432 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September i, 1909. 



ing nearly doubled its sales. Between January i and August 

 13, 984.768 pounds of aluminum flake were sold. Large ship- 

 ments have recently been made to the company's agent in Ger- 

 many, for distribution in Europe. 



* * * 



A SERIOUS threat against the life of Frank H. Mason, vice- 

 president of The B. F. Goodrich Co., resulted in the arrest early 

 in August of a negro named Earl Jackson, who had been working 

 for Mr. Mason in his garage. Mr. Mason received two notes in 

 which sums as high as $2,000 were demanded with a threat 

 against the recipient and his family. 



* * * 



Operations were started in the new plant of the Falls Rubber 

 Co., at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Monday morning, .\ugust 16. 

 The force at the start consisted of 30 men. The buildings in 

 which the factory is located were formerly occupied by the 

 Superior Rubber Co. Considerable new machinery has been pur- 

 chased. The products will be automobile and bicycle tires and 



pressed horseshoe pads. 



* * * 



Good authority is claimed for a report to the effect that the 

 International Harvester Co., who manufacture auto buggies and 

 automobile runabouts in Akron, are planning to install a depart- 

 ment in the Akron plant for the manufacture of solid and pneu- 

 matic tires, .•^kron officials of the company, however, give em- 

 phatic denial to the story. 



* * * 



Akron rubber companies note with considerable gratification a 

 decided increase in the demand for mechanical goods and the 

 corresponding growth of activity in this department of rubber 

 manufacture. In the B. F. Goodrich factory night forces have 

 recently been put on in several of the departments for the manu- 

 facture of mechanical molded goods. The growing demand for 

 this class of goods as distinguished from the perennial demand 

 for automobile tires is taken by the manufacturers as an indica- 

 tion of a general activity, especially in sugar refining and in other 

 industries in which rings, gaskets, hose, and other factory sup- 

 plies made of rubber are needed. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN SAN FRANCISCO. 



BY .'\. RF.SIDEXT CORRESPONDENT. 



REPORTS heretofore regarding improvement in trade con- 

 ditions have been colored more or less with suggestions 

 showing that for the past two years the rubber business has 

 been going along in a very quiet manner, with very little turn 

 for the better during all that time. Now, however, there are 

 unmistakable signs which indicate that the effects of the financial 

 panic have entirely worn away and that the improvement in 

 business is permanent and substantial. This is not only the 

 case among the rubber establishments, but is true in all lines 

 of business, and there is no longer any doubt that normal con- 

 ditions are being restored and the merchants are on the verge of 

 a prosperous season. It is true that the improvement during the 

 past month has been but slight, in the face of the advanced prices 

 on rubber, but it has been so general that there is no question 

 of its genuineness. 



* * * 



A PLAN is on foot to reorganize the Mechanical Rubber Goods 

 Association of the Pacific Coast, and a meeting of the rubber trade 

 has been called to see what can be done about it. Before the 

 fire of 1907, the members of this association, about once a 

 month, met at informal luncheon or dinner, enjoying a social 

 time and, after the repast, a discussion of matters of interest 

 to their trade, with a view to abolishing common evils. During 

 the period following the fire, when all of the rubber establish- 

 ments were reorganizing their business, there was little time 

 or use for an organization, but now a number of the dealers 



think that it may serve a useful purpose, and some fourteen 

 or fifteen houses have signified their willingness to reorganize. 

 The object will be to correct abuses in regard to guarantees, 

 ratings, terms and the like, but has nothing to do with prices. 

 This association has nothing to do with the Construction Club, 

 which is now being organized, and which a number of the rub- 

 ber dealers have signified their intention of joining. The Con- 

 struction Club intends to embrace among its members business 

 men engaged in the lines of ordinary mechanical construction 

 business, and so includes the rubber houses. It is purely a social 

 club, and will be operated on the same plan as the Hardware 

 Club of New York. 



* !{! * 



Mr. R. H. Pease, president of the Goodyear Rubber Co., has 

 returned from a three weeks' trip to Portland, Seattle, and 

 Spokane, and says that he found business, especially in Portland, 

 much better than it has been for several years. Mr. R. H. 

 Pease, Jr., drove up to Portland in his automobile, and returned 

 with his father. "Our business in San Francisco," said Mr. 

 Pease, "ran along quietly enough through July, but has been 

 increasing this month, and we have more orders for later on 

 than for several years at this time. The outlook is favorable, 

 and as soon as the mills start up we look for a good mechanical 

 business." 



* * * 



The Bowers Rubber Works have just received their third 

 large contract from the Isthmian Canal Commission for dredging 

 sleeves, to be used on the Atlantic side. This firm's output is 

 now being used on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides. Mr. 

 Rowers gave his employes their second annual picnic during 

 the month, which included all of the factory hands at Black 

 Diamond. He chartered a boat, which was well filled, with 

 250 on board, the employes and some of their friends, and 

 made a cruise up the river. Mr. Bowers furnished a band and 

 lunch and everything necessary for a picnic, including prizes 

 for the winning team of the two baseball teams from the 

 factory. 



« * * 



Mr. W. J. GoRHAM, of the Gorham Rubber Co., will return 

 from a fishing trip at about the end of this month, and then 

 plans to make a trip to the East. Mr. Sargeant, manager of the 

 firm, states that business is getting good, and that there is a 

 tendency for a raise in prices in all lines. 



Mr. P. T. Sprague, who works the water front with his 

 rubber supplies, states that the handling of the fruit crop is 

 creating great activity with the river boats on the bay, although 

 just now there is little activity among the lumber schooners and 

 the big deep-water vessels. 



Mr. A. H. Gregory, manager of the local branch of the New 

 York Belting and Packing Co., Limited, at No. 129 First street, 

 states that for the first time in two years the dealers can say 

 that there has been an actual and substantial turn for the 

 better in the trade conditions. 



The Continental Tire Co., which has been temporarily located 

 out on Van Ness avenue, will move down about September 

 I, and occupy quarters at No. 543 Market street. 



The Pacific Mill and Mine Co., on Mission street, near First, 

 report that they are selling lots of belting and that business can 

 be said to be fairly good. 



Mr. Alexander, with the Plant Rubber and Supply Co., states 

 that business is now very good, and that indications point to a 

 prosperous season. 



The Revere Rubber Co. are moving into their new quarters. No. 

 543 Market street. 



The projected railway from La Paz, Bolivia, to the 

 Pacific coast, for which a contract has been awarded to the 

 firm of Sir John Jackson, Limited, of London, to cost $15,000, 

 000, will afford an additional outlet for a region rich in rubber. 



