584 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September 1, 1912. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN AKRON. . 



By a Resident Correspondent. 



■ I HE B. F. Goodrich Co. is constructing a new office imme- 

 ■•• diately west of the present office building, which will run 

 from the present office building to the cast side of the street 

 just opposite the American Hard 'Rubber Co. The construc- 

 tion will be similar to that of the present office building, although 

 it will be one story higher, and the present office building will be 

 built one story higher, so that the capacity for office room will 

 be at least doubled. The new structure provides for special din- 

 ing rooms, 'and also for general dining rooms for office employes. 

 Private and general offices are provided. 



H. E. Raymond, general sales manager of the consolidation, 

 has just returned from Europe, and it is believed that the new 

 officials are about to consolidate the office and sales force of the 

 company. Mr. Raymond says that in the reorganization no ef- 

 ficient men will be dropped, as the company's business has in- 

 creased considerably since consolidation, and that all their office 

 force and more are needed for their present work. The large 

 addition to the Diamond branch of this company is nearing com- 

 pletion. 



Mr. H. F. Mason, vice-president of the Goodrich Company, 

 Avho last winter donated Elizabeth Park to the city of Akron, 

 together with a fund for maintaining the same, has donated to 

 the park $2,000 for a small bridge over the Little Cuyahoga 

 River. Mr. Mason has at heart the welfare of the city of Akron, 

 as evidenced by his many benefactions, and he has offered the 

 city $3,000 a year to employ nurses for medical inspection and 

 care of school children, if the Board of Education will provide 

 physicians to direct them. This amount should employ three 

 ■or four visiting nurses. All Mr. Mason asks is that qualified 

 physicia'ns shall visit the different schools in the city, and keep 

 in touch with the children, and report those who need assistance 

 and provide for them, if the parents are Hot able to do so. This 

 should increase the health of the children of Akron and lessen 

 the chance for the spread of contagious diseases. With the 

 hearty cooperation of the teaching force, this would greatly 

 help the health of the school children of Akron. Several mem- 

 bers of the Board of Education have spoken heartily in favor of 

 the plan, and if funds can be provided for the payment of physi- 

 cians, the Board of Education will be pleased to accept Mr. 

 Mason's offer. 



The combined plants are very busy and the volume of this 

 ■yeat's. business shaws a large increase over that of last year. 



B. G. Work, general manager, who has been in Europe for 

 several weeks, is expected home shortly. Irvin Renner and 

 Walton Fenton, who have been in Colombes, France, helping 

 to oversee the construction and equipment of that plant, have 

 returned home. R. N. Baxter, assistant advertising manager, 

 has resigned his position with this company, and has accepted a 

 position with The System Magazine Co. 

 * * * 



A. Staines Manders, of The International Rubber Exposition, 

 paid a visit to Akron and was courteously received by the Akron 

 manufacturers, and the Chamber of Commerce. Akron indus- 

 tries will be well represented at the Exposition, many applying 

 for space. The Akron Chamber of Commerce have applied for, 

 and been granted, an Akron Day, when Akron's interests will 

 be especially emphasized. Most- everybody expects to go so 

 that a good attendance seems assured. 



* * * 



The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., by the installation of .S3 

 fountains, through which is continually pumped a supply of fresh, 

 cool, spring water, believes that it has solved the problem of 

 summer drinking water supply for its workmen. The contract 

 has been let recently to install a circulating system of galvan- 

 ized irob pipes to all parts of the factory, and at convenient 

 spots throughout the plant, where the fountains will be located. 



The pipes will be covered with cork Xyi inches thick, to insure 

 a reasonable amount of coolness for the water. If this is not 

 successful a refrigerating plant will be erected. This does away 

 with the old system of water tubs and pails, carried or wheeled 

 from hydrants to the various parts of the factory. 



* * * 



Papers for the incorporation of The Dutch Rubber Co., of 

 .Akron, were filed at Columbus, August 14. The capitalization 

 is $1,250,000. The purpose of the company is extensive, cover- 

 ing the selling, handling, manufacturing and reclaiming all kinds 

 of rubber goods. The company, it is claimed at the present time, 

 win take over the Royal Rubber Co., which will be used as 

 the basis on which to build a large concern and increase the out- 

 put. This company is beitig organized in the office of Grand & 

 Schnce, and the officers of the company will be elected later. 



* * * 



The American Tire and Rubber Co. has recently installed an 

 auto repair department. 



The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. constructed a large balloon 

 from their fabric, which was entered in the balloon contest at 

 Kansas City. The balloon behaved admirably in its flight, and 

 although it did not win the contest, the promoters were well 

 pleased with their initial attempt. 



It is reported by Lamonte Nollin that this company expects 

 to place a system of stations of the Marconi Wireless Co., which 

 will carry messages around the globe, and that in less than 18 

 minutes. They expect to complete this system in two years. 

 The construction work is being pushed forward rapidly. The 

 line will consist of 11,500 K.W. duplex stations, which will be 

 located at London, New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Manila, 

 Singapore, Bangalore, Pretoria, Aden and Cairo. This line will 

 handle only long-distance messages. It may do an international 

 business competing with the Oceanic cable companies, which are 

 now the only means of quick communication between foreign 

 countries. These stations will be "tuned" so they will not inter- 

 fere with the world's commerce. The wireless company will 

 cooperate with the land companies, where it is possible. The 

 different stations will cost about a half million each, and will be 

 under a running expense of $2,000 per month. Each plant will 

 consist of 12 steel towers, each 300 feet high, arranged in two 

 rows 1,500 feet wide. Each plant will face in the direction it is 

 receiving from, or sending to. Two of these plants will consti- 

 tute a station. One will be used for sending and the other for 

 receiving. The company has placed over its main office building 

 the wireless apparatus used on the ill-fated balloon "Akron," 

 which has been sending and receiving messages from Detroit and 

 other branches. 



* * * 



H. S. Firestone, of The Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., is 

 spending his vacation in Northern Michigan. 



To secure more room for tire output and office room, the 

 Firestone Company is building two wings to its present plant of 

 the same height and construction as the new plant. The new 

 north wing will be extended 60 x 125 feet, and the new east wing 

 60 X 200 feet. The Firestone Company is also building a new 

 employiTient office near Main street. 



* * * 



The Portage Rubber Co. is erecting an addition to its drying 

 room, 26 x 57 feet, and a two-story brick building 30 x 96 feet ; 

 the first floor to be used as a machine room and a shipping room. 



* * * 



W. PL Bell was transferred from the position of manager of 

 the Pneumatic Department of The Firestone Company to the 

 position of manager of their San Francisco branch. 



* * * 



S. S. Miller has resigned as superintendent of The Buckeye 

 Tire and Rubber Co. and 'T. C. Marshall, the assistant super- 

 intendent, has been appointed to succeed him. 



