146 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February i, 1904. 



porarily with profits, but the demand for a necessity— such 

 as rubber has become — is superior to questions of price. 



And we may add that all the conditions here alluded to 

 afford encouragement particularly to the planters and 

 praspective planters of rubber, who will not fail to see a 

 shortening of native supplies by the time the cultivated 

 product can be marketed in large quantities. 



REAL TEST OF THE AUTOMOBILE. 



'THE most informing single bit of printed matter that 

 *■ has come to our notice, bearing upon the develop- 

 ment of the automobile vehicle interest in this or any other 

 country, is a certain recent illustrated trade catalogue, the 

 major part of which consists of photographic views of com- 

 mercial vehicles, employed by leading firms in some of the 

 larger American cities. It is not of particular concern to 

 The India Rubber World what company is benefited by 

 the distribution of this book. It is of interest to us for 

 the reason that, without regard to this or that type of 

 horseless vehicle, it gives views of vehicles in practical use 

 ' — employed for reasons of economy alone, throughout the 

 United States— under conditions which point to the future 

 extensive employment, as a means of transportation on 

 city streets, of vehicles without any necessity for horse 

 power. 



Questions of steam, gasoline, or electricity must be left 

 for settlement by experts in their different fields. The 

 point now is that the practicability of the transportation of 

 goods in other than horse drawn vehicles has been demon- 

 strated, and the horse must disappear, just as he disap- 

 peared on the stage coach lines on the advent of the loco- 

 motive ; just as he disappeared on city streets to make 

 place for the electric street car. 



In the face of greater possible speed, greater economy, 

 less space on the streets of cities, and increased cleanli- 

 ness of the streets, the horse no longer has any standing 

 except in the hands of horse lovers — and in another gen- 

 eration the number of these may be less than now. Not 

 only in cities is this true, but in all closely populated su- 

 burban and rural communities. 



This is the lesson of the latest automobile shows in 

 America. It is the lesson of the automobile shows in Eur- 

 ope — whence must be transmitted to this side of the At- 

 lantic whatever there is of merit in the mechanisms which 

 have excited so much of interest there. It is not boast- 

 fulness to assert that whatever has been accomplished by 

 mechanical skill in any other country can be duplicated in 

 America ; indeed the historical record shows that on this 

 side of the Atlantic there are mechanics ready to contrib- 

 ute to the development of any new practical idea that 

 promises economic returns on a scale of marked import- 

 ance. 



The gigantic racing machine is very well ; its spectacu- 

 lar attractions compel the attention and admiration of the 

 masses. The machines principally on show were very 

 well for the pleasure carriages of the rich, who are not in 

 the majority in any community that ever has or ever will 



exist. But the great test of the automobile is in the busi- 

 ness contest in which the profits or the wages of the great- 

 est possible number of citizens is involved, and this is in 

 the carriage of merchandise over small distances, as in city 

 streets. 



Hence the appearance in a single trade catalogue — it 

 doesn't matter whose — of views of half a hundred com- 

 mercial wagons, owned and operated by the most conspic- 

 uous commercial firms in half a dozen of the largest Amer- 

 ican cities, and vehicles which have not been set up for 

 purely advertising purposes, but because of economical 

 advantages, gives this publication great practical value as 

 demonstrating the advantage of the horseless vehicle. 



And the importance to the whole to the rubber trade is 

 that this new development in the transportation world has 

 been possible only through the employment of rubber tires, 

 and this development is measured precisely by the evolu- 

 tion of practical elements in tire construction. 



THE NEW RUBBER FOOTWEAR PRICES. 



THE leading rubber shoe manufacturers have announced 

 their list and net prices to take effect on February 1. 

 There is practically no change in list prices. At the office of 

 the United States Rubber Co.it was stated that about the only 

 change in their lists refers to goods packed in cartons, on 

 which there is an advance of one cent per pair, on account of 

 the price of the carton. All prices and discounts are subject 

 to change without notice. A new scale of discounts has been 

 adopted, which materially advance the cost of goods. Until 

 May 31, 1904, the following discounts to retailers, from the lists 

 of the United States Rubber Co., will be in effect : 



First quality (except Woonsocket and Meyer) 30@5@3# 



Woonsocket and Meyer brands 30@io<35@3# 



Second quality (except Rhode Island) 30@5@5@3# 



Rhode Island brand 30(tf I0@5(35(33£ 



Colonial brand 45@ 5@5# 



From June to November 30, 1904, or until further notice one 

 5 per cent, discount will be withdrawn from the list, thus con- 

 tinuing the policy of allowing a special discount to encourage 

 early buying. The company's contract with jobbers has been 

 drawn on lines similar to the one under which the company 

 have been doing business for the past season ; that is, it em- 

 bodies no restriction on the prices to be charged by jobbers to 

 retailers. As will be seen from another column, however, the 

 shoe jobbers have again resolved on their own account to 

 maintain prices. The following paragraph, from the company's 

 " memorandum of agreement " covers the matter of guarantee : 



IV. Guarantee. — In case the company shall, prior to December 1, 

 1904, reduce the selling price to the said purchaser of the particular 

 brand herein contracted for below the price herein named, a correspond- 

 ing reduction shall be made to said purchaser on all goods of said brand 

 shipped or delivered to him under this contract prior to that date. The 

 account of this brand to be taken on all the styles of this brand included 

 in the said contract, making due allowance for all styles increased in 

 price. This guarantee shall not be affected by the sale of out-of-style, 

 damaged, or imperfect goods. This company may sell damaged or out- 

 of-style goods at reduced prices, and the company's decision as to what 

 goods are damaged or out-of-style shall be final and conclusive. 



Payments for goods actually delivered to customers up to 

 March 31 will be due on May 15; deliveries prior to November 

 1 to be paid for on December 15, and deliveries thereafter to be 

 paid for on the 15th of the second month following date of in- 

 voice, 



