NllVh.MUKK 1, 1914. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



85 



rumors of mines to. keep the nerves on edge, and in the middle of 

 the voyage a submarine suddenly appeared near the boat and 

 investigated the nationality of the steamer. The culinary de- 

 partment was in a chaotic state, the regular help having been 

 called to arms, and their places taken by incompetents. Mr. 

 Hood went into the kitchen and obtained food for himself and 

 family. 



When the boat arrived at Leith, it was thought their troubles 

 were over. Not so. Orders had come that none but British sub- 

 jects could land without permission from the Home Secretary's 

 office in London. There were 40 Americans and two Belgians on 

 board, and the boat was to sail on the return trip at midnight. 

 A sentry with fixed bayonet prevented any one leaving the boat. 

 The customs officers could do nothing, and the consular office was 

 of no avail. Then Mr. Hood and others endeavored to induce the 

 Chief of Police to arrest the whole party, and thus save them 

 from deportation ; but the police were powerless. Finally, after a 

 delay of over ten hours after arrival at Leith, a telegram came 

 from London and the passengers were allowed to land on British 

 soil late Saturday evening. Mr. Hood went to London by 

 sleeper, arriving there Monday morning, eight days after de- 

 parture from Berlin. Even at that, he was ahead of some of 

 those who took the "direct" route between the two cities. Not so 

 exciting as some other Americans' experiences, but sufficiently so. 



* * * 



The Atlantic Rubber Co., now at Hyde Park, has com- 

 menced the construction of a factory near Atlantic Station in 

 Quincy. The plans, which are from the office of J. O. De 

 Wolfe & Co., the well known rubber mill architects, call for 

 a three-story brick building of mill construction and so de- 

 signed that additions can be made, when desired, in conformity 

 with the original style. This company manufactures rubber- 

 coated fabrics for the cutting-up trade, sheeting and molded 

 goods, besides some specialties in the latter line. Mr. Alfred 

 A. MacLaren is treasurer and manager. 



* * * 



The boot and shoe mill of the Apsley Rubber Co. at Hud- 

 son was shut down one week for the purpose of installing 

 heavy electrical machinery. For some time past all the out- 

 lying departments of the plant have been operated by electric 

 power. With the completion of this installation the main mill 

 shafts and all power for the boot and shoe departments are 

 run by motors. The entire plant now has electric power. 

 One of, the motors just installed is of 500 h. p. and weighs 

 over five tons. 



The company will effect important economies in its power 

 department resulting from the present installation, together 

 with increased efficiency and uniformity of speed. 



* * * 



To meet 'the growing demand for a substitute for sole 

 leather, the Tyer Rubber Co., of Andover, has been engaged 

 in experimental work for several months past in an effort 

 to produce a vulcanized fibre compound which will fulfil all 

 the requirem'ents of leather. The experimental work has now 

 reached a stage where the company feels justified in offering 

 to the shoe trade a material which is claimed to be fully equal in 

 every respect to sole leather. 



This compound can be manufactured by exactly the same 

 methods now employed in connection with sole leather and 

 as its various ingredients can be obtained in unlimited quan- 

 tities, the price will not be subject to the wide fluctuations 

 often prevailing in the sole leather market. 



* * * 



It may.be remembered that James Brien, proprietor of the 

 Eastern Rubber Co., of this city, was killed in an automo- 

 bile accident a few months ago. Since that time the business 

 has been continued by the estate of Mr. Brien, until last 

 month, when a corporation was formed under the name of 



the Eastern Kubher I ... with an authorized capital stock of 

 $90,000 in 900 shares of $100 each. The officers and incor- 

 porator:, are: Christopher Brien, president; Fred < . Miskellyi 

 vice-president; Harriet C. Brien. treasurer, and Jane A Hay, 

 clerk. The corporation assumes all indebtedness of the 

 business. 



* * * 



Joseph L. Wliitun. salesman for tile I undress Shoe and 

 Rubber i o., has become mayor of the neighboring city of 

 Quincy, for the unexpired term of the late Mayor Miller, 

 who died early last month. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN CHICAGO. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 

 IN some branches the rubber business has improved during the 

 past month ; in other respects it is not so good. For the most 

 part the improvement has come in the rubber tire business. 

 This is due to the fact that the weather throughout the Middle 

 West has been ideal for motoring. There have also been half a 

 dozen big races during the month, which aroused great interest 

 and gave an added impetus to the growing sport of motoring. 

 The prize races at Indianapolis, Elgin and Galesburg brought out 

 a large number of cars and served to revive demand in the tire 

 line. 



While the automobile tire business has prospered, however, the 

 mechanical rubber goods lines and the rubber boot and clothing 

 lines have not been meeting with such a heavy demand. The 

 reason is not far to seek. Industrial conditions throughout the 

 West and Middle West are far from being as good as they might 

 be. Many factories, owing to the war, are not running full force, 

 while a few of them have closed down. The mines are not work- 

 ing as briskly as usual at this time of the year. This means that 

 the sales of rubber belting and packing have decreased. The 

 rubber clothing business has been a little off owing to the - fact 

 that the weather has been too mild to move goods from the 

 shelves of the dealers. As a result the jobbers are marking 

 time and waiting for wet weather to set in. 



A. Romain, sales manager of the Quaker City Rubber Co., dis- 

 cussed the situation with his usual optimism, but was frank in 

 admitting that conditions in the mechanical rubber line were a 

 little unfavorable just at present. "But," he added, "I believe 

 that the sunny side for mechanical rubber houses in this city 

 lies in the possibilities of export trade, owing to war conditions. 

 We have recently received some letters of inquiry from large 

 buyers — I will not say from where, but they required translation 

 — and these have served to show us that there is more trade 

 than has been suspected waiting for rubber manufacturers of 

 this country if they care to go beyond the national borders to 

 capture it." 



* * * 



I.. L. Murphy has succeeded W. E. Carver as sales manager 

 of the Rubber Distributing & Manufacturing Co. Mr. Carver is 

 no longer connected with the firm, but will not leave the rubber 

 business, it is understood. In discussing the situation in the 

 rubber boots and clothing line, Mr. Murphy made the following 

 points : "The dealers carried over very few goods through the 

 summer. This is true throughout the Middle West. While 

 things are a little slow right at this time, I expect business to 

 improve with a rush as soon as we have some bad weather. One 

 year ago today we had snow. We have not had any snow thus 

 far this year, and the weather has been clear and mild. With the 

 first rainy spell the stocks of the dealers will be depleted to the 

 extent that they will be forced to place orders at once. Just at 

 present while waiting we are getting ready for the rush that 

 is certain to come." 



* * * 



J. E. Duffield, manager of the Thermoid Rubber Co., went to 

 Galesburg, Illinois, to attend the auto races recently held in that 



