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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June i, ic,io. 



THE RUBBER TRADE AT SAN FRANCISCO. 



VY/ITM the approach of summer comes an improved trade for 

 »» the local dealers in mechanical rubber goods, and even 

 druggists' sundries. The abundant crops, which are now be- 

 yond all danger of frosts, are of themselves a safe assurance 

 of good business. The activities in the oil fields of California 

 afford another income which goes to make prosperity for the 

 state. The oil wells have developed to such an extent that this 

 state is supplying more than one-third of all the oil produced in 

 the United States, and this is an item of no small amount when 

 added to one of the live assets of a community. Besides, there 

 has been a tendency to revive activity in the gold mines of Cali- 

 fornia which looks favorable to the dealers in mechanical goods. 



* * # 



Another thing which has had a decided tendency to infuse new 

 life into the commercial depression from which San Francisco 

 has lately been emerging, is the assurance that this city will have 

 the United States government's assistance in making the cele- 

 bration of the completion of the Panama canal in 1915, a 

 World's Fair of great importance. All of the local merchants' 

 organizations got together and raised a sum within a short time 

 of over $4,000,000, and another million has been practically 

 raised within the past few weeks. Business men figure that there 

 will be between $40,000,000 and $50,000,000 spent for purposes of 

 building and celebrating the fair. That means a big circulation 

 of money which in turn means more business for everybody. 

 For these reasons local merchants are hopeful of the future. 



* * * 



In the rubber trade it is and has been for a long time very 

 quiet. The high price of crude rubber stands before them al- 

 ways as a bothersome problem, and they have raised prices them- 

 selves, but have as yet to learn how the trade will take the new 

 schedules. With so many favorable conditions to offset the 

 disadvantages, however, the merchants are confident of a good 

 business. 



* * * 



There has been a raise in the price of mechanical rubber 

 goods all along the line by the manufacturers of the Pacific 

 coast. This action became an urgent necessity owing to the 

 high price of rubber. The movement on the part of the manu- 

 facturers seems to have been universal and the trade will find it 

 necessary to meet the new prices. The prices now quoted are 

 the same as published by the eastern organization known as the 

 Mechanical Rubber Goods Manufacturers' Association. 



* * * 



The Pacific Coast Rubber Manufacturers' Association held 

 its monthly banquet and business meeting on the evening of 

 May 11, at the St. Francis Hotel. The meeting was largely at- 

 tended and proved one of the most successful that has yet been 

 held. The matter of the advanced prices in manufactured goods 

 occupied the principal attention of the speakers and the fact that 

 prices had been raised met with the approval of all the manu- 

 facturers. 



* * * 



Mr. Joseph V. Selby, Pacific coast manager for the Boston 

 Woven Hose and Rubber Co., will make his regular annual trip 

 to the factory at the last of May, and will return during the 

 latter part of June. Mr. Herbert Selby, the company's repre- 

 sentative in the northwest, will take charge of the San Francisco 

 office during the absence of Mr. Joseph Selby. 



* * * 



The Gorham Rubber Co. are starting a branch store in Oak- 

 land, California, on Twelfth near Alice street. Harry Carlton, 

 who formerly was taking care of the Oakland business, will have 

 charge of the new branch. This will be one of the prettiest 

 stores of its kind on the coast. George Hand, formerly with 

 the Gorham Rubber Co., is now a salesman and working up some 

 of the city trade. 



The president of the Gutta Percha and Rubber Manufacturing 

 Co. (New York), Mr. Henry Spadone, has been in San Francisco 

 and along the western coast on a visit. He returned east a short 

 time ago. This concern reports a fair business for the past 

 month. 



* * * 



Ah;. R. H. Pease, president of the Goodyear Rubber Co., is 

 optimistic regarding conditions in San Francisco. "We find 

 business improving," he said, "over the business of a year ago, 

 even with the high price of rubber. The list prices have been 

 advanced by the local manufacturers, but we do not think that 

 that will affect the sale of belting. The trade looks more to the 

 discount given on belting than they do to the list price, and this 

 is a good thing for the manufacturers. It remains to be seen 

 what the advance on rubber boots will do. A man is apt to 

 wear something else besides rubber boots if the price goes too 

 high, and so it will naturally affect sales, whereas the advance 

 on rubber shoes will not be noticed so much. We have received 

 more advance orders for boots and shoes than we expected, and 

 if we have early fall rains we will have a big business in that 

 line next year." 



* * * 



The Young Sanitary Manufacturing Co. have turned 

 their complete plant, manufacturing and selling rights of tht 

 United States, Canada and England, over to the Orca Manufac- 

 turing Co. These concerns are both of San Francisco, and the 

 latter corporation was recently organized for the purpose of 

 financing and putting on the market the Young sanitary toilet 

 seat. J. D. McKenzie is president, and U. R. Grant is secre- 

 tary and manager of the Orca Manufacturing Co. Mr. Grant 

 is well known in the rubber trade in San Francisco and along 

 the coast. The success of the big undertaking seems well as- 

 sured. 



* * * 



Mr. R. E. Johnston has bought out the Argus Co. on First 

 street. The principal business of this concern is the repair of 

 typewriter plantens. 



Mr. Crandley, of the Crandley Rubber and Supply Co., which 

 has recently been organized, states that business has started much 

 better than they expected, the second month being very satis- 

 factory. 



Austin Kanzee, of the Phcenix Rubber Co., has just left for 

 a trip to the factories in the east. 



The Pacific Coast Rubber Co. have added two new traveling 

 men : Nick Loesch, formerly with the Pacific Hardware and 

 Steel Co., and Ben Ames, formerly with the Ames Supply Co. 



The specifications of the San Francisco fire department have 

 been changed so as to permit bids from everybody. Heretofore 

 the bids were open only to local concerns. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN TRENTON. 



BY A RESIDENT CORRESPONDENT. 



A T a special meeting of the directorate of the United and 

 ** Globe Rubber Manufacturing Cos., held on May 4, Mr. 

 Charles Y. Flanders, former mayor of Burlington, New Jersey, 

 was elected to the board to fill a vacancy that had existed for 

 some years. This was in recognition of the valuable services 

 which he has given to the company for ten years past, during 

 which he has been a sales agent. The board is at present com- 

 posed of Watson H. Linburg (president), John S. Broughton 

 (secretary-treasurer), William H. Brokaw, Karl G. Roebling, 

 Wilbur F. Sadler, and Charles Y. Flanders. 



General C. Edward Murray, of the Empire Rubber Manu- 

 facturing Co., as a member of the Trenton City Hall Building 

 Commission, was instrumental, on May 23, in having the com- 

 mission adopt a resolution which eliminates from the building 

 any materials made by the Empire company. There is a New 

 Jersey law prohibiting any city official from dealing directly or 



