.'4 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[October 1, 1914. 



soles. Experiments havi de by adding cotton fibre 



to rubber and heels ; and even "steel wool" is being 



used in some lines of footwear for giving added durability to 

 the rubber. 



Parenthetically it maj be said thai for several prom- 



inent dealer in upplies has had a steady trade in 



soles and repairing heavy shoes, to which lie gives a 



fanciful name. It is really second-hand rubber belting died out 

 in the shaj oles, heel- Every readei of this 



journal knows the quality of rubber and cotton duck used in 

 making belting. These soles near three or four times as long 

 ,i- leathei quality. While thej show their layer 



construction at the edges, and no easj way has been found of 



Stepe Oxford with Welt-Sewed Rubber Sole \m. Wedge Heel. 



'finishing" these edges, yet the soles are popular with motor 

 men. teamsters and workmen, who demand wear, regardless of 

 ranees. Why would not some experimentation along this 

 line be profitable to the factories making similar lines of goods? 



The spring and summer samples of shoes are now in the 

 hands of salesmen on the road. Many manufacturers have di- 

 rected their salesmen to keep in constant touch with their home 

 - • r with the present uncertainty of leather supply and 

 leather prices, thi cosl and therefore the selling prices of all 

 leather shoes are likely to be advanced any day. With rub'uer- 

 soled shoes it is different. Manufacturers know, approximately 

 at least, what the material will cost; so they can today set the 

 prices for the entire season. 



Manufacturers of men's and women's shoes in the fine and 

 medium qualities state that they expect a heavy demand for 

 rubber-soled shoes for next summer's wear. Of course opinions 

 differ as to proportions, some believing that the call will reach 

 as high as twenty-five per cent., while others, more conservative. 

 place it at ten or fifteen per cent. If it only reaches the latter 

 figure, that ought to be nearly forty million pairs of soles, suf- 

 ficient to keep several factories busy for the next six months 

 and absorb a considerable volume of rubber and compounding 

 materials. 



NATIONAI ASSOCIATION OF COTTON MANUFACTURERS AND THE 

 FINANCING OF THE NEW CROP. 



A report has been issued by the above association upon the 

 recent Washington conference of those interested in the produc- 

 tion, marketing, financing and manufacturing of cotton, attended 

 by some 250 representatives of the cotton industry in its various 

 branches. The conference was held on the invitation of the 

 Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. William G. McAdoo, who stated 

 that under the present law the banks could get all the currency- 

 necessary to take care of the situation. He considered that 

 valorization was a wild and ridiculous experiment. It was his 

 purpose to accept from the banks of the currency associations 

 notes and obligations secured by properly issued and certificated 

 cotton warehouse receipts. The banks, he considered, were the 

 proper agencies to make the loans and to trace out the location 

 of every bale of cotton behind the notes which were made the 

 basis of this currency. lie added that what was required was 

 to get the cotton warehouses into shape. 



In reporting to the members the result of the conference tin 



which he had participated i Mr. Albert Greene Duncan, the presi- 



of the association, has expressed the hope that support and 



encouragement would be given Secretarj McAd n his con- 



structive and conservative stand on the subjects dealt with. 



THE COTTON SITUATION. 



SOU] HERN spot cotti n is receiving a good dial of attention 

 at this time from the fact that the United States production 

 lor 1914 will approximate 15.000,000 bales. Under ordinary con- 

 ditions 5,000,000 bales of tins amount would be ■-hipped to Europe 

 and the remaining surplus production of our Southern cotton 

 fields taken care of without further complication. The European 

 war. however, created a condition that required prompt and 

 effective measures to save the Southern cotton situation. 



Prompt and effective measures were taken, and the assistance 

 which the Federal Government extended to the cotton growers 

 by the issue of National Bank currency, through designated 

 banks, against notes secured by cotton warehouse receipts, has 

 already greatly improved the situation. The result will un- 

 doubtedly be that the bulk of our cotton crop will be ware- 

 housed until the close of the war or until the spot price warrants 

 selling. The fact that warehouse receipts are negotiable has 

 resulted in a tendency on the part of the producers to hold their 

 cotton. The cotton farmer is now able to renew his notes and 

 secure further credit and supplies. He therefore views the 

 present price of cotton with considerable indifference, and waits 

 for a belter market. 



The "Buy-a-Bale-of-Cotton'' movement has much to commend 

 it for the enterprise displayed by its promoters, but as a prac- 

 tical business proposition it is open to some criticism. The 

 movement had great advertising possibilities and was quickly 

 taken up by keen advertisers with the object of furthering sales 

 in the Southern markets. Among conservative people, however, 

 the impression exists that a plan which would include the manu- 

 facturers of cotton goods in its beneficent scope would be more 

 acceptable to the greater number of those interested in the 

 cotton industry. 



As a result of the war the foreign supplies of burlap have 

 been entirely cut off. The estimated consumption in the United 

 States is 700,000.000 yards per year. There is no burlap manu- 

 Eactured in the United States and consequently cotton goods 

 must be used as a substitute. Some mills are now putting up 

 tluir product in cotton goods in the place of burlap, thus creating 

 a new outlet for cotton fabrics. 



The estimated United States production of Sea Island cotton 

 for this year will be 75.000 bales. Last year there was a shortage 

 of 19,000 bales, which was made up from the previous year's 

 crop. This means a shortage for the present year, as there has 

 been no visible increase in the production of this staple. This 

 indicates that the price of tire fabrics will be held firmer on 

 account of the size of the Sea Island crop and the uncertainty 

 of the arrival of Egyptian supplies due to the war. 



It is understood that contracts are being placed for hose and 

 belting duck on a basis of 19}^ cents per pound, but this price 

 is liable to advance with the price of the raw product. 



LOW BIDS ON FIRE HOSE. 



Of the bids opened September 11 by the City Commission of 

 Trenton, New Jersey, on the fire department's requirements of 

 2.000 feet of rubber lined double cotton jacket hose, that made 

 by the Empire Rubber & Tire Co. — 62.9 cents — was the lowest 

 Other Trenton companies which submitted bids were The United 

 & Globe Rubber Manufacturing Co. — 68 cents — and the Hamilton 

 Rubber Manufacturing Co. — 78.5 cents. These are said to be the 

 lowest bids ever received by the city under present specifications, 

 which are considered very exacting. 



