290 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May 



1904. 



belief that contributions enough would be received to keep the 

 fight up. Some assistance was received, but not enough to enable 

 us to hold out. After the third week no benefits were paid ex- 

 cept to a few men with large families." 



The Labor Union Advocate, the official organ of organized 

 labor in Trenton, in its issue of April 9 charged that the strike 

 had failed through the misrepresentations of the national offi- 

 cers of the Rubber Workers' Union, and through the treachery 

 of members of the Trenton union who deserted the strikers and 

 returned to work. Secretary O'Donovan denied the first charge, 

 but admitted that the second was true. Secretary O'Donovan 

 stated that while the union has been seriously crippled by the 

 failure of the strike, it will be continued and reorganized by the 

 faithful ones among the membership. 



* * • 



The old rubber mill at Morrisville, Trenton's Pennsylvania 

 suburb, which was abandoned a few months ago by the Vulcan- 

 ized Rubber Co., is a historic building, and of especial interest 

 now that Morrisville citizens are preparing to celebrate the cen- 

 tennial of the village, on May 17. The old mill was built by 

 Robert Morris, the founder of Morrisville and the financier of 

 the war of the American revolution, who lived near the site of 

 the mill and erected the building as his stables. There is still 

 on the roof the original cupola, topped with a galloping horse 

 as a weather vane. Robert Morris made possible the victory of 

 Washington at the battle of Trenton, which turned the tide of 

 the revolution. Washington with his army was encamped on the 

 Pennsylvania side of the river and had his swoop upon the Hes- 

 sians all planned, but boats and supplies were lacking. Mr. 

 Morris on his own security raised $10,000 among his Quaker 

 neighbors and furnished General Washington the needed sup- 

 plies. 



Later the stables were used by General Moreau, who came 

 to America with Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and 

 Waddell, who were compelled to leave France after the battle 

 of Waterloo. General Moreau and Waddell settled near Mor- 

 risville, and Bonaparte at Bordentown. Still later the building 

 was used as a stable by the Trenton and Philadelphia railroad, 

 out of which grew the present main line of the Pennsylvania 

 railroad from New York to Philadelphia. The first section of 

 the old road mentioned, extended from Morrisville to Bristol, 

 and before the bridge across the Delaware at Trenton was 

 built, horses were used as the motive power ; hence the need of 

 a stable. When steam was adopted, the old stable was turned 

 into a repair shop. 



The factory days of the historic structure began with the 

 civil war period, when it was used for the manufacture of oil 

 cloth. In its next transformation the building became a pot- 

 tery and as such was operated bv Martin, Potts & Tarns, of 

 Trenton. 



Its days as a rubber mill date from 1873, when Dr. R. S. 

 Dana and John W. Thompson, of Morrisville, organized the 

 Morrisville Manufacturing Co. and started a soft rubber fac- 

 tory. Mr. Thompson was president and Dr. Dana treasurer. 

 The first work was the manufacture of wringer rolls under a 

 patent of John Mackechney, who was made foreman of the 

 works. This not proving successful, the work was changed to 

 the making of hose, car springs, etc., and later a hard rubber 

 department was started, in which surgical battery receivers 

 and similar goods were made. 



Dr. Dana states that the firm also did a heavy business in 

 floor cloths. This factory was the first to make these in rolls 

 of unlimited lengths; previously cloths about 8X2^ feet, 

 made in molds, were the largest manufactured. This firm 

 lasted about seven years and the last year of its existence Dr. 



Dana was the manager of the factory. He had become the 

 owner of the building, and at the dissolution of the Morrisville 

 Manufacturing Co. rented it to James F. Brook, founder of 

 the Globe Rubber Co., of Trenton. Mr. Brook only retained 

 it about three months. Then a man named Banks leased it 

 for the making of hard rubber goods. Mr. Banks originated 

 the Keystone Co., which later moved to Hoboken. 



The next step was when S. S. Sonneborn operated it under 

 the Keystone lease. Some time later Myer Dittenhoefer, now 

 president of the Vulcanized Rubber Co., who at that time had 

 become one of the leading spirits in the Keystone Co., came to 

 Morrisville and organized the Goodyear Vulcanite Co. This 

 concern operated the factory successfully and added a num- 

 ber of frame buildings to the old brick structure. This 

 firm was changed to the Vulcanized Rubber Co. which built 

 the splendid new factory in Morrisville. It is understood that 

 the lease under which the Vulcanized Rubber Co. operated the 

 factory has two years yet to run. It is understood that the 

 company will tear down the frame buildings which it erected 

 and then endeavored to dispose of the lease. 



* * » 



The Woven Steel Hose and Rubber Co. have reelected the 

 old officers : John S. Broughton president, John H. Janeway, Jr., 

 vice president, Karl G. Roebling treasurer. Manager Kelso 

 states that the sales of this company are considerably ahead of 

 those of last year. The company is putting on the market a 

 new brand of hose, known as convex steel armored, for air, 

 water, or steam pressure. The armor is a special pattern, roll- 

 ed at the Roebling mills in Trenton, and applied to the hose by 

 special machiney. 



* * * 



Work has been commenced by the Hamilton Rubber Manu- 

 facturing Co. on the construction of a new frame storehouse, 

 to measure 40 X 200 feet. The land owned by the company 

 between their factory and the Pennsylvania railroad is being 

 enclosed with a substantial fence. The company's coal trestle, 

 which was damaged recently by the coal igniting and burning 

 for some time, has been repaired. The company report that 

 the new artesian well is a success and the whole supply of 

 water needed is secured from it. 



* * * 



No decision has been given yet in the suit of the Eurek^a 

 Fire Hose Co. (Jersey City) against the Eureka Rubber Manu- 

 facturing Co. of Trenton for an order restraining the latter 

 company from using the word " Eureka ". Argument on the 

 evidence in the case took place before Vice Chancellor Emory 

 in Newark on April 4, and he still has the matter under advise- 

 ment. 



The Consolidated Rubber Co. report business as rushing, 

 with orders booked two months ahead. Manager Harry E. 

 Evans stated that the company were as busy as they cared to be. 



William McCabe, aged 28, assistant engineer at the factory 

 of the Crescent Belting and Packing Co., had his left hand so 

 badly crushed in a mixing mill in the factory on April 15, that 

 amputation was necessary. He was on duty with the night 

 turn, and, the superintendent says, had no orders to go near the 

 mill, as that was not a part of his work. 



The Crescent Belting and Packing Co. report business as un- 

 usually good, and state that the output of hose this season will 

 exceed that of any previous year. The mill is being operated 

 steadily, night and day. A satisfactory number of orders are 

 being booked ahead. 



The rubber cutters at the mill of the Lambertville Rubber 

 Co. have formed a union and elected George Hartman presi- 

 dent, Frank Cole secretary, and Horatio Ege treasurer. 



