68 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[NOVEMP.ER I, 1902. 



end of the period named, the department purchasing the bet- 

 ter grade will have a greater number of feet of reliable hose in 

 service, and will during the period have had a more effective 

 service by reason of less bursting of hose while in fire service, 

 than the department that purchased a greater number of feet 

 of poorer hose. eureka i'IRE hose co., 



Jersey City, N. J., October 16, 1902. B. L. Stowk, Vice President. 



THE TEXTILE GOODS MARKET. 



OCTOBER marked the beginning of new yearly relations 

 between the rubber and textile industries in this coun- 

 try. As stated in the last India Rubber World, manufac- 

 turers of rubber goods were placing their annual contracts for 

 cotton duck, and in nearly every instance these new engage- 

 ments had been for supplies at fully 25 per cent, increase over 

 those for the previous year. It was observed at that time, 

 however, that certain manufacturers did not entertain the same 

 confidence in the high level of prices which the United States 

 Cotton Duck Corporation was asking, and refused to renew 

 their contracts on the basis suggested. Since then these manu- 

 facturers have been in the market again, and have endeavored 

 to make better terms, but, so far as can be ascertained, without 

 success. Although the government report of the raw cotton 

 crop for October was anything but encouraging to such an ar- 

 gument, these buyers clung tenaciously to the idea that cotton 

 would decline and that ducks would be compelled to follow. 

 Their views have proved to be true in a measure, for since then 

 raw cotton has been easing off somewhat and is to-day quoted 

 at 8.70 cents against 9 cents a month ago. 



Textile manufacturers, however, hold to the argument that 

 finished cloth will show no depreciation for many months to 

 come, and, occupying a rather independent position, stand 

 firmly for prices. Such rubber manufacturers as do not agree 

 with them declare that they will pursue a hand-to-mouth pol- 

 icy throughout the year before they will renew their contracts 

 upon the basis proposed by the Cotton Duck trust. One con- 

 cern, in particular, placed an order last week for several hun- 

 dred rolls which they calculated would carry them over to the 

 new year, but the price paid for the goods was 3^ cents a 

 pound more than they would have been compelled to pay had 

 they made a yearly contract. This concern has now decided 

 to try the experiment of buying from hand-to-mouth, accord- 

 ing to their requirements, entertaining some doubt about the 

 alleged advantage in making a yearly contract even at lower 

 prices. In the latter case it is said that the consumer is asked 

 to comply with certain requirements which in a year make his 

 goods cost him as much as though he had bought in small 

 quantities at a higher figure. 



The manufacturers of stitched belting have been in the mar- 

 ket during the past month and have bought quite freely of the 

 heavier grades of duck. This branch of the trade is competing 

 with the rubber belt manufacturers for the belting trade, and 

 have become a very formidable patron of the cotton duck 

 manufactuiers. They consume a very heavy weight duck, and, 

 although they do not all make yearly engagements, are allowed 

 special rates on their purchases. 



Many of the manufacturers of rubber boots and shoes have 

 been making inquiry during the past month concerning the 

 condition of brown sheetings and osnaburgs, preparatory to 

 placing their orders for linings. Some have already bought 

 quite heavily, although they would have increased their orders 

 had they not hoped to see the price of cotton sheetings decline 

 in the near future. Prices have not advanced since October i; 

 current rates are held firmly at the following basis per yard: 



Forty inch, 2.50 65^ cents. 



Forty inch, 2.70 6 cents. 



Forty inch, 2.85 5 f^ cents. 



Forty inch, 3.60 4/i cents. 



Thirty-six inch, 3 yard 5 J4 cents. 



The indifference of sellers to doing business on this basis 

 has caused some rubber manufacturers to interpret their action 

 as meaning that advances are contemplated, but there is noth- 

 ing certain about this. If such a purpose was harbored a month 

 ago it has evidently been dispelled, for nothing has been heard 

 of it lately. In fact the deinand from other sources at this 

 time is not of the character to warrant manufacturers in asking 

 more money for their products. 



Manufacturers of felts are reporting a largely increased de- 

 mand for felts of all weights. Manufacturers of overs for the 

 western trade have been placing large orders for felt boots. 

 The lighter weight felts commonly used for lining boots and 

 shoes is in better demand than ever. Like the United States 

 Cotton Duck Corporation, the manufacturers of felts are averse 

 to making prices public, claiming that there is no open market 

 for felts and all purchases are made at private terms. 



# * » 



The United Stales Cotton Duck Corporation is quoting 8- 

 ounce 40 inch flat duck, single filling, at 8 cents, and lo-ounce 

 40 inch, 10 cents.^'=Forty-inch, 2.50, 48X48 duck for hose is 

 selling at 63/ cents at the present time, although an upward 

 tendency is beginning to manifest itself. = = Forty-inch, 3.60, 

 56 [60 picking duck is being quoted at 5 cents, and forty-inch, 

 3.60, 48X48, at 43/ cents. ==Spinners of cotton duck yarns are 

 reported to be well situatea so far as orders are concerned, and 

 prices are held firmly on the basis which has ruled the market 

 for some time in the past. Yarns from J2s. to 14s. are held at 

 16 cents. 



RUBBER SCRAP PRICES. 



THERE is no change to report since the last issue of The 

 India Rubber World. The following are New York 

 quotations — prices paid by consumers: 



Old Rubber Boots and Shoes— Domestic 75/ (ffi 7^ 



Do —Foreign bfa @ (>)4 



Pneumatic Bicycle Tires 6 



.Solid Rubber Wagon and Carriage Tires ... 7 



White Trimmed Rubber 9}^ @ g% 



Heavy Black Rubber 4X 



Air Brake Hose 2j^ @ 2^ 



P^ire and Large Hose 25^ 



Garden Hose . i)^ 



Matting t 



OBITUARY. 



HARRY S. FARM ELEE, a wealthy manufacturer of New 

 Haven, Connecticut, president of the Fair Haven and 

 Westville Street Railway Co., and president of or director in sev- 

 eral other corporations, died on September 27, while on a yacht 

 en route for the Bermudas. He was a son of Stephen Thomas 

 Parmelee, who went from a rubber shoe factory in New Bruns- 

 wick, N. J., in 1857, after having been connected with The L. 

 Candee & Co. (New Haven), to superintend the manufacture 

 of rubber ooots and shoes for the North British Rubber Co., 

 Limited, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Stephen Parmelee returned 

 to America in 1859. An elder son, Louis, died in the civil war, 

 at the battle of Antietam. Harry Parmelee served through the 

 civil war in the First Connecticut cavalry and lost an arm be- 

 fore Richmond. He is survived by a widow, two daughters, 

 and a son, Henry F. Parmelee, a New Haven attorney. 



