Organ Pipe Smuggling Problem Only Getting Worse

Outside Magazine ^ | July 18, 2002 | Megan Miller

[Diamond]

[rim shot]

Cordially,

[Wright is right!]

"Who would want to smuggle organ pipes?"

Not to stifle your exceedingly facile sense of humour, but organ pipes are quite delicate and very costly to make. Which is why large pipe organs are such expensive, precision instruments to build and maintain. Of course, the LARGER pipes in a given rank would be very difficult to conceal - and thus "smuggle." Plus, one would have to "smuggle" an entire, intact rank of pipes for them to have much actual value. You don't conceal such goods in coffee cans or backpacks.

As for "organ pipe" cacti, these Giant Saguaros ARE getting smuggled, too, but not from this particular National Monument. Not long ago there was a very large crackdown on people who would drive out into the AZ deserts at night and play The Adopt-A-Saguaro Game. Saguaro poachers (which is what they were called) were charging up to a GRAND per cactus. Considering how long it takes these

saguaros to grow - as long as 70 years just for the first arm to appear - cutting them down means that it will be a century at least before another grows up to replace it.

Michael

[RightWhale]

Who would want to smuggle organ pipes?

There was a revival in theater pipe organs a few years ago. I thought this might indicate another increase in interest, but black market organ pipes wouldn't seem to be a lucrative sideline.

[Wright is right!]

"I've seen these cacti show up at various farmers' markets in a couple of states. They are also seen in many Phoenix yards, symbols of greed.

You get caught these days in AZ with a Saguaro in your yard that didn't grow there naturally (and they can tell) and you in a heapo trouble, son. These

took probably about 300 years to grow. Take one from government land and it's a federal offense. Serious bidness. The poachers have pretty much moved on to other endeavors, since no one in their right mind would be a Saguaro in PHX these days.

Michael

[Wright is right!]

"There was a revival in theater pipe organs a few years ago. I thought this might indicate another increase in interest, but black market organ pipes wouldn't seem to be a lucrative sideline."

Conjures up what would seem - to organists - a very funny cartoon, suitable for publishing in some AGO magazine (that's American Guild of Organists). Guy with a trench coat...""Psssst. Hey, buddy. Wanna buy a rank of Diapason?" opens his coat to reveal pipes ranging up to 32 feet in length.

Trust me - AGO members would rank(!) that as world-class humour.

Michael

[RightWhale]

No kidding. That would compare well with many entries on musician humor webpages. I like this one:

Figured bass --

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he has tattoos