r dis- tributers have been arrested in Pennsylvania on the charge of circulating obscene litera- ture, the Lydia E. Pinkham Company has canceled all contracts in this State for d's- tr.bution, which is a great loss financiallv, net only to the advertising fraternity, but to tradespeople generally, as the restriction on advertising will be felt by all classes cf trade handling this product. It would seem that this incident should furnish the I. A. of D. with an excellent opportunity to begin a cru- sade against such obnoxious laws. The street fair epidemic has struck this section hard. Scranton. Pa., holds a Grand Carn.val and Trades Exposition from May 21 to 26. Corning. N. Y.. business men have subscribed $1,500 fcr a fair to be held June 4 to 9. and. not.to be outdone. Elmira Ledge cf Elks will hold one from July 2 to 7. ■WHITNEY. Rocky Mountain Letter. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sr—It has been some time since T have written you concerning business Her« Laf week I attended the Rocky Mountain Bill Posters' Aseociation at Denver, and had the honor of being elected president of tile same. Business matters of importance were discussed and transacted, and the report cf Secretary Searls shows the association to bV in u flourishing condition, with an increase of membership. Of course, our old-time friend James A. Curran did the honors to the dele- gates. My business this month is all that could be desired, as up to the 20th I have the follow^ nig: Campbell Bros.' Circus, besides what they put oh my boards and daubs. I put un lnO feet of boards: Rusro & Holland Min- strels; 210 sheets Star ttobacco: 200 sheets Seal Cut Plug: 220 sheets Old Virginia Che- rrots: 200 sheets and 150 banners Bull Dur- ham: 80 sheets Straus Overalls: 25 3-sheets clothing: 25 X-sheets Dean's Photographs: .10 2-sheets T'ger Hat. Distributing: Dr. Chase Medical Co., Lydia Pinkham Medical Co. Thorp-Mathews Co. and Fidelity Savings As- scciation. 1 am pleased lo see you issue a weekly be- lievihg that it Will prove of value, not only to Stbokcr. secy, the bill poster, but also the advertiser Wishing you continued success, I remain yours truly. EDWIN A. HASKELL. ' Grand Junction, Col., May 20. Letter from Secretary Hill. Pennsylvania Convention. The sixth annual and fourth semi-annual convention of the Pennsylvania Bill Posters' Association was held at the Imperial Hotel Lancaster, Pa., on Thursday, May 17. The following officers were elected for the ensuing term: President, John' D. Mishler Reading: vice president, Barney Link, Pitts- burg: secretary, John Reese, Scranton; treas- urer. John H. Faga, Mauch Chunk. Exeeu- S; ve „- Ctm " nittee - H - A - Groman. Bethlehem: M. W. Wagner, Bradford: C. A. Yecker Lan- caster. Delegates to national convention at Atlantic City. July 11, John D. Mishler, of Read.ng; J. G. Reese, Scranton: Charles H. netwiller, Royersford. Twelve members were elected. The next regular meeting of the associa- tion will be held at Harrisburg. Burlington, la., Briefs. We have put out samples for W. M. Will- iams, of Indianapolis, and are now placing booklets in seventeen towns for L. E. Pink- ham. If we do not have any more rain the work will be completed in a week. We still have on hand matter from the Brown Medi- c.ne Company, Erie, Pa.: Chattanooga Medi- cine Company, Boston Medical Institute and Dr. Chase Company. We have had more to do this year than any two before. HoneEt work and information received from your paper is the cause of this. The following gentlemen have called on me this month: J. H. Little, representing the Chattanooga Med'cal Company: J. c. Guffin - representing J. Morrow & Co.: W. M. Kings- bury, representing W. M. Williams. They are all fine fellows, and ^should receive good treatment at the hands of our boys. The bill boards in this city contain the fol- lowing paper: Walter Baker's Cocoa. Coco Ccla, Diamond C. Soap, H. H., Great Rock Island Route, Springfield Tire Company and some commercial paper. Respectfully. A. E. DREIER. Waterloo, Wis., Waifs. I have just distributed 50 samples for the Brown Medical Co., Erie. Pa. Also. 2.000 booklets for the Boston Med In- stitute. Chicago, and have Continental" To- bacco Company's 12-sheets on my boards and Monarch Bicycle 3-sheets. I am hoping that lots more work will come along at once, as I have the nicest boards in the State. The traveling inspector for the Continental Com- pany was at my place yesterday, and he told me my bills were put up A No. 1 o K JOHN LEAVER. Kramer is Appreciative. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Permit me to express my appre- ciation for the item that appeared in the issue of May 26 of "The Billboard" in ref- erence to the fake concern at South Bend Ind. We have spent a million and a halt dollars advertising Cascarets in the last foui years, and we think it is highly commend- able and proper on your part to notify the public through your columns of any imita- t ons that are being put on the market, and such attempts to swindle the bill posters an* distributers. Rest assured that we will take such action in the matter as will protect our r ghts. Again thanking you, I beg to remain yours very truly, H. L. KRAMER. Treasurer and Gen'l Mgr. Sterling Remedy Co. Meredith, N. H., Matters. ■V Southeastern Convention. The Southeastern States Bill Posters' A* to be transacted- The session convened at the Marshall House at 2:30 o'clock "n the af- ; ternoon, and continued until midnight wfth 2? meeting! 1806 ™ *** the CWef &taeJSf Referring to the convention, a Savannah | newspaper remarks: "Anyone who has an c l<l! I noted in "The Billboard" what Mr J A Neef said about Peruna books being put out and also about L. E. Pinkham. Now, these men that put out their books can not be very honest m doing their work by putting such a lot in different places, as he mentions, and he stated in his letter that they did not care about their books, and didn't want to pay a very big price to do the work. I can not ESTi."'^ Wm «" th,s - fcr I do tbeifwoX ??? t^, Pen i na D /" s Con >Pany Pays me *S 50 It „£ ""V"** an * L - E- Pinkham pays me tt per thousand. I have to furnish them HcW ^gist's label from my town, C 7. post.ng in this section, and also the Moxie £ e slra£re 0d h Compan ' r ' ° f ^fn. Mass! it »L?_ 2 ge bow 60me nrms will pack all or out all of er fr ments , t ,° ,arse citie * and leave out all of these small towns. If they would ?hil st °P„ an<1 think it over for a moment Docks m,? EC< ; that Whe " tlrere are ever any cocks p Ut out am0Dg thege farm th ^ Importance of Trade Journals. W. H. Steinbrenner. in his new book. "The Successful Distributer," touches upon the subject of trade journals as follows: "The importance of the trade journals is not to be overlooked in the distributing busi- ness. The distributer of to-day owes much of Ms success to the able manner In which the trade journals have advocated good serv- ice and bettering the condition, of the craft They have called the attention of the adver- tiser to some very important features, and have indeed helped to elevate our calling Without the trade, papers it would be diffi- cult for a distributer to get his name and business before the advertiser in a thorough, manner. The trade journals have champion- ed our cause, and have advocated the interest and welfare of the distributer. The distrib- uter should feel it his duty to subscribe for and advertise in these journals. He needs them in his business, and they are essential to his success, therefore worthy of his sup- port. There is scarcely a trade paper repre- senting the distributer that is meeting the support so well deserved. Do not hesitate to contribute your share toward3 maintaining our faithful allies and champions." A To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear S.r—So much has been said, pro and con. concerning my having identified myself with the cause of the American Bill Posters' Alliance that I deem it proper to offer an explanation for the benefit of the uninformed The movement, as is generally known, was started by other parties several months since and at that time I had no connection with it' Early in March) the moving spirit found it impracticable to devote the necessary time to carry it to a successful issue, and several let- ters were written to me. asking if I would take up the work. In the meantime. I had filed an application for membership in the Associated Bill Posters, eo refused to have anything to do with the matter till action on th.s application was taken. This action waa taken at the meeting of the board of d.rect- 0 - rs , c C, tne Associated Bill Posters in New York City early In March,, and with the re- sult that my application was rejected and my opposition accepted. At the meeting of the Associated directors, which rejected my application and accepted my opposition, sworn affidavits were placed before the directors showing that paper had Deen furnished my opposition to post which was never posted, but which was used several months subsequently for blanking in his boards. I also presented written statements from a number of both national and local adver- tisers, showing that our service was far superior to that of any other firm in our line in Nashville. I had information from the sec- retary cf the board cf directors that the two appl.caticns from Nashville were acted on without even' having taken up the evidence I had placed before them. Vt, 1 , ha .l! been told before the vote was taken that the matter was "cut and dried." and t?,-, S .H aC , t f°.1. of 5 h f board convinced me cf the truth cf the statement. m L l ?h n "ooested the secretary to return to me the testimonials, affidavits, other evi- dence and check sent him to cover applica- man ST; m H , eJ>nt me , 0tt by sayin 8 he would mail them to me. I came home, and after waiting a reasonable time, wroce him "or tSv,-£ a „ Pe T So f n th *"*fter I received the iS,.™°?fc ate and a polite "oto declining to m£i,£, tne c ., viaence w hich incriminated their member, and up to this time neither the ev - $tZi e S°\ tb f ehcck ,cr th* membership fee have reached me. I will say. however, that bet\, E S ,a 7 Wr ° te . nw that the check had been lost. I am yet at a loss to understand r u rL t c h ^„ P ^ er %"; , H qUCStlon should not ™e re- .hl ^ Z e if tne vote of the majority of the board, was conscientious and they were not afraid to let in a little daylight. After I returned home from the meetinir above referred to. 1 received severaT otn"? TOH P&?p'2"Sii? e ,0 takc Up tb * America^ llill Posters Alliance matter, so In order to S5.W™ nos a e5 ,ppor h' lf lected tl,C nam «» Si ™ b " l ,, p J D T te 7u BC . aWer f d a " over the coun- try, and selected at random and wrote, askine tit ,°S lnl °. n ,°. f th * e new organization Out of this 100 eighty-five replied, favoring the move thirteen did not reply, and three doubt ed the advisability of the attempt ? con. s.dered this sufficient encouragement so agreed to take up the matter, and so fa? JesuR." 0 CaUEe t0 "" di »ouraged as ?o the . Jl P i? , thiB ~ me y® nave members In seven- teen States. The fact that we are to have an organization conducted by the members for the members is meeting with general favor A. spirit of fairness will characterize all the dealings of the American Bill Potteri? AIIU A I, ^'„J , ,^ h T'th advertisers and blfl posters A provision is made Tor the gign and bulletin ?e a ce n P tTon """ '" ™ eti " K With favorable I shall be pleased to hear from all bill post- ers and sign painters, whether they arc our members or not. r i„ T , h f l . cxecuti ^ e ™mmlttee has decided to al- low the membership fee of all members who join before July 1 this year to cover the Tin" P.°»M to?h ,Uljr V. MI - E8ncc,aI attenton %£ .. tne f m alI-town bill poster. The time and. place of our flrst annual meet'ng will be announced In these co". uillliH at an early date. Yours truly -is v r-i JAS ' Ij - "Ikl-. Secretary. ul« N. Cherry street, Nashville, Tenu. Old Theatrical Posters. From 1850 to 18f!0 the eye of pedestrians was often drawn to huge colored play posters that stood in various parts cf the city, wr.tes Samuel Barber, in the "Brooklyn Eagle." Brooklyn at that time had no theater. New York- managers, therefore, owned feme spaces—headed "Purdy's National Theater." "Broadway Theater," "Burton's Theater." "Old Bowery Theater," "Wallack's Theater." "Barnum's Museum," etc., etc.—on d.fferent thoroughfares. One of the earlier plays p <■- turcd was "The Colleen Bawn," by D.on Iiouccicauit. It was performed 11,100 times in New York, and was a benefit to Agues Rob- ertson, at Winter Garden, on Broadway, op- posite Bond street, during her last week in America, July 5, 1880. It was an Irish love story, and direw forth a fence p'cture of "Lake Killarney by Moonlight," with the re- flection cf the moon on mountains, rocks, boulders, trees, grass, etc. A calm, tranquil stream with high- and low lands; a beat firawn up to the shore, with a hgh rock standing out in the stream that finds many inlets; a rocky br.dge crosses the water, with trees and woeds on either side: a solitary rewbeat with two men gently glides down the lake: all is quiet stillness. What more ro- mantic Epot could suggest Irish love, valor cr filial pride? Among the Dickens' drama- tizations seen on the boards in days gone by, "Dcmbey and Son"-and "Oliver Twist" were well liked, but neither drew the same audences that greeted "David Copperfleld" when performed at Burton's Theater on Chambers street. New York, with the follow- ing cast! Mr. M'cawber, Mr. Burton; Peg- ctty, Charles Fisher: Mrs. Micawber, Mrs. Eddy: Rose Dartle, Mme. Ponisi: Miss Betsy Trotwocd, Mrs. Hughes. It drew forth a . ff nee picture of the sea-shore with a hut with windows and stove-p'pe, constructed out cf a little test. An old tar sat in the gar- den outside, smoking and looking seaward, while his wife sat by sewing and Little Em- ily passing in and out made notable features cf the scene. Th ! s was Dickens' master- piece, and will ever be remembered in Mr. Burton's "Micawber." On Tuesday. March 23. 1S58, the Niblo's space presented an at- tract've pictrre in the return cf the incom- parable Ravels. Probably no play ever pre- sented more l'ghtning changes, especially in the scene of the.hut of the peasant, that by a wave cf the wand was transformed into a palace, with brilliant lights and marble fleer, with a wind'ng stairs and statuary, all pre- senting a scene of magnificence, with a grand ballet divertissement, danced to exquis : te muse. The cast presented was Gabriel. An- toine and Jerome, assisted by ther great double ccrps of artists. Positively their last performance in America previous to their final retirement from the stage. The charm- ing Thereea Rolla. Marietta Zanfretta on the t'ght rcpe. Kerie-Ka. Gabriel Ravel in the cem'c part cf Vent'atan—Antoine as K'mka. Jerome as playing Biano—Bianco Anto'ne and Brocolo Jerome. Th's play bill, vividly por- traying the vicissitudes cf life in New York, caused many a passer-by to step and look at the picture cf a snow-stcrm in Union Square at n'ght. It was nearly nrdn'ght: people, t'ghtly muffled, passed to and fro along the path through the storm: the trees were cov- ered with snow, while outside, illuminated, steed the Everett House, the Clarendon, the Spingler Institute. Dr. Cheever's church ana the massive brown-stone houses or some of the wealthy. A space eagerly watched by the children cf Brooklyn was "Barnum's." recalling memories of the "woolly horse." the "Feejee mermaid," the "What Is It." the "living whale," "Tom Thumb," "the giant," the "Siamese twins," the "fat wom.- an." etc. One of the "day and evening per- formances" about this time (1858) was the "storm at sea," which closed with a ter- rific thunderstorm off Ireland, vividly pic- tured. The dark waters rise high as a vessel, r'sing and falling on the waves, appears, and. struck by lightning, loses her masts. Now rendered helpless, she moves along and strikes against the rocky coast. The crew escape over the bow. and are saved by a rope thrown by "wreckers" frcm the top of the mountain. -This was one cf the many re- membered "attractions" cf the Museum. Traveling Distributors. Several weeks ago one of Dr. Kilmer & Co.'s traveling distributers ventured the as- sertion that the days of the traveling distrib- uters were near an end, basing his belief upon the fact that the ranks of the com- mercial traveler had been gradually reduced until only a few remained of that once "vast army." The commercial traveler superseded the visits cf the small tradesmen, and instead of the country merchant going to the expense cf making his semi-annual visits to the trade centers, enterprising wholesalers found it to their advantage to send their representatives with a full line of samples to the country store. This opened up a new and large field, which, however, was quickly filled. Its ad- vantages were apparent. Every lino of goods was brought to the door of the store, with no extra expense to the country merchant: but not so with' the manufaceurers and whole- salers. To them it was a very expensive way of soliciting trade. The commercial traveler, a high-salaried agent, with expensive hnbits, has passed his usefulness, and to-day "Uncle Sam" calls daily at the customers* door and places them in direct touch with the manu- facturers and wholesalers. What "Uncle Sam" says to the customer comes direct from the "house." There are no funny stories, no misstatements, no wine suppers, no livery bills, no "miss incidentals" for the customer nnd "house" to share the expense of. Truly the "drummers' " dnys are numbered, and as n class they have excavated every spadeful-"of their own graves. True, there were many honest, conscientious men interested in keep- ing their positions by strict attention to their employers' business, but they fell into diEre- pute with their fellow-travelers, by whom they were dubbed "st.ngy fossils," and ther "firm" was looked upon as a "second-rate" affair, anyway. Unfortunately these men were swept away in the wave of adversity; another illustation of the truth cf the adage, "the just and the unjust suffer alike." Shenandoah, la., Squibs. To the Editcr of "The Billboard:" Dear S.r—As it has been some time since you h.-.d any word from us. we thought it proper to inform you of what is taking place in this part of Iowa. We have posted for the following firms this spring: Continental To- bacco Co.. American Tobacco Co., Cremo C.gar; Slaver, Blake & Co., Henry George Ciirar. Grandee Flour. Lion Coffee. Coca Cola, Piso Consumption Cure and a number of local jobs. Have distributed for the_foI- lowing: C. I. Hood & Co.. two distributions: Iir. fchcop, Cow Brand Soda, Arm & Han- nen Scda, S. C. Wells & Co., Peruna, Wash- ington Med. Institute, Boston Med. Institute, Dr. Coe, Smith's Kidney Cure. Dr. Mile= Med. Co. and sixty-two jobs of local work. Have tacked for Continental Tobacco Co., Coco Ccla, Stam Pianos, S. C. Wells & Co.. Piso Co., Lion Coffee and others. Enclosed you will find a job which was my own idea. I used 1,000 of these in my home town, sim- ply hanging them on the door-knob. There was no other advertising at all except these, and -W. H.- Taylor infermed me that - it brought them the largest day's business they ever d.d. I admire "The Billboard" more than ever in its new form, and wish it long l;fe and prosperity. Have built several hun- dred feet of new boards this season, and will have to build more if the work don't let up. Harry Parks, agent cf the Great Taylor's C.rcus. was here the 12th inst. Found him to be a very nice fellow, indeed. The show is due here May 2S. Yours respectfully. C. L. HOOVER. La Crosse, Wis., Letter. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear S.r—Spr.ng business in the bill post- ing I.ne has been fairly brisk this season, thus far. A lage share cf the bill boards about tewn are covered with live commercial paper, and seme admirable showings are ob- ta.ned. The bill pester, August Er ckson, is a faithful and painstaking man, and he gives geed service to cne and all. A crew of men employed by the.Gunning Company were in the city recently, and decorated all the dead walls about town with flaming advertisements cf Quaker Oats. In one case they came to grief, fcr they had no mere than completed one cf the r largest signs when the owner of the building, John Palmer, came out and or- dered it rt moved. They had to paint the entire surface with gray paint. It appears that the men had been given permission to paint a s gn by a stable hand. Palmer want- ed $2C0 fcr the space, it is said. Your ccrrespondent visited the e'reus cf the Gcllmar Erothers. at West Salem, last Saturday. They have probably the biggest and best wagen show on the road. They have six cages of animals, and put out a flashy parade. They have been playing to ring- bank audiences since their opening at Bara- bco. May 5. The Gollmar Brothers expect to change from a wagon show to a railroad show within a year cr sc. The high prices cf circus property prevented them from doing so this year. FRANK M. WELCH. Sumter, S. C, Sayiags. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear S.r—In November last I distributed 1.000 Lades' Birthday Almanacs in my city fcr the Chattanooga Med; cine Co.. and in March I d str.buted again fcr the same com- pany in my city 1.000 Red Heart books, and I am prepared to distribute any other adver- tising matter in my city and county, and guarantee honest service at reasonable rates. 1 also distributed some advertising cards'in my city for Sterling Remedy Company, of Mineral Springs. Ind.. and I am expecting some work from Dr. Kilmer & Co., of Bing- hamton. N. Y,. in the near future, and also the Feistcr Printing Company,'of Philadel- phia. I am promised some work from three other large- advertisers in the United States. I have closed contracts with Dr. C. I. Snoop. Racine, Wie., to distribute his advertising matter In my section. S. S. S. Co.. of At- lanta. Go., distributed some booklets in my city last month: work was done by a man and little boy. Dr. Miles Anti-Pain Pills were d'stributed here in April by a colored man. and the samples were put in my yard on the ground. The booklets of Dr. Tutts. of New York, were distributed here in April by a white man. If the advertisers were to give me all of their advertising I could save them the expense and trouble of a traveling agent. PROF. R. M. JONES. Traveling Medicine Shows. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I have been a reader of your val- uable paper for some time, and I notice with pleasure your innovation cf issuing a paper weekly, and also cf devoting considerable space to circuses nnd tent shows. Now. I consider this a good thing. Kindly allow me to make a suggestion. Would it not be ad- visable to devote i-piice mid further the in- terests of the traveling mcdViiie shows of this country and Canada? There are up- ward of. one to two thousand of this class cf shows throughout the year, with practically no official organ. I have been in the medi- cine business for a number of years and have cften thought it would be a gocd -thing for Ecme enterprising paper like "The Billboard" to publish a route list of med-cine shows; also a letter list, want column, etc. 1 think by doing this you could increase the circula-: t.on of your paper a great deal. The route- list itself is worth lots of money to the medi- cine man, for the reason that it will keep them from conflicting with-each other.- S. A. KENNEDY - . Urbana, O., May 22. - . Johnston, Pa., Jottings. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Have posted the following amount cf paper for firms: American Tobac- co Ccmpany. 1,000 sheets, 800 signs and ban- ners, five months: $am Hoke, 25 8-sheets of Gloria Cigar; P. C. Fulweiler & Bro., Phila- delphia, Pa-: 50 8-sheets Prince of Ind.a C.gar: Geis Furniture Company, local. 100 S- sfreets; Coca Cola Company, 400 sheets: Bak- er- Lever Chemical Company, Chicago, 600 sheets, four months' showing; local work, 2,500 sheets. -We have distributed for' the following firms: Alonzo O. Bliss, E. Wash- ington, D.C., 10,000 samples and almanacs: \anCamp Jacking Company, 3,000 booklets; Dr. David Kennedy Corporation Company, Roundout, N. Y., 10.000 cards; Chicago Med- ical Dispensary, 8,000 books; M. M. Fenner, M.D., Fredonia, N. Y., 10.000 almanacs; John Morrow & Co., Springfield, O., 8.000 samples; "Will". A. Molton, 6,000 books: Celluloid Starch Company. Pluto, Pa.. 6.000 samples. Bromo Quinine. 5.0C0 samples, from the W. H. Hill Company, Detroit, Mich.; 5,000 samples of matches from the Baker-Lever Chemical Ccmpany; also, hanging 100 frames. GEORGE E. UPDEGRAVE. New Bedford, Mass., News. To the Editor cf "The Billboard:" Dear.Sir—Just a few lines from the Whal- ing City. Our theatrical season, the most prosperous one we have ever had', closes next week.with- Robinson's Comis Opera Company. Forepaugh-Sells Bros, show here May 29, with prospects of a big business. There is a great opening through this country for a 2a- cent show. A LaPearl Circus man told me the.r banner day last season was in our city, and every circus that has shown through here at 25 cents has done a large business. Our cotton mills pay $100,000 every Saturday at 12 o'clock, and everything is lively here. We are to have a street fair the week of July 23, with the Bostock aggregation as the attraction. Our bill poster has h.s boards full, and is always ready for anything new in the bill posting line. Your paper arrives reg- ularly, and I derive a lot of splendid infor- mat.cn frcm it. Let the good work go on. TUXEDO. Waterbury, Conn., Let'er. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—This agency is three years old. I am wcrking the second year for Dr. Miles Med. Co., Elkhart, Ind., and two other firms. Population- of Waterbury, over 65,000. I cover Waterbury. Waterville, Parkville, Wa- tertown. Union City, Nangatuck. This is my regular route. Sometimes I take-in Meriden. Wallingford. Brandford. Guilford. Milford. Orange,' Derby, Shelton, Lorringtan, "Win- Eted. Ansonia, Seymour and Thomaston. I covered this town twice last year, after I came back from the volunteer army. All our big merchants have taken to book- lets. It pays best of all advertising. You may state that 1 will mail advertisements to from twenty-eight to thirty villages in Con- necticut, including all good farming districts. It pays to reach those people. Respectfully, J. A. NEFF. Gnthrie, 0. T., Gatherings. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Rough Riders' Reunion will be held at Oklahoma City, O. T., July 1 to 5. Col. Teddy and Gov. Roosevelt- will visit Guthrie in July after the reunion at Okla- homa City. Guthrie, is to have a grand street fair in September. Lydia E. Pinkham's booklets are being wasted and worse in Okla- homa by a certain agent. Oklahoma raised the finest strawberries in the United States. Advertising will bring gocd returns in Okla- homa all this year. as. there are such fine crops, and it is also on a railroad boom. Yours truly, L. N. FOSTER. Redman's Reply. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—In your issue of May 19 of "The Billboard" I noticed an item headed "Water- bury. Conn., News,"-and in that item refer- ence was made to the supposed manner in which the Peruna and Pinkham books were put out. Now. for the benefit of whom it may concern 1 . I wish - to say that I control and do the work for the Lydia E. Pinkham Co., Dr. Chase Co.. and the Peruna Drug Co. in the city of Waterbury. Therefore 1 refute all that J. A. Neff claims- as utterly false, unjust and malirgious. This matter has gone far enough. Hoping' you will give this space in your next issue. I thank you for your kindness. Yours truly, for honest service only. H. L. REDMAN. Meriden, Coun., May 20. Heighth of Boards in 'Frisco. An amended ordinance regulating the height of lences cf wood or other inuammable ou- tcr.al with.n the limits of the city of San, * ranuibto'. has ieen submitted to the ju'd c ary committee by Supervisor Brandenstein, and Will te recommended fcr passage at the next meet.ng cf the board. The original ordinance restricted the height of fences to ten feet, but on the representation of the Bill Posters' As- sociation that the ten-foot-limit would ruim the.r business, the committee decided to limit- tbe height to twenty feet. The ordinance provides: . . . "It shall be unlawful for any person, asso- clat.on or corporation to bmid or maintain, or to suffer to be built or maintained, within the city and county of San Francisco, any fence of wood or other inflammable mater.al over twenty leet in height above the level of the sidewalk without the permit of the Board cf Fire Wardens (and of the Board of Pub- I.c Works) of the city and county of San Francisco first obtained, baid fire wardens (and Board of Public Works) shall have power to grant such permit only if the said fence is built or maintained as a wind-break or as a means to protect the public from in- jury from any building or other structure In the course of construction, alteration or de- struction, and will not be a menace to. life or property, nor interfere with the work'of the fire department. "Section 2. Any fence built or maintained in violation of the provisions of this ordi- nance is hereby declared a public nuisance, and the Chief of Police" and the Chief En- g.neer of the F.re Department are d.rected to abate the same forthwith." The ordinance regulating and restricting advertising, which has been already publish- ed, was also adopted. It provides that it shall be unlawful for any person or firm to drive".' through the streets any wagon carrying ad- vertisements unless said wagon be owned by a storekeeper ' or corporation doing business . and unless permission is obtained from the Board cf Public Works: also to propel "any street cars with advertisements printed on the outside of the car; to appear on the streets in extraordinary costume or dress or by mak- ing any unusual noise; to paint advertise- ments on gutterways, streets or sidewalks or distribute any hand-bills or dodgers for ad- vertising purposes and to appear on the streets' carrying banners, boards or placards with advertisements. The committee decided to make certain ex- ceptions in the-case of advertising by labor organizations, but only when permission is granted by the Board of Works. "The reason .why I sold out my bill post- ing interests and quit the business altogether was because I could not stand boss-rule any longer," is the way a well-known bill poster, in a letter to the editor of "The Billboard," explains his departure from the craft. Un- less members of the fraternity-at-Iarge arise in their might, rebuke the gangsters and decidedly defeat them, many other good, hon- est bill posters will be frozen but of their plants and forced out of wprk before they are aware of it. Think of Jt, bill posters! ye of the Associated Bill. Posters! Ye pay annual tribute to the gangsters, who loll around in plush chairs in New York, cunningly study- ing and contriving ways and means so as to oust you from your plants in order to grab them for their trust. One cf the largest .outdoor advertising con- tracts ever placed in the town of Mansfield, Penn., and -vicinity was recently secured by the W. D. Husted Advertising Company, from the Continental Tobacco Company, of New York City. It consists of the posting or near- ly 300 8-sheet stands of paper, -advertising the famous brands of tobacco "Old Honesty" and "Spear Head." The paper is to be placed throughout Tioga and a portion of Bradford counties: the work is well under way and Ib being done solely in the interest of the local dealers throughout this territory who handle their goods. This company has also secured the contract for posting 600 sheets of paper fcr the Corning Free Street Fair, to be held from June 4 to 9 in that city. The paper-will be placed in Tioga and Potter counties. A young man named J.' D. Faris was re- cently arrested in San Bernardino. Cal., for posting bills without a license. When brought up in court, he stated that he bad consulted the city attorney on' the subject and had In- ferred from what he said that a license was not necessary, if the people owning'the build- ings or fences on which the signs were post- ed did not object. Considering that he had inquired into the law in such cases, of both the city attorney and the city marshal, the town reco.rder dismissed the'case, but warned the young man against any further violation of the law. The bill posting rules are either not well understood cr people are inclined to take ad- vantage of them for their own benefit, says the Moline (111.) Mail. .The Boston Store, of Davenport, has attempted to distribute cir- culars, and the young man who attempted to do it for that store was fined JB 80. Another party was fined $5 for doing the same without a license. George Ritter £ Co. and R. H. Taylor are the only two who have licenses for bill posting in Moline. and either per- mits for posting must be granted by them or the city: A report that the case of the Boston. Store cf Davenport will be made a test case is current and that the owners of that es- tablishment will carry the case to the-high- est court if necessary, is causing much com- ment. 'tf m M- fulfil am I. A. of D. Convention. The place of meeting of the International As- sociation of Distiibutors" Convention has been changed from Kansas City. Mo., to Detroit, Mich. It will take place in the latter city August -,xh, Sth and gth. :I!