The billboard (July-Dec 1900)

H'i 1 ,m i£ **i "I • : . * S 3 : i I IP ( 2 I Rill Posters' | ^ II Department. | THE BILLBOARD Among the Pioneers. The excitement caused in the Cincinnati bill posting plant when Chapman's wairon ar- rived from the shops at Zanesville in 1857, is beyond* description. Chapman thought that he had struck the limit. He always was orig- inal, and these wagons were his own design He naturally took great pride to see them introduced. Fancy when "Pete," "Rube," ""Charlie" and "Billy Cummings" were asked to take a ride behind two fiery steeds, to da their route, it looked like a sure enough holiday. What a contrast from walking with, ropes and sticks over their shoulders: and carrying their paper and brush and bucket in hand. Each wagon had a driver. "Oh! what a picnic?" They carried their paste in sta- tionary boxes en each - side of the wagon. The front part of these boxes was for paper, "With original compartments, so that the bill posters could take their paper in the dark without a light. In the center of the wagon were lots of sticks for posted paper put to- gether in shop, "tp slap up quick." Cbap- trans were the first bill posters in the world who ever put paper together io this way. Chapmans had little use for ladders, depend- ing on a. long reach, and when "Old man" . 'Chapman and "Rube" got hold of a long- handled brush, the bystanders would ba more than surprised at * the height these two "younsters" used to cover with the greatest *>f ease. Chapman's brushes were also his own in- vention, he had them made by a Main-street firm using three rows of short bristles in- stead of two. Chapman always used heavy paste (no water), and it made no difference to them whether they struck a smooth bill board or a rough brick pile to bill: and one thing, above all. must be said for the credit of the Chapmans: that a bill posted by them never came otr—rain or shine. Leadville's first bill poster. James H. Cragg was bem January 11. 1813. in Louis- ville. Ky. His father was for a long time a manufacture* and dealer in pianos, ors-uiis and other musical instruments. Young Cragg was educated in the L»ou'sviIle schools, and afterwards was in business w'.th h s father for several years. Later he formed a part- nership with Will. S. Hayss. the well-known so»g writer, and they continued in the n>us:c line for some time. He next asso=ia'ei hire- self with Nick Rcberts. and for eight years traveled with the iattcr's Humpty-Dumpty Company as manager. In March, 1S82. he went to Loadville. Col., accepting a flatter! ns offer from Geo. Taber. looking after his Leadville interests, as manage- or the Tabir Opera House, as manager of Leadv.lle Tele- phone Exchange, manager of Tabor's Hct?l and Turkish B3th Hous:s. TabM-'s nxt th'.ng was a.bll posting plant. Leadville being 13.000 feet above the level of the s?a. it is too cold to carry pasta and paper, hsrne the i'lteres ine picture ot the primitive wagon, o i the opposite raee. which shows James H. craeg with the ""broom" and his two bill posters, making a route of four 1-sheet for a starter. However, shows '-soon began to flock to Leadville. and Mr. Cragg struck "pay dirt" from the start. Mr. Cragg is at present manager of the Hotel Verdome, Leadville, Col., and heavily interested in no less than seven silver mines. He is a busy man, but never too busy to come East every summer to visit his aged mother in Louis- ville. Dawson in the South. After an absence of some years from the South. I was most favorably impressed with the improvements on all sides, and especially so in the bill posting plants. Burton, at Richmond. Va.. has a fine line of hoards, and is never so crowded but what he can give a few additional center showings. He is of great assistance to an agant, and is ever readv to help you make the town reasonable. At Norfolk, Consolvo & Cheshire are two hustling business men and are continually building new hoards. The one oppos'te the Monticello Hotel is a particularly good one, and no extra charge is made for it. This firm ought to get the Newport News plant, and I hope the association will give (hem the fran- chise. At Charleston and Savannah. Charl'e Bernard has things in splendid shape, and his plant in the latter town is the finest I ever saw anywhere. In all directions the effect of the Southeastern Association is felt, and for the betterment of all concerned. Mr. Doug- las has infused new blood in the B'rm'ngbam plant and Ben Theiss is helping to make it pleasant and profitable for all visiting agents. Ashev'lle. N. C and Columbia. S. C. are putting on city airs as regards their boards, and hustling to keep pace with the rsst. I was in Atlanta. Ga-. six weeks ago, and I dis- covered that the city had graciously reduced the c ! ty I'censc to £500 a day. The State is obdurate, however, and st'll charge? $1090. If an agent will consult the bill poster at Columbus. Ga-. he will be able to show that town and not give up all the money the show takes in. At Columbus I saw the plain talk of "The Billboard" concerning the Primrose & Dockstader's Minstrels, and it had Its ef feet, as the manager did not want to grant a license after the article was read to him. It simply shows' the weight of your valuable pa* per. Two or three weeks before I got to At- lanta some one told my friend DOoley that he was going to have opposition. Well, Dooley took one leap in the air, and before he came down he had every board in town fixed up, and when 1 arrived the boards and paper looked like a brand-new dollar bill. Dooley is go;ng to. the convention at Atlantic City, and has purchased a high hat. He Swears that if Al. Bryan tries to smash it he will shoot him 6n the tedt,. Speaking of high hats, Dooley's is a dream, so much so that a poem appeared In the "Atlanta Constitu- tion entitled "Dooley and His New High Hat. . Last winter "Pop" Seamon called at h;s office and said: "Dooley, why don't you fix the lot man here in Atlanta? He is the worst wolf I ever met. He wants $200 for one day." Dooley said: "Why. Si, that's easy. He had me arrested for just looking at two dead walls he owns." SAM M. DAWSON. Special Agent Buckskin Bill's Wild West. Levyne's Letter. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Here is an instance of what ju- dicious advertising will do. Fcr nine years Charles Boyer has- been manufacturing the Boyer's Bitters in. Cincinnati, and notwith- standing it is the only pure vegetable bitters on the market, it was, up to a short time ago, unknown outside of Cincinnati and known to only a few in the city- The reason of its "kept in darkness" was the want of money to advertise it, and the lack cf money was for the want cf "up-to- dateness" on the part of Mr. Boyer. Now, here is what I want to say: A short time ago—should I say sixty days—seme moneyed men got in with Mr. Boyer for the purpose of pushing the Bitters to the front. Money? Well, that was no object- It was spent, and, as I say, judiciously, by men who are known as Kve business "hustlers." And now ye would-be advertisers, listen to this. In the Green's Gatherings. T tho Editor ot "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I think it is nothing more than due you that the bill posters and distributors should help ybu in the good work of publish- ing "The Billboard" by forwarding you the details of the business in the locations of the country where they live. In this part ot the country the business has been financially gocd. *I receive work from .first-class adver- tisers, such as the Continental anil American Tobacco Companies, all of Sain W. Hbke's work; Leggett A..Myers, of St. Louis; C. H. Rollins, of DesMbihes; Dr. Shoop Family Medicine Cb., Rac r.e, Wis.; Washington Med- ical institute Company, Chicago; A. Van Buren & Co., New York; Peruna Drug Manu- facturing Co.; Lamphier, Finch & Skinner. Columbus, O., wholesale hats and furs; Bos- ton Medical Institute, Chicago: Hirshorn. Mack & Co.. New York, cigars: Harris. Em- ery & Co., dry goods, Des Moines; Will A. Moulton, Distributing Agency, Cleveland, O.; E. A. Bassett. Medical Institute. Chicago, 11L; Powell, Smith & Co., Cremo Cigar, Chi- cago, 111.: The Piso Remedies Co., Feister Printing Co., Philadelphia, Pa.: Chattanooga Med. Co.. Chattanooga, Tenn.; tho O. J. Gude Co., New Ycrk; Bradley Bros., manufacturers and jobbers cf cigars, Dubuque, la.; A. B. Beall. shows and tobaccos, Sioux City: Ham- lin's Wizard Oil Co.: Fay Lewis & Bros. Co., Rcckford 111., agents Henry George and Tom Moore Cigars; the C, M. & St. Paul R. R.; M. & St. L. R. R.; Illinois Central R. R.; Burlington, C. R. & Nor. R. R.; Dueher Watch Co., Canton, O.; Dr. B. J. Kay Med. Co., and a hundred others. Nothing but first- class ads. and first-class work in return is what they get. I do the opera house work, circus work; own circus grounds and ail bill boards in the city, and by attending to busi- ness it is no trouble to get all I can do. A good many advertisers are' inquiring for space later in the season, on account of the circus season. They claim they are not used right in getting the full thirty-day limit. This is something I never have been accused of—not g'.ving full time. My register will show full time to all. Inspectors all give me tho banner on this line. John Chapman's First Wagon. first thirty days the increase of the output was 125 per cent greater than any twelve months in the testcry of Mr. Boyer's man- agement. And so, Mr. Bill Poster, we wilt seen have a new national advertiser en the boards. But as yet they will only bill C.n- cinnati with an eight-sheet. If advertisers think they can put a good thing en the market and let it be sold on its merits—-it won't be sold,.that's all. You have get to let the people know it's a gocd. thing. For instance, look at the Old Vir- ginia Cheroots- It would pay any advertiser to get the particulars (no matter bow trou- blesome) on the growth cf the "Cheroots." I can leck back five years, and see a small, dlngy-lcoking stcre—when en the proprietor I one day called I wanted to sell him about $25 worth' of advertising novelties. "Not on your l'JTe, young man: I don't put my money in that." -But he did. Just $13.75; and as I write my clcl order book is open on that page. But the new fccok? Oh, well; you can see hew this will end. The last bill cf gcods 1 sold him was this spring, and it amounted to $£75 just for a thirty days' billing. What did the posting cost? About-$750 more. Five years ago his whole "dingy" store d'd not amount to twice that sum. Of course not! Do ycu suppose be get rich just because I sold him $18 wcrth cf geeds—to be given away? He prospered because he broke from the old way.of doing business: in his small town he brought in metropolitan ideals, and he used "locally" that which is used "univer- sally!" News-papers? Well, I guess net: that was the old th'ng. and I said he prospered. Why. my friends, he is on the bill beards every month in the year, and he bills everywhere with'n s'xty miles cf his town. ^nd: yctt—scma poor old moss-back. Come, r"t ort cf your trie, and rub the sleep out rf ycur eyes, and Jf-r you -will g've me-a r-hance at you I will give you the chance mv "d'ngy-stcre" fr'end tcok. and if you don't think I am writing truthfully, a letter to anv r-e rf the b'g solic'tcrs will bring hundreds rf such stci-ies, with figures, names and dates. But don't write to them. Write to Yours trulv, M. L. LEVYNE. Dr. Chase Company. Philadelphia: David Kennedy. C. I. Hcod. Sterling Remedies Co., all the American Bill Posting Service. Chica- go, III; Gloria Cigars, Lion Coffee—in fact, all good, reliable firms tdvertise here. I tave been in the business since 1SS0 and have yet to hear the first one complain. My business is growing each year, and gocd, honest' serv- ice is what has made it. I keep my boards in fine shape and in good locations; that is what the advertising public wants. I have 3,000 feet fine bill boards and keep them filled .Tmf 1 ^,f, ne t!roe " Now - to ffly a word for The Billboard." Tho weekly issue is just what all bill posters and distributors should encourage: give it a helping hand; build it un. by sending in correspondence; help the editcr to the news of your own business. By keeping in touch with business in all parts of thocountry ycu help yourself, as well as giv- ing the public a chance to do business with people in your city. The only way is to get out cf your shell, and make a grand stand for yourself, and let the public know you are In a I've town, and "The Billboard" Is ready to help you. So far this year we have not had any circus in orr town. There was a celebration here on the Fourth. Madarre De Leon made a ballcon ascension, and 15.000 people were here en that date. Yours tor gocd. reliable work, Spencer, la. s. J. GREEN. C San Antonio, Tex., Saj ings. To the Editor of "Th« Pillboard:" Dear Sir—We are |mt cempioti^j; a mod ern and fi>st-class bulletin and bill pouting plant for this city and section. We have the means *n develop 'he business to ft* utmost, and we :ire going to try 'o do so, and >il;e all good and faithful servants, we commun'cale with "The Billboard" Prat. We have not made nppl'cation to the National Assoclot'on, J'S we understand they have a representnt'va here, and it is against their pol cy to have two members In the same locality. We in- tend, if possible, to loin the American, of which Mr. Hill.- of Nashville, is secretary. We hope we are not asking too much to re- quest that you give Us .afflbial nBtlce tn your Paper, and to do anything else for us that you feel disposed to do. We refer you ov permission to the Frost National Bank of this city for our standing. Very truly yours MOONEY & TdBIN ADV. CO Laramie,Wyo ■, Letter» To the Miltf of VThTMiioafd:" . Dear Sir—Show business is a little dull just now, but my boards are covered with paper from two local firms, hats and pianos, and paper from Gifford. of Kansas City, Mo 1 also have up Bull Durham and Seal of North Carolina and George Ctailda Cigars, from th« only Sam (Hoke), ot New York. I have done considerable tacking and some posting to? Coca Cola: tacked Bull Durham and Burlev Twist. Dr Shoop was our last distribution but Lydia E. Pinkham has some on the road now to be distributed this month I tave built one new board, and will build one or two more soon. I am fairly busy, but have always room and time for more. Scotch Oata was put out by a man who had ibrei men or boys dressed in Highland costume bae- P.pes and all, which was quite catcSy? Youfs lrul »» H. E. ROOT City Bill Poster and Distributor. Baton Rouge, La., Briefs. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—If space permits in your valuable paper, I would like to make a few remarks sav fn F ?h^ P ° StlDB and d'sf'outing. I m u « fS y ' J n . the seven years th at I have been In the business, that the year of 1900 cans the climax for good business. So far. my boards have been kept full since Jan. 1. and I have - been busy distributing, tacking and sampling I have built an entirely new plant. I have first-class boards, the best locations in the hnJ; * Buarantee all my work and emp oy no ed y n,.,^•T" 3 ? llke *°v have my vork inspect- ed. Our city is on a boom. We are building a new opera house, that will be ready for the ^K.l" 6 S £ 8s ? n K There i8 another magniflcint public school being built, and they have just completed the new City Hall. They lit get- tng ready to sewer the city and pave the ?. tr « ts - T The population will easily reach id ooo. I have joined the Southeas ern Bill £? th.™; A A seo;: , ,a "°>>. and am also a member of the I A. of D.. and with Felster's Reitis- me^he°' Strbu ' ors - WiBh| ns all my brother members a prosperous season. I am. v-?y truly yours. A . 0 . DEVEILLE Here and There. «t« b .'. n ^? i Co - have a new offlce at 130th street and Lexington avenue. New York. Bill posters ehould keep us advised of all P', n Jr n r e ., nts ' ,a j r i' fetes - conventions, ell" ebrat.cns dog and horse shows which are to occur m their respective towns. It aids "The B.llboard" and it helps the bill p 05 tef. ►• 7™. re . al T* orl i of th * convention at Atlan- ta City is already done. The gang, with their usual unselfishness and forethought, has ar- ranged eveiything. The leg flat on has be n planned and the officers chosen. All that the members will have to do is to furnish the en- thusiast]). The City Bill Posting and Adverthiln« Company, of Newport News, gives the follow, lng figures to show the increase in popula- tion of Virginia's seaport during the last Ave years: In 1M5. 6.000; in 1900, £.500? In very few cities, if any, in the Unled Statea has a proportionate increase taken place. J. p. Boerlng, with Moxley. in Washing- ton, is one of the best poster salesmen in tne country. He not only sells lots of posters, but his contracts are always clean-cut and his customers gilt edge. He is looking around for a better field. If there is any bill post- ing firm In need of a first-class local aol.citor who can and will dig up local business, we can heartily recommend Boering. The bill posters of the country will spend a lot of money next week to attend the con- vention at Atlantic City. About one hundred and fifty men will lay out money for rail- road fare, hotel bills. Incidentals, etc. In the aggregate it will be all of $5,000. If the mem- bers secure the right to elect their own di- rectors, it will be money well invested. If not, all of this great sum will be virtually threwn away. HONEST JOHN KELLY. This photograph was taken ill 1R59. It is a most cxcellcut likeness of the pioneer MtlpoM- er of Albany, N. Y. He died in 166J, at the age of 485 ears. THE BILLBOARD istribufors' ^Doings. That Same Redington Distributor Is certainly a "warm member" when he gets started, paiticularly when it comes to letter writing, as is evidenced by his (Mr. llehan's) nrticle In last Issue of "The Bill- board." I was quite amused, when I saw the article, at Mr. Behan's desperate efforts to Kmooth matters over and place himself in the right light before the distributors at large as well as to "even up" with me. Well, I am pleased with one thing, if noth- thlng else, and that is the possibility of hav- ing awoke Mr. Behan from his gentle rev- cries and given him' "an opportunity to '"jolly" himself along a bit. Of course, he is a big fellow, you know, weighs 210 pounds on one side of a baker's sign (baker's name was not given, so can not furnish positive proof), while I, poor little fellow, weighing but 130 pounds, occupy the other side of the s'gn.' Now, while such a position may please Mr. Behan, and I myself am a believer in ad- vertising signs, I do object to being perched on a sign in front of this bake shop. But then, where is the man who would not "swell up" and become proud of his cor- pulence, when he has nothing to do but quietly slumber in his rig down a cross street, while his employes are dropping his samples on door steps of dwellings on the main street. Had he not been awakened at the time by one more interested in his work than he himself was, he would probably have been there still, peacefully sleeping. As for myself, 1 do not believe 1 will ever become much of a heavy weight while 1 am in the distributing business, as I consider it a per- sonal duty to superintend and oversee the distribution of more than a quarter of a mil- lion pitces of advertising matter per month in my territory. If anyone will stop to con- sider the amount of time and labor necessary to properly handle the above amount or work successfully, seeing that the inspector in charge does his duty an.d the distributors under him carry out their instructions to tli-_» letter, that the vnrious crews and k'nds of matter are worked in entirely different ter- ritory and kept as far apart as possible, and other details which go to make up successful d'stributions, one will hardly wonder that the successful local distributor, with a la'C! and constantly increasing business on his hands, stands IMtle chance of becoming so large and weight;- that he would make a good sign in front of. a bake shop. In fart. I would not care to get so large and bu'ltv: I prefer to not be in my own way. but he in posit'on and shape to get out and hustl? and see that my employes are giving roe the serv- ice I pay them for. I do not sit in the sun dreaming that my men are giving me good service, but see to it in person. Dr. K'lmcr & Co. may be satisfied with this "dream service." but my natrons want only the b?st. and 1 am pleased to state that they are w.ll- ing to pay for it. No, Mr. Behan, I do not forget that I took you to my hotel. Only tro well do I remem- ber the impression it created at the time: that your house would not stand for $1 per week for the room alone. While in your letter you seek to lead your readers to be- lieve otherwise, you well knew and under- Stood, before you went, to the hotel, that it was conducted on the European plan, and that the $4 per week was for the room only, a price which I consider very reasonable, considering the value received. You must have been "easy" if you paid $1.2» per day at the Sherman House, as it has not been fifteen minuts since they made the wr'ter's representative an offer of first-class room and board at $1.00 per day if taken by the week, and the writer has known this to be their rate for years. And you were there several weeks. Surley a "man from Texas'* ought not permit the Dr. Kilmer Company to he "worsted" in this manner. You spent at -least four weeks here, during which time, ac- cording to your statement, you allowed this hotel to "skin" you out of $7 more than they charge other weekly patrons who are not ouite so "easy." If my hotel was too cheap for you—$4 per week for the room alone— don't you think it sounds rather queer-that you would go to another hotel where you obtained room and bonrd and where they charged you but 67 cents per day difference for your three meals? If this is the kind of faro you arc accustomed to and the Kilmer Company limit, then we have better proof than-ever that it is Hie quiet, easy life and lack of work that you are so fortunate to enjoy that has been the cause of your becom- ing such an excellent sign for that. baker's shop. Mr. Behan. .when yon make statements, al- ways confine yourself to facts. You mo<t emphatically d'd not offer - me either $?.25 cr $2 SO per thousand for your work or the use cf my wagon. You positively refused to Kive me more than $2 ner thousand for vn»r wcrk nnd Insisted on hnving the use of the wagon In the contract. I told yon I would lose money on the work at $2 per thousand, and that I d'd not en re to do that. Had you not been asleep most of the t'me while here you would have rcen other signs in the wnpnn. -among them be'ng those cf t.h» Lvd'a E. rinkhnm Medicine Co., the W. T. Hanson Co . etc. The When Clothing Co. were cn- t'tlcd to those Bigns dur'ng the week cf their d'fstributlon. as were the other named firms during the'r respective distributions. You nlco would have been entitled to the signs had you not been too "cheap" for a gocd service. Don't you think that the little hoy In Greenwood, the suburb soujh of the city, should be paid for the work he assisted you or your representatives in doing while there? The little fellow feels very badly Over it, and is still waiting for his employer to "come back in the afternoon to finish up the work and then pay him." As to Mr. Behan finding several kinds of advertising matter together, I do not see what bearing that may have on this case, as it is something that can be found in almost any city at any time. I have seen several other kinds of matter was placed in these houses, yet I would not have it appear that his employes were putting out other matter with that of the Kilmer Co. If Mr. Behan had kept his eyes open while he was here, he would have found that my work at $1.75 and $2 per thousand was as good as he ever saw anywhere. Mr. Redington seems to think that it mat- ters not how large the city, or how many em- ployes it requires to handle the work en- trusted to the local distributor (Indianapolis in particular), the proprietor of the business should be attired in a uniform and out at wcrk with his men, and that Dr. Kilmer & Co.'s traveling distributors should be met at the train when they arrive in each city. Well, Mr. Redington, kindly inform me when your next man will be in this city, and I will meet him with a brass band and an ire wagon: also have him wear one of those col- lar buttons in some prominent place, that I may know that he represents the Kilmer Company. What puzzles me is, why Mr. Redington don't get out and personally carry a sack and distribute all the matter his house sends out. He also believes that I, too, ought to try and obtain a position similar to his or Mr. Behan's. Well, hardly. Mr. Be- han leads entirely too easy a life for me, and Mr. Redington's side line of collar but- tons, etc., would hardly suit me. Instead of dealing in collar buttons and posing as bake-shop signs. 1 prefer to remain, -. Just a local distributor. GEO. W. VANSYCKLE. Indianapolis, June 30. Samples. Everybody oucht to attend the I. A* of D. Convention at Detioit. The Hibb Manufacturing Company, of Springfield. O., will tack muslin s'gns shortly. Interesting Experiences. For over two years we have been doing distributing for the Dr. Shoop Co. of Racine, Wis. Our experience seems to have been about the same with- them as has been that of others. If we did not receive the period- ical kick we felt slighted, or thought the mil- lenium was about to dawn. One of their complaints was that one of our employes bad wasted some of their books, but we made another distribution for them, without charge, as a reimbursement for the loss. Some months since we received a shipment of matter from them, on which were printed the addresses of three centrally located druggists. At the same time we received instructions from the firm to distribute the matter in the suburbs first. They sent us only a little over half enough matter to cover the city, so after we had distributed in the suburbs, as per in- structions, we had nothing for the locality where the druggists that were advertised were located. After doing the work we sent our bill and received the very cheerful reply that they doubted if we had done the work at all, and proposed to report us to the association. To this we replied very promptly, inviting them to proceed, and at the game time insisted that they have our work investigated, which they d.d, over thirty days after we did the work, by having a representative of one of their local cgents make a house-to-house inquiry of our work. .The result was that over 60 per cent of the persons visited remembered d.istinctly of having received the matter, wmle of the other 40 per cent, not one would say the matter had not been left at their houses, and the majority of them volunteered the statement that some other member of the family had perhaps received it. He considered this a very good inspection, considering the time that had elapsed since the work was done. The druggist, who sent out his representative to make the inspection, wrote the Dr. Shocp Company that he was satisfied with the work, and also signed our certificate of distribution, and yet after all - this the Dr. Shoop Company were small enough to require us to measure off some more red tape before paying our bill. Here is another: Not long since we re- ceived a letter from a prominent advertiser. asking cur priceyfor a small lot of house-to- house wcrk,'* to be placed in the business sec- tion cf the city, and to be dene in the most Pioneer Cragg's First Wagon in Leadville, Col. The fair manager can make no better in- vestment than to employ the services of an experienced distributor to put out his hand bills. __ Every distributor owes it to himself, as well as to us. to keep us advised on all im- portant events which are scheduled to take place in his town. Rodgers. of Sidney, was a "B'llboard" caller June 30. He will not attend the Atlantic City mceting. but will go to the 1. A. of D. Con- vention at Detroit. All distributors are requested to write to Dr. Velette, of Goshen. Ind.. and send him prices. He intends to cover the country with tooth powder samples. . Clarence E. Runey resigned as secretary of the I. D. A. so-called association over a month ago. The brains of the assiciatiou are gone now, and the final end will soon come. - If any of our readers- among the show printers are in need of an experienced and . thoroughly reliable stock and shipp'ng clerk, they will find him in the person of W. R. O'Malley, whose address is care of American Posting Service, 2Sl> East Madison street, Chi- cago, 111. In a recent communication C. D. Water- house, manager of the Jordan Advertising Company, of Mechanic Falls, Me., writes as follows: Work is not very good here in the summer. the advertisers pre- ferring the spring and fall. Mr. Cham- berlain, one of Dr. Miles* men. was here and called on us recently, and made contract with us to do there distribut- ing in Mechanic Falls in future. He is a very fine young man; said he had been nearly all over the State cf Maine. The big shows arc beginning to use local distributors in tbe b : g towns. They hav-2 found out that,they,.can cover more accur- ately and reliably by-giving their paner to a firm that Jtnows the town thoroughly and works It systematically. As soon as the smaller towns get their systems perfected (or. rather, ns soon as the shows think so), they, too, will get circus and theatrical work. It is also noticeable that the big shows evince an Inclination to hire for the'.r pro- grammers men who have been trained by locnl distributors. They invariably find them more thorough and reliable. careful manner." We replied, quoting $1.50 per 1,000. Not long after this our manager was inspecting some work we were doing for another firm in what is popularly known here as "Black Bottom." In several doors he found frcm one to three of the samples of the' firm above referred to. The attention of three other reputable gentlemen was called to the manner in which the wcrk was done, and also to the locality where it was found. We called the attention of the firm to the matter and received a reply, of which the following is a part: "We have ordinarily placed our distributing in the hands of the I. A. of D.. but inasmuch as this party was .recommended to "us most highly and quoted us a considerably better price than ycu did. we allowed him to do this WGrk. We are cf course anxious to know if this advertising matter was wasted, as you say, and would be pleased to have you send us the affidavit of two reliable parties in re- gard to this work. Please see that the affi- davits ore furnished by parties who are re- sponsible.- and ate so rated in the commercial agencies." . . Now. here we have a firm which does quiet a good deal of distributing, and which says it usually patronizes I. A. of D. members, but who for the sake of a few cents difference per thousand, side-tracked the I. A. of I>. member here for some unreliable distributor, who, instead of placing the matter in the business district, as directed, went into the very lowest quarter of the city and then . placed the samples two and three to a place, some of these out in yards. We do not doubt that this firm would have insisted upon reimbursement had proof of such service ci the bonds of an I. A. of D.. member been furnished them, and we would have had to make good our port of the loss. And yet-tbey trrn down the I. A. of D. mem- ► t and have their matter wasted for the chpnee cf saving a few cents. Wo sometimes think it might be well to limit the guarantee offered firms'which per- sist in this treatment of our members. Here is still one other: This case is one In whichwe have been doing distribution for a national advertiser for over a year.' Until the last time we have been distributing 5.000 sm»ll hooks in the business d'strict, shops mills and factories, to men-only.' On these books were printed the name of one central- ly located drug firm. AH of the former dis- tributions made were satisfactory until th'}"P" last one, when we received instructions t,in* place the books in the residence section. W t " ^h[ objected to this change, and so stated, but - : 4^11^1 was our business to follow orders, so we dUff] so. By going to the residences we were takej;M away from the locality where the drug flntj,|i whose name appeared on the books was Icti^r cated, and we were also decreasing th§ 'tt m chances of reaching the men for whom th' 2§.;1k advertisement was especially intended. - f £fcf. Wo were surprised a" day or two since tju-qg' find a new installment of this firm's booklllill scattered plentifully along the pavements c>SiL'f|, our city, and this morning a small boy, wh'-iisK. could not have been more than ten years olr.t;|§§ walked into our office and handed one tj"pjf§& these books to each person he met, not omil' -fljp* ting even the ladies present. This afternoo'" Iffl the above operation was repeated, so thr» -'{w we now have quite a supply of the literatui: 1 ?t!3S of this particular firm. " I might comment- further but I see an ominous under the editor's desk, so for the sake of th\ small chance T mav harA'nf nsKininir i»c rr.i!:^ pacious maw JAMES b. HILL Nashville, Tenn., June 15, 1900. if on these case:', f ffsi j I see an ominous-looking waste bask* l ?"[*i| ' ""or's desk, so for the sake of th\*f).|j| t > ( I may have of escaping its rjjVjfi,' I will desist. < ; f *»P "*""" " "" -,. i Kt.a : Bluff ton, 0., Briefs. s, and give good servici'i,Jj3 far had a bill rejected e! fe!;-|1 ■vice.. I was a caller rlSife To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir:—"The Billboard" is always welcome caller, and is very useful and hel) ful to me. I have a good billing for For. paugh and Sells Bros. Shows at Lima, Jul, 20, on my boards. I do all kinds of distrii ut:ng for advertisers, i " as I have never so far account of; poor sen* cently of Phil. B. Oliver, of Findlay. and c» .'f;m ticed he had a good plant, which was m got' *li!S condition. Trusting that all bill posters aiS'nS distributors are succeeding, I remain you! liS Bluffton, O., June U. VM m - ^||r Eastport, Me., Etchings. »|p To the Editor of "The Billboard:" i"IISJ Dear Sir—I .have done work for the Buffa i?*Pj Bill's Wild West: also about 240 sheets for r *?«t» excursion at Bangor, at 4 cents per I have at the present running on my in by S. 2 by 24. for Moxie: 10 by 8. Rex _„.. 2;» by 3 for a local hatter. I-have improv rry plant by adding 100 bv 10. 2 by 50 t, latter in my city, and the former at Eastpc Junction. I Hunk that I am In- the sw.i, „ „ Business has been rather dull, but I think f HS « is coming my way. Yours. . '-yiwS iN.f:IS-» per she.' «_!;{, l'(: my l-o"riiyjl, 4 |# Rex floufjIJigS Yours, J. A. MULDOON. Webb City, Mo., Doings. To the Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—It has been some time since y have heard from me. I have improved -ill'II ilii .. _.._. --.-.,'?fiPi.% I have bought out M>*€||%l bill posting plant here. I have over 15.0i|?||p ; plant. I af feet cf hill boards. . ,._ „. W. S. Montgomery's bill postin doing a gocd business as " ' live papers on my boards truly, „ „„„„.,, Webb City E- Cartervilie Adv. Co. ts it is. and I ha-t.iW&Ml i all the time. Youf illSaH -L. A. PULLEN, !"Jjtliifl larterville Adv. Co.l'i SIBipl a'ss^:!i|l jWerjYinfeis '■im HI m :■. : iff Advertisements under this heading will i'Kit a published at the uniform rate of to cents r4fi'igS line per issue or Si oo per year. * ttfcj ft Boston Job Print. Co.,4 Alden, Boston.Ma^J Brooklyn Dally Eagle Job P. Co.. B'yn " Calhoun Printing Co., Hartford. Conn. Calvert Lltho Co.. Detroit, Mich. Central City Show Print. Co.. Jackson.Mil' vifl Central Llth. & Eng. Co.. 140 6th Ave.. N. ,i: lf' Correspondent Show Printing Co.. Plqua, DonaMson Llth. Co.. Newport. Ky ' ft; Erie Show Printing Co., Erie, Pa. M Emterprise Show Print. Cleveland O. 3 mm Forbes Lith.Co.481Devonshlre.Boston i MaS|fi Free Press Show Print. Co.. Detroit, Ml.iiWffl Great Am^ng.* PrlntCo..57 Beekman.N.f W& Great W. Print.Co..511 Market. St. Lou is »S HP Greve Lltho. Co.. The. MUwaukee. WU. 14» Haber, p. b.. Fond-du-Lac. Win |f Hennegan & Co.. 127 E. 8th St.. CIn"tl. OS M Home Show Printing Co., Atchison. Kas.*Jffc Morgan. W.J.4 Co.. St-C. and Wod.Cdevo]»S r " MorriKnn Shnw T>.ln» n A t* A i. ut.i. vi Morrison Show Print. Detroit. Mich. M« National P.& Eng.Co..346-8 Wabash.Chi , | ' Pioneer PrInt.Co.,214 J?fferson,SeatUe,Wtt| Union and Advertiser Co.. Rochester. nTJ ■¥, HI Henry is about to dispose of his intert' in the Enterprise Show Print, of ClevelandJ!- Tire Nutshell Remedy Co., ucorgetown. if? will uso posters; extensively to advertise ii. Cure in a Nutshell." j W. L. Tucker, (patent medicines). WaiL, Tex., is considering posters. If he adoj! the medium he will "go in" big. |l; The Donaldson Lit ho Company is in n«f of artists—both black and color men. Gc£ men who work fast can secure good wagl The Piqua Printing Company, succeeds :|. Correspondent Show Printing Company, ft Piqua, O. Geo. M. Sullivan is manager f?^H the new concern, while J. Boni Ilemsteger|ri A retained as superintendent. It is said tl|li f considerable capital has been put into ir*3 I bU3iness. H !