NOVKMBER 1, 1913.) 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



75 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN AKRON. 



By a Resident Correspondent. 

 A KRON is proud of Ralph Upson and K. A. D. Preston, 

 •** daring young aeronauts who by winning the James 

 Gordon Bennett trophy, emblematic of the world's cham- 

 pionship balloon flight, brought fame to Akron and Akron 

 products. Steps have been taken to bring about a monster 

 public demonstration upon the return of the young men to 

 Akron. Mr. J. E. Good, president of the Chamber of Com- 

 merce, has announced that he will call a meeting soon 

 of the directors of the Chamber of Commerce fcir llie pur- 

 pose of discussing plans and a program. 



This makes the fourth time tliat the cliampidnship has 



R. A. D. Preston 



The Winners in the Gre.\t Paris Race. 



been brought to the United States. September 30, 1906, 

 Upson's cousin, Lieutenant F. P. Lahm, won the cup, after 

 covering a distance of 402 miles. In 1909 E. W. Mix won 

 the cup, covering 696.66 miles. Alan R. Hawley won it tlie 

 third time, in 1910, covering 1,355 miles. In 1911 Germany 

 won and in 1912 France secured the trophy. 



The balloon, with the pilots, Ralph H. Upson and R. A. D. 

 Preston, on board, landed near Flamborough Head, on the 

 North Sea, within 200 yards of the edge of the dangerous 

 Bompton Cliffs, which fall sheer into the sea. 



When the "Goodyear" left Paris the weather was hazy and 

 there was scarcely any wind. The balloon drifted across 

 France slowly, in the direction of the English Channel. The 

 coast was reached, in the neighborhood of Cherbourg, at 

 midnight of the following day. The wind then freshened 

 and the aeronauts sighted Southampton at 3 o'clock the next 

 morning. A distance of 550 miles was covered in 44 hours. 



The balloon crossed the English Channel from a point near 

 Cherbourg and passed over the neighborhood of Southampton 



The bringing to America of the Gordon-Bennett Trophy 

 Cup by Pilot R. H. Upson and Aide R. A. D. Preston, is 

 sure to bring about a new era in aeronautics in America, 

 according to Mr. F. A. Seiberling, president of The Good- 

 year Tire & Rubber Co. 



"This achievement," Mr. Seiberling continued, "was only 

 accomplished through the scientific handling of the balloon 

 by these young aeronauts. They were competing with men 

 of experience, and under foreign conditions that from the 

 beginning were considered a big handicap. Mr. Upson has 

 made a study of ballooning and was well informed on the 

 various currents of air that were to be encountered along 

 the coast. Upson and Preston have the honor of being the 

 only two contestants who sailed their balloon outside of 

 France. When the balloon 'Goodyear' headed for the Ocean 

 Upson was familiar enough with the prevailing air current 

 to know that counter-winds would be met that were sure to 

 blow them back over the continent. This proved to be the 

 case. They crossed the English Channel and traveled miles 

 over the Atlantic, however, before these winds were en- 

 countered. Their scientific study of ballooning and the gas 

 tightness of the fabric were the main reasons for enabling 

 them to win. 



'For some time we have been interested in aerial naviga- 

 tion, and we have promoted the aeronautical business from 

 a scientific standpoint. We have encouraged balloon flights. 

 as in this manner we are enabled to ascertain from actual 

 experience the correctness of design and strength of the 

 fabric." 



The "Goodyear" is the same balloon that won the National 

 Championship Balloon Race at Kansas City, July 4, 1913. 

 It was also in the National race of 1912. 



Mr. Seiberling, by the way, has issued a statement, em- 

 phatically and completely denying the widely published re- 

 port of a merger of the Goodyear company with another. 



The following paragraph, clipped from a Cleveland paper, 

 is typical of reports that have been going the rounds of the 

 financial columns of the newspapers: 



"Old Goodyear Rumor Revived. 



"U. S. Rubber made a rather sharp advance on the New 

 York Stock exchange yesterday and the old rumor was 

 revived that a deal is pending between this company and 

 the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., of Akron. Nothing official 

 was given out." 



"There is not now and there never has been," said Mr. 

 Seiberling, "any negotiations of any sort, between the Good- 

 year and any other company. There is not the remotest 

 likelihood that there ever will be. The Goodyear Tire & Rub- 

 ber Co. is just completing the largest year's business in 

 its history. Its sales for 1913 will pass the thirty-three million 

 dollar mark. The prospects for 1914 indicate continued sub- 

 stantial growth." 



* » * 



Claiming that his new idea will result in revolutionizing 

 the automobile wheel and tire practice of the world, A. F. 

 Priest, an Akron man, has recently received a patent on his 

 invention called the "Elliptical Wheel." The wheel is being 

 advertised and will soon be on the market. The Elliptical 

 Wheel Co. has already been formed, with the following 

 officers: A. F. Priest, Akron, president and manager; W. E. 

 Marble, Chicago, vice-president; A. L. Kanagy, Chicago, sec- 

 retary and treasurer. 



Each spoke of the new wheel is made of steel and is shaped 

 like the letter "S." The outside diameter of the hub is large, 

 and the distance between the hub and rim is comparatively 

 short. The rim is of steel and is about 7/16 of an inch in 



