14 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[October i, 1909. 



rapidly that it was found necessary to increase the facilitii 

 the local factory. The factory experimental department lias per- 

 fected a new type of pneumatic tire runabout which will be man- 

 ufactured here at the rate of five a day, with a prospect of a 



steady increase. 



* * * 



A second uniform rise in the prices of automobile tires 



made known by automobile tire manufacturers in this city on 

 September 23. It will amount to about 15 per cent. Some manu- 

 facturers have already put the increase into effect, and others 

 will wait until after October 1. The boost in prices is made to 

 keep pace with the rising crude rubber market. 



A general rise in prices of all kinds of footwear was announced 

 late in September by The B. F. Goodrich Co. It amounts to 

 about 12 per cent. The price lists being net, new lists will be 

 issued. The change went into effect September 21. The rise 

 is made simultaneously with that of the United States Rubber 

 Co. The Goodrich company market the products of their rubber 

 footwear department through the Mishawaka Woolen Manu- 

 facturing Co., of Mishawaka, Indiana. 



* * * 



The annual conference of salesmen of The B. F. Goodrich Co. 

 was held on September 23 and 24, in Akron. All branch man- 

 agers and traveling salesmen were present, to the number of 

 between 50 and 60. Mr. H. E. Raymond presided. A. E. Lums- 

 den, manager of the London branch and the company's repre- 

 sentative in Europe, was among those present. 



* * 3fc 



Arthur YV. Warner, formerly chemist with the B. F. Good- 

 rich company, and recently witli the Pennsylvania Rubber Co. 

 (Jeannette, Pa.), has taken a position as chemist for the Miller 

 Rubber Co. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN SAN FRANCISCO. 



BY A RESIDENT CORRESPONDENT. 



PAKIXt. all lines of trade into consideration, there is an 

 apparent feeling of revived interest in San Francisco. It 

 must be admitted that the past year has been generally quiet 

 and that there are those who have been struggling along with 

 little to indicate to them how they could possibly continue for 

 a much longer time, and it is fortunate for many that condi- 

 tions have taken a broad turn for the better. But for the most 

 part the business houses of the city have fared well enough 

 right along, as long as the idea of getting rich is not taken 

 into consideration. Nobody has succeeded in growing very 

 rich as a result of their business during the past two years, but 

 there are many who have good reason to believe that the coin- 

 tall season will bring them prosperous times and in due 

 course, an accumulation of funds for which they have wished 

 for a long time. San Francisco has done well enough consider- 

 ing the vast loss she has sustained After the fire people here 

 probably recovered some $200,000,000 from the insurance com- 

 panies, but even after credit is given for this, there is -till a 

 dead loss of perhaps more than $400,000,000. Work of rebuild- 

 ing the city has progressed until the city stands better now than 

 ire the fire but, to accomplish this result outside money was 

 necessary and more of it is still necessary, so that instead of 

 being money proud this city must for some time ''nil upon 

 the money from outside sources. 



In spite of the long period of monej scarcity, however, com- 

 mercial activity i- rapidly being resumed, and a healthier tone 

 i; everywhere demonstrated, because instead of the retail mer- 

 chants buying everything they can think of, as they did a little 

 over a year ago, they are only ordering what they know they 

 can pay for, and on this basis they are ordering quantities which 

 are constantly increasing, so that indications point to a gradually 

 improving business. The outlook on the coast is good and there 

 is no complaint to be heard from any source. 



on Tuesday, September 21. the embryonic Western Mechan- 

 ical Rubber Goods Association, of San Francisco and the coast, 

 will hold its first meeting for the purpose of organizing. Mr. 

 Runyan, of the Goodyear Rubber ( i rtain of the necessity 

 for and success of the organization, because there are so many 

 little features about the trade which a common understanding 

 among the dealers will do much to improve upon. It brings the 

 trade into closer relation, give a fitting opportunity for the devel- 

 opment of social relations and for the correction of abuses in the 

 business. Of two things which have given most annoyance the 

 first is the guarantees which are now made recklessly, and which 

 many of the customers take undue advantage of. Also, the 

 question of dating can be discussed. As it is now, orders are so 

 dated that they can be changed by the customer for a long time 

 in advance. The establishments who have been invited to attend 

 the first meeting, to be held at the Tait-Zaitland cafe are as 

 follows : Bowers Rubber Works, Gutta Percha and Rubber Man- 

 ufacturing Co., Goodyear Rubber Co., Gorham Rubber Co., 

 Revere Rubber Co., New York Belting and Packing Co., Lim- 

 ited, The Pennsylvania Rubber Co., The American Rubber Man- 

 ufacturing Co.. The Barton Packing and Rubber Co., The Pacific 

 Coast Rubber Co., The Phoenix Rubber Co., Plant Rubber and 

 Supply Co., Western Belt and Hose Co., The Diamond Rubber 

 Co., Electric Hose and Rubber Co., and Boston Woven Hose 

 and Rubber Co. 



The Sterling Rubber Co. have been making a large exhibit at 

 the Humbolt county fair, held in Eureka. The exhibit consists 

 of 22 rolls of belt, and one big roll in operation, running through 

 water, with two men in charge. This is practically the exhibit 

 made by the firm recently in the Mechanics' fair held in San 

 Francisco, the belt shown being the "Victor" balata belt, and the 

 papers in Eureka have complimented the exhibit very highly. 

 The exhibit there is being made throng H. H. Buhne Co., the 

 rubber goods house in Eureka. Mr. Perkins, manager for the 

 Sterling Rubber Co., states that there is no more guess work 

 about trade conditions. Business hit the bottom mark and now 

 it is picking up. Trade is now good in the southern part of the 

 State, and the northern valley will pick up. Oakland is not as 

 good as it was and San Francisco is still quiet, but showing a 

 little improvement right along. 



* * * 



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

 that general business is much better than it was a year ago, and 

 that they are looking for good business this fall, especially if 

 there are rains in October and November. Mr. Pease believes 

 that the coming Portola festival, which will commence on Oc- 

 tober 19, and last a week, will bring thousands of people to this 

 city and state, many of whom, he believes, will remain, to take 

 advantage of the excellent opportunities offered by the farming 

 communities in the State where the lands are now being sub- 

 divided into small tracts. The festival will also show to the 

 world that San Francisco is now in a position by virtue of its 

 excellent and complete hotel accomodation, to entertain visitors 

 in whate\ 1 r style they desiri 



* * # 



Joseph A'. Selby, the Pacific coast agent for the Boston 

 Woven Hose and Rubber Co., has moved from his former loca- 

 tion, Xo. 507 Mission street, to new and more centrally-located 

 offices at the corner of First and Market streets, in the Sheldon 

 Building. 



The Bowers Rubber Works report that they have received still 



ler order from the Isthmian canal commission for dredging 



I hey have recently installed new machinery at the plant. 



The Phoenix Rubber Co. report that they are having a large 

 run on their Staggard treed auto tires. 



Inquiries from merchants are increasing in number and this 

 seems to indicate a larger prospective consumption, is the report 

 from the New York Belting and Packing Co., than has been 

 noted for some time. 



