December 1, 1911. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



123 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN RHODE ISLAND. 



(By a Resident Correspondent.) 



IN striking contrast with the cotton mills by which it is sur- 

 rounded, the Providence plant of the United States Tire Co. is 

 being enlarged constantly, and the force of employes is being in- 

 creased. The principal product of the concern is the Continental 

 tire. 



This company began operations in the old plant of the Banigan 

 Rubber Co. on Valley street last July, and since that time it has 

 enlarged a number of the buildings, erected storehouses and im- 

 proved the property generally. The number of employes has 

 been increased from 150 to 950, and more are being engaged at 



present. Full shifts are kept at work night and day. 



* * * 



At the wire insulating mill within the enclosure of the National 

 India Rubber Co.'s plant at Bristol, Rhode Island, a new system 

 of conveying power to buildings connected with the wire depart- 

 ment, where there was previously no power, has been introduced. 



The work was completed during the early part of the week end- 

 ing November 11 by Contractor W. G. Murphy, 'of Warren. 

 Framework supports on concrete foundations convey the power 

 by means of ropes, this method having been found superior to 

 belts. This apparatus provides power in buildings where more 

 machinery can be installed without adding to the electrical equip- 

 ment of the concern. 



* * * 



The Consumers' Rubber Company has recently shipped a large 

 number of cases of footwear from its factory in Bristol to Ta- 

 coma. Washington, and vicinit}-. 



* * * 



Lack of orders recently has caused the International Rubber 

 Co., makers of rubber fabrics, to put its plant at West Barrington 

 l^n a four-day-a-week schedule. 



* * * 



Employes of the Woonsocket Rubber Co., a subsidiary of the 

 United States Rubber Co., at Woonsocket, in common with oper- 

 atives in other manufacturing plants in that city, have been un- 

 dergoing wholesale vaccination during the past two weeks, as a 

 result of a smallpox epidemic in the Pawtuxet Valley, where near- 

 ly 150 cases have developed. The French Canadians of the two 

 localities visit each other so constantly that Woonsocket officials 

 have feared the recurrence of an epidemic that greatly affected 

 business there in 1900-'01-'02. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN SAN FRANCISCO. 



(By a Resident Correspondent.) 

 A LREADY the merchants are taking notice that the Panama 

 ■'^ Exposition will bring about an increased activity. The 

 inquiries which have emanated from headquarters indicate that 

 the matter of tire protection for the entire city, as well as the 

 fair grounds, will be one of the first matters looked into, and the 

 merchants with fire hose to sell will be in line for an early im- 

 provement in this class of business. But the opening of the 

 Panama Canal and the activity preceding the opening of the ex- 

 position are bound to work great and beneficial results. Busi- 

 ness at present is normal, with considerable room for improve- 

 ment in every line, saving, perhaps, that of tires, which continues 



to keep up a very high degree of activity. 



* * * 



E. R. Metcalf, of the Rubber and Asbestos Packing Co., Den- 

 ver, Colorado, died on October 19. 



* * * 



W. D. Rigdon has been appointed manager for the San Fran- 

 cisco store of the Gorham-Revere Rubber Co. J. B. Brady, the 

 general sales manager of this company, is now out visiting the 



branches throughout the North. W. H. Gilbert, the treasurer, 

 is also out making a trip to the various branches, and will then 



make a trip East. 



* * * 



A. F. Solbery, representing the United States Rubber Co., has 

 been on a visit to the coast, and after taking in the principal 

 cities has returned to his offices in Chicago. 



* * * 



The Gutta Percha and Rubber Manufacturing Co. reports that 

 business is moving along with fair satisfaction, and that the 

 outlook is a little better than usual. 



* * * 



Mr. Miller, of The B. F. Goodrich Co., reports that business 

 is tnuch better just now in the tire line than in the mechanical 

 department, but that trade is showing up better all around, and 

 that they expect a very good business in the mechanical depart- 

 ment beginning with the first of the year. 



* * * 



J. A. Jones, who has been salesman at the Second and Mission 

 street headquarters of The Diamond Rubber Co. for two years, 

 has been appointed branch manager of this company's retail 

 store at Golden Gate and Van Ness avenues. He succeeds Harry 

 Ingersoll, who resigned to take the position of sales manager 

 with the Keaton Vulcanizing Co. 



* * * 



R. H. Pease reports for the Goodyear Rubber Co. that last 

 month and the first of this showed a favorable business. All of 

 the rains so far have been in the night time, which has not served 

 to boost rubber clothing much. Otherwise business is running 

 along naturally, with a good increase over last year, which is 

 not saying much, however, as it was very dull at this time in 

 1910. The new calender, mill and tubing machines have been 

 installed in the factory, and this has necessitated the doubling of 



the floor space. 



* * * 



James F. Giles, of the American Hard Rubber Co., is now 

 making his annual visit to the Pacific Coast, and stopping while 

 here with the Goodyear Rubber Co. 



* * * 



W. G. Chanslor, of the Chanslor & Lyon Motor Supply Co., 

 whose home is in Los Angeles, spent a few days in San Fran- 

 cisco on his return from a hunting trip by automobile in the 

 northern part of the State, accompanied by his wife and some 



friends. 



* * * 



R. H. Keaton, manager of the Keaton Vulcanizing Works, has 

 left for Akron, where he is having a special non-skid tread placed 

 upon the Swinehart tires, which he represents on the coast. 



* * * 



The Weinstock-Nichols Co., dealers in tire and auto supplies, 

 have leased for ten years for $65,000 a three-story building, to be 

 erected on the north side of Golden Gate avenue, west of Polk 



street. 



* * * 



Charles W. Crockett, manager of the Edson & Crockett Tire Co., 

 124 Hyde street, was seriously injured by an accident, which oc- 

 curred near Hillsborough. While riding a motorcycle he was 

 struck by a wagon, thrown from the motorcycle and rendered 

 unconscious. He was picked up by a passing automobile and 

 carried to the Red Cross Hospital at San Mateo, being later 

 brought to his home in this city. His condition is very serious. 



J. D. Anderson, general sales manager of the United States Tire 

 Co.. is making a tour of inspection of all the Western branches. ■ 

 He was met in Salt Lake by J. C. Weston, of San Francisco, 

 the coast manager. They are taking in the entire coast — Seattle, 

 Portland and the other leading cities of the Northwest, thence 



