September i, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



419 



CHICAGO POLICE INVEST IN RUBBER. 



THE most novel undertaking in rubber culture yet reported 

 is that of The Police and Firemen's Mexican Plantation 

 Co., of Chicago, incorporated under the laws of South Dakota, 

 May 7, 1904, with a capitalization of .$1,853,000.99. The com- 

 pany have acquired 6177 acres of land, in a tract nearly square, 

 lying on both sides of the Tulija river, in the department of 

 Palenque, state of Chiapas, Mexico, near the properties of Or- 

 izaba Rubber Plantation Co. (Chicago), and of several other 

 similar enterprises. While the membership of the new com- 

 pany is comprised mainly of the police and firemen of Chicago, 

 it is understood that the mail carriers and postal clerks in that 

 city will also become inter- 

 ested, and outsiders will not 

 be deprived of an opportunity 

 to invest. Each class of in- 

 vestors, however, will form a 

 distinct section in the organ- 

 ization, and thus farthe Poilce 

 Section has been most thor- 

 oughly developed. It was 

 among the police, by the way, 

 that the undertaking had its 

 start. 



In the first place, there was 

 organized in Chicago, in 1901, 

 a Policemen's Protective As- 

 sociation, which came to have 

 a membership of 2000, though 

 its existence was opposed by 

 the city authorities. The at- 

 tempts to disrupt the organ- 

 ization finally led to proceed- 

 ings in the courts, where, on 

 the final appeal, it was decided 

 that the police of the city 

 could not maintain an organ- 

 ization for self protection un- 

 less there were property rights 

 involved. This suggested to 

 the force the investment of 

 their fund in real property, 

 with the result that they were 

 advised by persons interested 

 in rubber planting in Mexico 

 to look in that direction. The 

 old policemen's association 

 ceased to exist on June 29, 

 1903, and a call was issued for 

 investors in what has become 

 the rubber planting company 



named above. The firemen were invited to join, and immedi- 

 ate responses were had from 2100 policemen and 962 firemen. 



The new company have issued a prospectus similar to those 

 of other rubber planting companies, shares being issued to be 

 paid for on the installment plan, as in the other companies, 

 and arrangements have been made to establish and conduct a 

 plantation on business lines, with a view to making it a source of 

 profit. An official of the company informs The India Rubber 

 World : " The personnel of the board of directors are business 

 men of the highest type and men of confidence, thus assuring 

 the stockholders that the administration of affairs will be con- 

 ducted to the best of their ability." The officers are : Thomas 

 J. Dawson, president ; Arthur F. Selleck, D. D. S., vice presi- 



dent ; John S. Kane, secretary ; John Powers, treasurer ; Thomas 

 L. Foley, counsel. These are business and professional men. 

 and not connected with the public service. The chairman of 

 the Police Section is Thomas C. Kane and the secretary Frank 

 J. Sullivan. The company have offices in the Hartford build- 

 ing, Chicago, of which the American, of that city, says : " They 

 have been fitted up to serve as a club for the shareholders, and 

 hundreds take advantage of them. One of the objects of the 

 organization is the promotion of mutual good fellowship." 



From the " By-laws and Rules of Order of the Police Sec- 

 tion of the Police and Firemen's Mexican Plantation Co." one 

 might infer that all the objects of the old policemen's associa- 

 tion may be as well carried out under the new as under the old 



regime. In this connection 

 may be mentioned a publica- 

 tion in the Chicago Inter Ocean 

 of August 5. which intimates 

 that charges of insubordina- 

 tion may be made against 

 members of the police and fire 

 departments for maintaining 

 an organization in spite of the 

 prohibition by the city author- 

 ities. The fire chief was re- 

 ported as saying: "We can't 

 refuse to let a man invest his 

 money, but the moment it can 

 be shown that it tends to in- 

 subordination in the depart- 

 ment, it should be squelched." 



APSLEY RUBBER CO. 

 AT ST. LOUIS. 



THE Apsley Rubber Co. 

 (Hue 



APSLEY RUBBER CO.'S EXHIBIT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. 



(Hudson, Massachusetts) 

 have a creditable display of 

 their boot and shoe products 

 at the St. Louis World's Fair, 

 in Block 19 a, East, just south 

 of the court dividing the two 

 big wings of the Palace of 

 Manufactures. The exhibit is 

 comprised in an octagonal 

 case of mahogany finish and 

 plate glass. Handsome bevel 

 edged plate-glass signs appear 

 in all the eight windows, bear- 

 ing the name of the Apsley 

 Rubber Co., the tricolored 

 " Dry Shod "trade mark of the 

 company, and the names of 

 their Western agents — M. D. Wells & Co., Chicago. A pyra- 

 midal display fixture occupies the center of this showcase, upon 

 which are hung in an attractive way samples of every line of 

 rubber shoes made by the Apsley company ; while surround- 

 ing this, and on the floor of the showcase, are samples of the 

 boots and arctics made by the company. The specialties 

 peculiar to the Apsley factory are marked and labeled, and 

 show off most effectively in the display. For instance, the 

 Apsley " Washstand " boot is prominently placed, and at- 

 tention directed to the details of its manufacture and the 

 uses for which it is particularly designed. Similar treat- 

 ment is accorded to other leading specialties of the com- 

 pany. 



