December 1, 1916. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



163 



lias been increased production and often increased wages to- 

 gether with reduced cost, except in a few departments where 

 the differences are so slight as to be of little consequence. Tire 

 builders average $4.50 a day as before ; the lowest pay is $2.50 a 

 day for sweepers, and from that up to $6 a day for heavy work. 

 Quality is insured by rigid inspection and a limit on production 

 \.'here necessary. 



The philosophy of this greater efficiency is best explained in the 

 words of H. S. Firestone, president of the Firestone Tire & 

 Rubber Co. : "There is nothing sentimental, paternalistic or phil- 

 anthropic in our adoption of the eight-hour system. But you 

 can't make men do their best unless you get them fully inter- 

 ested, proud of what they are doing, happier in mind, lietter in 

 body and spirit, and producing something for themselves while 

 they produce something for the business organization of which 

 they are a part.'' 



* * * 



At tlie annual meeting of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 

 which was held November 2, several important business mat- 

 ters were acted upon. The call for the meeting, dated August 

 31, proposed an increase of the capital stock to $50,000,000, and 

 a stock dividend of 700 or 800 per cent. Instead of this the 

 stockholders voted to fix the authorized capitalization at $15,- 

 000,000, and to reduce the nominal value of shares from $100 

 to $10. It was also voted to enlarge the Ijoard of directors from 

 five to seven members, and to sell $500,000 worth of common 

 stock to employes and officers. 



Perhaps the action which received the greatest comment was 

 the motion to set aside $1,000,000 for an employes' welfare and 

 insurance fund. This, coming almost immediately after the 

 dedication and presentation to the employes of the handsome 

 new clubhouse, built at a cost of $300,000, adds another link to 

 the great welfare chain that liinds together employer and em- 

 ployes. 



The election, at ihe annual meeting, of R. J. Firestone as vice- 

 president came as the direct result of his splendid record as 

 general sales manager 

 for several years 

 past. Under his di- 

 rection sales have 

 been increasing at the 

 rate of 30 to 60 per 

 cent annually until 

 at the end of the fis- 

 cal year which closed 

 August 1, Firestone 

 business had ex- 

 ceed e d $33,000,000. 

 Mr. Firestone is 

 widely known in mo- 

 tor car circles 

 throughout the coun- 

 try and as vice-presi- 

 dent will find even 

 more and broader op- 

 portunities to utilize 

 his knowledge, long 

 experience and force- 

 f u 1 personality to 

 good purpose. 



A. G. Partridge, formerly assistant sales manager, has suc- 

 ceeded Mr. Firestone as general sales manager. Long service 

 well equips him for the larger work and his appointment is in 

 accord with the Firestone policy of promoting men wlio have 

 made good. F. C. Blanchard has also been promoted to sales 

 manager in charge of the increasing business among motor car 

 manufacturers. 



R. J. Pn<ESTONE. 



The B. F. Goodrich Co. has adopted a plan designed to co- 

 ordinate the various departments of the factory more closely and 

 bring the executives in closer touch with the employes. An 

 operating committee has been established by the directors of 

 the company, which will advise with and aid the executive 

 committee in all matters affecting the interests and management 

 of the company. The members of the new committee are as 

 follows : H. E. Joy, director of costs of goods and factory 

 costs ; W. O. Rutherford, director of sales ; H. K. Raymond, 

 director of production; A. B. Jones, director of plant adminis- 

 tration ; W. C. Geer, director of development of goods and 

 processes : George Oenslager, director of chemical laboratories ; 

 \V. A. Means, treasurer; A. P. Lohmann, engineer; H. C. Miller, 

 manager of tire sales, and W. H. Yule, manager of sales of 

 general rubber goods. 



Arthur H. Marks, of The B. F. Goodrich Co., is the owner of 

 the largest yacht in American waters and probably in the world, 

 fitted with internal combustion engines. The "Aramis" is 157 

 feet in length over all, with 23 feet beam and a draft of 7 feet 

 t inches. Her motive power consists of two 350 horse-power 

 Craig-Diesel engines delivering her power at 300 revolutions per 

 miiuue. Built entirely of steel, she also has two steel deck 

 houses, one covering the dining saloon forward, and the after 

 one built over the music hall and reception room. She is fin- 

 ished in mahogany and bright metal work and so makes one 

 of the handsomest yachts afloat. Her tanks carry 6,000 gallons 

 of crude oil fuel, which gives her a very long cruising radius. 

 Besides the staterooms for the owner and his guests, there are 

 quarters alioard for the crew of nine officers and men required 

 to run her. 



Within a short time Mr. Marks will take an extended South- 

 ern cruise in his new possession. 



* * * 



The Miller Rubber Co. is erecting a large eight-story build- 

 ing as an addition to its plant, and has also purchased 30 acres 

 of ground in a suburb of Akron. The entire tire building plant 

 will be located on this new property in the spring, the present 

 factory being then devoted to druggists' sundries and ether 

 specialties. 



* * * 



The Amazon Tire & Rubber Co. manufactures a standard 

 tire with an extra side-wall breaker strip, or blow-out pro- 

 tection, added. At present, the factory turns out about 45 tires 

 a day. Recent large increase in business has made it- necessary 

 to add to the plant in order to expand the production, and 

 when the new four-story building now being erected is com- 

 pleted, the output will average 300 tires daily. 



* * * 



The fioodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has purchased 10,000 acres 

 of land in the Salt River valley. Phoenix, Arizona, where cot- 

 ton raising will be undertaken on a large scale, thus insuring 

 for the company's use a fixed supply of long staple Egyptian 

 cotton. 



James E. Taylor has been transferred from the Atlanta 

 (Georgia) office of the Goodyear company to the home office, 

 as special representative of the automobile tire department. 



* * * 



The Phoenix Rubber Co. has increased its capita! stock 

 f'.nm $125,000 to $.S0O,0GO. 



* * * 



Two frame buildings art- being erected for tlie Kelly-Spring- 

 field Tire Co. One will house tlie restaurant, now on the top 

 floor of the main liuilding, and the other the experimental depart- 

 mein. this arrangement giving needed space for other purposes 

 in tlie main building. 



* * * 



Sam S. :Millcr, factory manager of the Mohawk Rubber Co., 

 recently celebrated the completion of his twentietli year of tire 



