November i, 1909.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



57 



Hon Augustus O. Bourn. 



BIRTHDAY OF EX-GOVERNOR BOURN. 



The custom of observing the anniversary of his birthday by 

 the Hon. Augustus Osborn Bourn, ex-Governor of Rhode Island 

 and treasurer of the Bourn Rubber Co., was not overlooked this 

 year. On the evening of October I, at his home, "Seven Oaks," 

 Bristol, Rhode Island, he entertained a number of prominent 

 citizens of his state at a birthday party. The decorations were 

 the Italian colors and the menu was Italian, including specially 

 imported Italian wines. An Italian orchestra played Italian 

 operatic selections during the dinner. These distinctive charac- 

 teristics were in remembrance of the host's association with the 



United States dip- 

 lomatic service in 

 Rome for some 

 years. Many con- 

 gratulatory letters 

 and telegrams were 

 received by Mr. 

 Bourn. Among 

 the guests were 

 Colonel Samuel 

 Pomeroy Colt. ex- 

 Governors George 

 H. Utter and D. 

 Russell Brown ; 

 Chief Justice Ed- 

 ward Dubois ; 

 Judges William H. 

 Sweetland, Arthur 

 L. Brown. O. L. 

 B o s w o r t h, and 

 John P. Reynolds ; 

 Colonel Arthur H. 

 Watson, Colonel 

 Alfred C. Landers, Colonel Joseph E. Fletcher, Colonel John Twee- 

 dale (Washington, District Columbia), Colonel B. Thomas Potter, 

 Colonel Albert A. Baker, Rev. Edward F. Sanderson (Cleveland, 

 Ohio), Senator Harry H. Shepherd, Hon. Henry W. Hayes, Dr. 

 Alfred M. Merriam, Dr. C. J. Hasbrouck, Hon. F. W. Eastland, 

 Hon. H. A. V. Joslin, Hon. Edward B. Pierce, Captain Augustus 

 O. Bourn, Jr. (Xew York), Colonel Stephen W. Bourn; Messrs. 

 F. E. DeWolf, Walter H. Barney, H. H. Bedell, and William A. 

 Harris. Governor Bourn became interested in the india-rubber 

 industry in 1855, immediately after his graduation from Brown 

 University, joining the company in which his father, George 

 Osborn Bourn, was interested, and upon the death of the latter, 

 in 1859, became the head of the business. The birthday dinner, 

 therefore, practically marks the semi-centennial of Mr. Bourn's 

 connection with in the industry as a proprietor. 



A.TAX-GRIEB— INCREASE OF CAPITAL. 



At the annual meeting of the Ajax-Grieb Rubber Co., early 

 in the month, it was voted to increase the capital stock from 

 $400,000 to $1,000,000. The business of the company during the 

 year was the largest in its history, and they hope to double the 

 business within another year, in view of the increased capital 

 and the extended facilities now being provided for at the factory 

 in Trenton. The officers were re-elected — Horace DeLisser, pres- 

 ident; William G. Grieb, vice president; and Harry Grieb, treas- 

 urer. The company was incorporated under the present name 

 in September, 1906, with $400,000 capital. It was the result of 

 the merger of the Ajax Standard Rubber Co., a tire manufactur- 

 ing company formed in New York in 1905, and the Grieb Rub- 

 ber Co., of Trenton, which dated back to 1899. 



RUBBER FACTORY AT LOS ANGELES. 



West American Rubber Co., at Los Angeles, California, was 

 incorporated under the laws of that state September 9, 1909 ; 

 capital, $50,000. The company has acquired the rubber manu- 

 facturing business conducted formerly under the style Gotbed- 



Herron Co. John D. Works is president; V. C. Benjamin, vice- 

 president and manager, and William T. Gotbed, who for many 

 years was connected with Morgan & Wright, factory super- 

 intendent. The new company will confine its operations to me- 

 chanical and plumbers' supplies. Their location is No. 409 East 

 Seventh street. 



HOSE IN •■CONTINUOUS" LENGTHS. 



The Electric Hose and Rubber Co. (Wilmington, Dela- 

 ware), referring to a mention in the last India Rubber 

 World of hose made of lengths of 1,170 feet, say: "This com- 

 pany makes their garden hose in continuous lengths of 1,000 

 feet always, and have made it 1,500 feet long; this is double 

 fabric hose. We had on exhibition in Atlantic City in June, 

 at the Master Car Builders' convention, a piece of triple 

 fabric J4-inch hose 1,250 feet long." 



TRADE NEWS NOTES. 



At the annual meeting of the Boston Woven Hose and Rubber 

 Co., on October 5, Mr. George E. Hall, who has been general 

 manager of that company since July, 1907, was elected as an 

 additional member of the board of directors. 



Mr. Clay Baird, representing the Eureka Fire Hose Manufac- 

 turing Co. in the sale of hose of fire departments, has resigned 

 his position as manager of the company's Chicago office, taking 

 effect on October 1. He has been succeeded by Mr. George F. 

 Hand, connected formerly with the Gutta Percha and Rubber 

 Manufacturing Co. 



The blowing out of a cylinder head in the engine room of the 

 Fairfield Rubber Co. (Fairfield, Connecticut) occurred while the 

 president of the company, Edward W. Harral, and the chief 

 engineer, Mr. Young, were standing near by, and it is felt that 

 they had a narrow escape from death. The factory is mentioned 

 as being rushed with orders, having been in operation at night 

 for several months. 



The Pope Manufacturing Co., since the reorganization on 

 December 24, 1908, the directors report, earned a net profit up to 

 July 31 last of $482,866.76. Dividends have been paid on the 

 preferred shares. President Albert L. Pope reports that "the 

 prospect of business for the coming year is most encouraging" 

 and that "increased sales of bicycles are looked for." 



Mr. A. E. Lumsden, the representative in London of The B. 

 F. Goodrich Co. (Akron, Ohio), after a two months visit to the 

 United States, returned early in October. 



The factory of the Converse Rubber Shoe Co. (Maiden, 

 Massachusetts) is planned for a daily production of 4,000 pairs 

 of footwear, but they are reported lately to have been producing 

 5,000 pairs, by working some departments on day and night 

 shifts. 



MR. WHITMORE MAKES A CHANGE. 



The news that George P. Whitmore had severed his connec- 

 tion with the Boston Belting Co. of more than 30 years standing 



was one of the trade hap- 

 penings that always come 

 with a bit of a shock. If 

 there were no changes, 

 however, in officers and 

 corporations, the trade 

 would soon become lifeless. 

 Mr. Whitmore left his old 

 company possessed of the 

 esteem of all and with flat- 

 tering expressions of regret 

 from all, from the president 

 down, and with sincere 

 wishes for success in his 

 new position with the Re- 

 vere Rubber Co. which he 

 is sure to fill most credit- 

 ably. 



