102 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1916. 



THE SITUATION IN FRANCE. 



By our Regular Correspondent. 



SIN'CE my last communication I have had the opportunity of 

 visiting Clermont-Ferrand, the center of our rubber industry, 

 the Akron of France. I had not been there since the outbreak of 

 the war and I assure you that the changes brought about by the 

 present conditions are much more visible there than here in 

 Paris. 



Your readers are familiar with the important role rubber tires 

 are playing in this war ; they also know that the tire industry has 

 always been the chief rubber industry in France, and that — since 

 we settled down and organized for war conditions — our tire 

 manufacturers have been able to supply practically all the needs 

 of ovir armies and to do much for our Allies. But what your 

 readers probably do not know is that our rubber manufacturers 

 have adapted their manufacturing facilities to the production of 

 many articles that are only remotely or not at all related to 

 rubber. 



All the factories in Clermont-Ferrand are under military con- 

 trol ; army officers, army engineers, and men in uniform have 

 charge of everything and are doing all the work that cannot be 



.\kmi Tkl.ks at MiLirAKv Repair Station. 



trusted to women. I found Michelin and Bergougnan making 

 aeroplanes; not only the rubberized fabrics for covering the 

 wings of flying machines, but whole machines, even motors. 

 They are doing this besides producing more tires than they ever 

 did in peace times, and they are also turning out shells, cannon 

 parts, artillery wheels, fuses, cartridges, and all sorts of metal 

 and rubber sundries. Their valve departments, rim and wheel 

 shops were found to be well suited, both as regards workmen and 

 machinery, for producing a score of articles they never before 

 dreamed of turning out. In one plant I saw SO huge aeroplanes 

 in course of completion, and practically all the men working on 

 them had been rubber workers, mechanics, carpenters and die- 

 makers in rubber factories prior to the war. This was a reve- 

 lation to me. I had no idea of such developments in our rubber 

 industry. I had read in The India Rubber World about the 

 adaptability shown by the German rubber industry, but did not 

 suspect that ours had equaled it in this direction. But they have 

 perhaps gone still further. Clermont-Ferrand rubber workers 

 are making all sorts of things that were unknown to them a year 

 ago and they are doing it as though they had never done any- 

 thing else. The organization is perfect. 



ORGANIZATION. 



Speaking of organization, never, in any circumstances, have 

 French manufacturers shown greater activity, more ardent desire 

 to complete and improve, in the economic battle-field, the victory 

 France will owe to her incomparable soldiers. 



Old organizations are rivaling in zeal and effort in the work 

 of necessary preparation for securing new outlets for the prod- 



ucts of the national industries, including the manufacture of rub- 

 ber. New organizations are being constituted. Special publica- 

 tions are coming into being. All are working for the commercial 

 and industrial future of our country. 



Writers, who formerly devoted their time and talents exclu- 

 sively to literature, are now placmg their pens in the service of 

 the work that is necessary to the I'rance of tomorrow. All con- 

 sider it a duty to complete the work of our brilliant armies. 

 France is organizing for future economic Iiattles, and the ardor 

 and the excellent intentions of our people will result in positive 

 achievements. We recognize that one of our greatest faults was 

 lack of organization, and we have been working to correct it. 

 Our army officers have taught much to our business men. They 

 have shown what great things can be accomplished smoothly, 

 with proper organization. Our army motor transport service is 

 a model of organization. Take the rubber tire departments, for 

 instance: 



TIRE DEPOTS. 



The quantities of tires consumed by thousands of venicles 

 under war conditions is difficult to imagine ; it cannot be mentally 

 grasped by mere multiplication of numbers. I recently visited a 

 tire depot. I saw thousands and tiiousands of permanent-band 

 solid rubber tires. Tier upon tier, pile upon pile, huge ribbed 

 pillars ; a veritable forest of them. In and out they were being 

 rolled like huge hoops. As fast as they go out, they are replaced 

 by new arrivals. 



The pneumatic tire storage warehouses have racks built from 

 end to end, and these racks, of great height, are filled with tires 

 that stand upright, side by side, making walls of rubber. The 

 multiplication of all makes and sizes is handled with system and 

 precision. 



The system is wonderful. In tire casualities, which, naturally, 

 are very numerous, the tire and tube is quickly inspected by a 

 staff of experts and a report sent back to the unit from which it 

 came. When the tires are repairable, they are sorted out into 

 two lots — one lot repairable at the depot is at once sent to the 

 local tire repair shops, and the other lot, representing the almost 

 unrepairable, is sent to the factory. 



Useless tires are sent to a special department which attends to 

 their disposal as rubber waste. Nothing is too small to be con- 

 served, and waste is reduced to a minimum. 



PLANTATION RUni'.EE IN COCHIN CHINA. 



The series of articles being published in The India Rubbes 

 World on "Plantation Rubber in Cochin China," is the subject 

 of great satisfaction in our rubber circles. 



Most of our rubber manufacturers have large investments in 

 these plantations, many of which are already paying propositions. 



FRENCH IMPORT OFFICE IN LONDON. 

 Our government has opened a special office in London for the 

 granting of licenses for the importation into France and Algeria 

 of goods coming through London and under "import prohibition 

 in those territories. 



PERSONALS. 

 Emil Desmidt and Eugene Roux, rubber planters in Cochin 

 China, lost their lives during the recent fighting in the Argonne 

 section of the Western battle front. 



IMPORTANT HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS IN FRANCE. 



The American Consul at Grenoble, France, reports that interest 

 in hydro-electric development has been recently revived by the 

 Chamber of Commerce of Grenoble to attract new industries to 

 that part of France. Contemplated installations will use the 

 energy furnished by the water courses of the Alps to reach an 

 aggregate mean production of about 265,000 horse-power, and 

 will require large quantities of insulated wire and cables, as well 

 as other electrical apparatus. 



