108 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1912. 



located just over the State line from Woonsocket, Rhode 

 Island— is one of the directors, and it is understood that he has 

 considerable capital invested. Work on the construction of the 

 plant is to be started very soon. 



* * * 



The Consumers' Rubber Co., Bristol, is daily shipping large 

 quantities of rubber footwear. As the season progresses the 

 business increases to proportions that it rarely attained before 

 the Walpole Rubber Co. took hold of the plant following its 

 financial difficulties several months ago. 



* » * ■ 



The Washburn Wire Co., which is located in the town of 

 East Providence, is assessed this year on a valuation of $380,114. 

 The assessed valuation of the Waslibum Wire Co., located in 

 the same section of the town, Phillipsdale, is $637,000, an in- 

 crease over 1911 of $33,550. This was due largely to extensive 

 improvements and additions to buildings. 



* * * 



About a year and one-half ago Dana McGovern, who for 

 many years had been a worker in the National India Rubber 

 Co.'s plant at Bristol, went to Maine on a hunting trip, and was 

 not heard from thereafter. His body was discovered near 

 Limerick in the latter part of September. 



* * * 



Theodore Duarte, who for many years was employed in the 

 mi.xing department of the National India Rubber Co.'s plant, 

 Bristol, died September 15. He was 67 years old. 



* « * 



Le Baron B. Colt, a brother of Col. Samuel P. Colt, and 

 judge of the United States District Court, was given the unani- 

 mous indorsement of the Republican party of this State as a 

 candidate for United States Senator at the State convention of 

 the party held October 9 in Infantry Hall, Providence. 



Judge Colt was practically the only party candidate for sev- 

 eral months before the convention. Before his name was promi- 

 nently mentioned it was expected in some quarters that Col. 

 Colt himself would be a candidate again. 



* * * 



Many of the rubber concerns in this State have accepted the 

 provisions of an Employers' Liability Act which was passed at 

 the last session of the Rhode Island General Assembly. This 

 law removes, when accepted, the common-law principles of as- 

 sumed risk and fellow-servant negligence, and makes the em- 

 ployer liable for fixed charges or payments for various kinds of 

 injuries, or a death. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN SAN FRANCISCO. 



By Resident Correspondent. 



THE few rains which came early this season did not con- 

 tinue, and for a long tmie the weather has not been alto- 

 gether to the liking of those whose interests are benefited by 

 the sale of waterproof garments. On the whole, however, the 

 merchants report that business has been very satisfactory, and 

 much better than the same month last year. Without question 

 this city has experienced much quiet business during the past 

 three years, but the fact that there has been steady improvement 

 has given assurance to business men that the future is bright, 

 and that there is no longer any question that this city will main- 

 tain itself as the great metropolis of the coast. 



The other day a parade made its way down the principal 

 streets of the city, and it was significant as a forerunner of 

 prosperous times. It was an impromptu parade, made up of the 

 work teams of various contractors who are to supply the ma- 

 terials for the first building which will be erected on the grounds 

 of the World's Panama Pacific Exposition. The old but deco- 

 rated work wagons contained the materials actually to be used 

 in the buildings — lumber, cement, paint, etc. It was a homely 



parade, but it aroused genuine interest and enthusiasm in every 

 merchant and business man who witnessed it. 



* * * 



The Federal Rubber Manufacturing Co.. of Milwaukee, has 

 announced its intention of opening a branch store in San Fran- 

 cisco, which will be the headquarters for an extensive Pacific 

 coast system of stores. They have selected E. L. Rettig to act 

 as their Pacific coast manager, and he is as capable and efticient 

 a man as they could have chosen. For over twelve years he has 

 been the sales manager for one of the most prominent and 

 aggressive tire companies on the coast. The Federal tire is very 

 well known in northern California — at least it is well known to 

 those who study tires — and will have no difficulty in taking a 

 place among the leaders. Although the company manufactures 

 a complete line of goods, it will make a specialty on this coast 

 of a non-skid tire called the "Rugged Tread." Mr. Rettig has 

 left for the company's factory, where he will take up the matter 

 of determining upon a location and many other details. This 

 work will occupy him for at least a month. H. A. Githens, the 

 general sales manager of the Federal Rubber Manufacturing 

 Co., promises that no money nor pains will be spared in making 

 this one of the leading tire establishments on the coast. E. L. 

 Rettig has been connected with the Diamond Rubber Co. in 

 San Francisco for many years, and has lately been manager of 

 the solid tire, motorcycle and bicycle tire departments, and has 

 acted as chief assistant to General Manager C. E. Mathewson. 

 Before coming to San Francisco he was for three years with the 

 Diamond Rubber Co., in Boston, Massachusetts. 



* * * 



J. B. Brady and W. H. Gilbert, of the Gorham-Revere Rubber 

 Co., are now visiting the factories in the East in the interests 

 of the company, and will return within a week or two. W. H. 

 Gorham, manager of the company, has returned from a trip to 



Denver, and states that business is good. 



* * * 



F. M. Steers, president of the Pacific Mill and Mine Supply 

 Co., has returned from a trip East, and while away he secured 

 a number of valuable agencies. This firm's branch store in Los 

 Angeles, California, has just moved into larger quarters in a 

 store located at 432 East 3rd street. This is one of the busiest 

 districts of Los Angeles, and places them right in the midst of 

 the rubber fraternity. * * * 



Charles A. Gilbert, western district manager for the United 

 States Tire Co., announces several important changes in the 

 coast organization. H. A. Farr, who was in San Francisco a 

 year ago, and since then has been manager of the Portland 

 branch, has been placed in charge of the Seattle branch on the 

 first of October. He will succeed H. A. Jones, who has resigned 

 to accept a position as manager for Ballau & Wright, at Seattle, 

 Washington. Mr. Jones will still be a United States Tire man, 

 however, as the firm he is now with has the Seattle and Port- 

 land agency for the G. & J. tires, owned by the United States 

 company. C. H. Mayer, who has been traveling — making San 

 Francisco his headquarters — has been placed in Portland to act 

 as manager there. Mr. Gilbert, the district manager, has been 

 over the entire territory attending to the changes indicated 

 above. 



Mr. Gilbert is assuring all of his constituents that there will 

 be plenty of tires for the coast trade this winter, as his com- 

 pany informs him that all of its factories will be run on the 

 summer schedule — i. e., night and day, three shifts of workmen 

 being employed. * * * 



The Gutta-Percha and Rubber Manufacturing Co. reports that 



business in the mechanical rubber line is very good. 



* * * 



Jas. F. Jiles. general manager of the American Hard Rubber 

 Co., will soon arrive in San Francisco to pay a visit to his coast 

 agents, the Goodyear Rubber Co. 



