February 1, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



245 



Sears, Roebuck & Co., was almost negligible ; one man might 

 have handled it all. Today almost every conceivable article 

 made of rubber is handled ; in fact, many departments and man- 

 agers are required for this branch of the business, which alone 

 in 1913 amounted to $2,000,000. Mr. Kettleworth, manager of 

 the men's rubber coat department, states that when the company 

 started in business this department was practically non-existent, 

 but that the trade in these garments has doubled every live years, 

 and that in 1913 it was very large. 



The tire department does the greatest volume of business. In 

 1911 the sales were not worth mentioning, but in 1912 they 

 amounted to $350,000, and in 1913, $950,000, This includes bi- 

 cycle, auto and carriage tires. Strange to say, the best of the 

 mail order tire business is done in the big cities. New York 

 being the largest customer. 



The bicycle demand is conl'med largely to country trade. The 

 this vehicle is seldom seen in a large city, it still is and probably 

 always will be the joy and necessity of the country lad. In 

 1913 one brand of bicycle tire reached a sale of 40,000, selling at 

 the rate of $4 per pair. 



"This upward stride is but a beginning," states the manager, 

 Mr. Choates. 



The mail order houses claim that their popularity is due to 

 the fact that by eliminating middlemen they have succeeded in 

 selling direct to the consumer at a reduced rate. 



* * * 



There has been much interest shown of late in the proposed 

 Lincoln Highway. In fact, patriotically inclined citizens all over 

 the country are supporting it by volunteering to assume the ex- 

 penses of sections of that highway, to be dedicated as memorials. 

 Chicago patriots have been quite interested in the novel plan 

 of a citizen of Los Angeles, who desires, in the memory of his 

 mother, to install at intervals along the route across Illinois 

 drinking fountains for pedestrians and motorists. Wealthy men 

 of Chicago, especially those in the automobile and tire business, 

 should be among the first to support this prodigious and bene- 

 ficial undertaking in honor of their "rail-splitter." One Chicago 

 man has calculated that if 3,000 of the millionaires of this county 

 would each contribute one mile of permanently improved road 

 surface of the Lincoln Highway, at an estimated cost of $5,000 

 per mile, the road in its entirety would be accomplished. 



* * * 



The rubber footwear trade, which has been dull during the 

 entire winter, was considerably cheered by the snow storm of 

 January 18— the first of the season — and is encouraged to hope 

 for better sales records during the remainder of the season. 



* * * 



The mechanical rubber goods people are enjoying a business 

 in hose unusual at this season and due to the fact that the numer- 

 ous quarries in this section have been able, owing to the mildness 

 of the season, to work much later than usual. 



* * * 



VV. H. Salisbury & Co.. of 107 South Wabash avenue — one of 

 the leading and oldest rubber stores in the city — have been mak- 

 ing some very striking window displays. A recent display fea- 

 tured imported red rubber dolls, while including also a variety 

 of drug sundries, raincoats, etc. A photograph of the company's 

 store in the 70's occupied a prominent place in the window, 

 marking the contrast between the store of that time and the 

 thoroughly modern establishment of the present day. 



* * * 



The fact that Chicago policemen will not wear rubber shoes 

 has been clearly and conclusively demonstrated. \ certain firm 

 here has followed sales to the local police with letters asking 

 whether or not the shoes were satisfactory : and the majority of 

 the replies having expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the 

 shoes were too heavy, increased the natural perspiration of the 



feet, etc., etc., the concern in question has discontinued the manu- 

 facture of this shoe, believing that this class of men, if any, 

 should be able to appreciate any merits it might possess. 



* * * 



The tire advertisement of the B. F. Goodrich Co. at the end 

 of the down-town section of Michigan avenue is one of the best 

 in the city. It consists of an illuminated and intermittent electric 

 sign which shows what seems to be a fiery tire rolling through 

 space every few seconds. It is impossible for any person, how- 

 ever absorbed, to pass down the boulevard without seeing this 

 advertisement, which is, of course, designated by the firm's name 

 in monster letters of fire. 



* * * 



Mr. D. Russell, of 234 South La Salle street, is to be the sole 

 representative of the Plymouth Rubber Co., of Canton, Massa- 

 chusetts, in and about Chicago, beginning February 1. Mr. Rus- 

 sell will carry a full line of samples and will be glad to meet all 

 the old customers of the company, as well as any new ones. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN RHODE ISLAND. 



By a Resident Correspondent. 



'T'HE several rubber plants in this vicinity which have been 

 ■* closed down, in accordance with the usual custom at this 

 period of the year, for overhauling of machinery, etc., and taking 

 of inventories, have again started up, some of them with reduced 

 help. The outlook is said to be good, and it is expected that 

 when trade opens in the spring it will be with a rush and that 

 overtime will become the rule in all the factories. The business 

 for 1913 was, upon the whole, better than the average, and but 

 one concern in this state experienced any material trouble ; and 

 this was not due to lack of orders or profitable business but to 

 the financial difficulties that the company found itself in following 

 the suspension and closing of the .Atlantic National Bank of this 

 city. 



* * * 



According to the report recently filed with the United States 

 District Court at Boston, certain claims of the Consumers' Rub- 

 ber Co., of Bristol, have been disallowed by receivers of the 

 Walpole Tire & Rubber Co., who state that these are for 

 preferential payments to the Walpole Tire & Rubber Co. and for 

 damages claimed from various sources, and that the amount and 

 validity are contested and liability disputed. The receivers 

 recommended that the claim of the Atlantic National Bank of this 

 city for $115,427 be referred to a master, saying "Claim on notes, 

 liability disputed as to certain notes, value of collateral held not 

 credited." 



* * * 



.A second dividend of 20 per cent, was declared in the case of 

 the Consuir.ers' Rubber Co. at the oflSce of the Referee in Bank- 

 ruptcy a few days ago, payable on and after January 26. This 

 makes 40 per cent, that has already been declared on claims 

 a.gainst the concern. The plant has been running during the past 

 three months under the direction of Robert S. Emerson, the 

 receiver. It is understood that a new company is now forming 

 that will take over this business and carry on manufacturing at 

 the plant on a large scale. 



* * * 



Numerous and important changes and improvements have been 

 under way at the plant of the Revere Rubber Co. in this city for 

 several months, a number of which are now completed. The ne%v 

 refrigerating outfit is ready to be put into operation as soon as 

 the weather makes it desirable to do so. Among the other build- 

 ings which have recently been added to the plant is a large store- 

 house, five stories in height, believed to be absolutely fireproof. 

 A new boiler house has been erected and several of the older 

 buildings have had one or two stories added. At the present 



