July 1, 1915.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



559 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN BOSTON. 

 By Qur Regular Correspondent. 

 'T'HERE is little thai is new to be said of the business situ- 

 *■ ation, as far as tin- rubber business is concerned. How- 

 ever, then- ,- a feeling all through the trade that things are 

 ju>t a little better than they were a month ago. The New 

 England States have not h;id their quota of rain this spring — 

 they are six inches behind the record, and this is making an 

 impression on the garden hose business, which is better, and the 

 rubber garment trade, which is worse. The mill trade continues 

 unsatisfactory in some respects; purchasing agents of tin- big 

 manufacturing companies Mill pursue their policy of buying 

 only as needed, rather than carrying supplies on hand. The boot 

 and shoe men report that many of their northern New Kngland 

 customers have ordered in much smaller quantities than last 

 year. There are somewhat divergent reports regarding the de- 

 mands for rubber heels and soles, some producers telling of in- 

 creasing business, while others are less enthusiastic. The same 

 may be said of the automobile tire business. 



But the general feeling is one of gradually returning confi- 

 dence and a belief that from now on there will be a heavy and a 



steady increase in business. 



* * * 



There are some good golf links around Xew York, but when 

 real golf enthusiasts want the best, they come to Boston. Early 

 last month George B. Hodgman, president of the Hodgman 

 Rubber Co., and Henry C. Pearson, editor of The India Rub- 

 ber World, having a desire for more links to conquer, came 

 over to Boston, and with Messrs. J. H. Learned of the Revere 

 Rubber Co., and Frederick H. Jones of the Tyer Rubber Co., 

 chased the little white balls around the Brae Burn Club course in 

 Newton. The score will not be published here, for fear of in- 

 creased handicaps at the outing of the Rubber Club, to be held 

 this month at Lowell. However, the Xew Yorkers were satis- 

 fied that this golf course was one well worth playing. 



* * * 



The members of The Rubber Club of America, Inc., anticipate 

 a royal good time at the outing to be held July 14. 

 The committee in charge gives out most enthusiastic prophecies 

 of a program which will outdo any previous affair of the kind 

 in the annals of the club. The location chosen is ideal, and 

 the details of the day's program are sufficient to insure a good 

 attendance and an enjoyable outing. 



* * * 



On Friday. June 4, a serious fire occurred at the King Rub- 

 ber Co.'s plant at Hyde Park, caused by the ignition of bisul- 

 phide of carbon in the curing room, which set fire to the wood- 

 work. The flames reached a number of tanks of gasolene, some 

 of which exploded, thus spreading the fire to the entire struc- 

 ture. Owing to the quick action of Superintendent McDonald 

 the 18 employes — eight of them women or girls — escaped with- 

 out injury. The building was a one-story wooden structure, 

 owned by the Metropolitan Raincoat Co. but for the past 

 year occupied by the King Rubber Co. Manager M. D. Kings- 

 bury stated that the loss was between $5,000 and $10,000. The 

 company manufacture- rubber gloves and nipples. Of course 

 the practically total destruction of the factory will interfere to 

 some extent with the filling of orders, but it is expected that 

 within thirty days the company will have resumed manufacture. 



The accident in Long Island Sound on June 13, when 

 C. K. G. Billings' yacht "Vanadis" collided with the steamer 

 "Bunker Hill," caused the death of George H. Kendrick, presi- 

 dent of the recently formed Boston Packing & Belting Co., of 

 tin- city. (Further mention appears on another page of this 

 issue.) Another sad casualty of the collision, was the injury 

 to Mrs. Waugh, wife of A. E. Waugh, manager of the Phil- 

 adelphia store of the Revere Rubber Co., of Chelsea. Mrs. 



Waugh was coming t" lloston because of the serious illness ofher 

 father, who has since died. As a result of her injuries it was 

 found necessarj to amputate one leg. She is understood to 

 have rallied from the shock of this operation and i.i be now in 

 a fair way to rei o\ ei 



* * * 



There were some distin itors in lloston the 



mi. Idle ii the month, the part} being headed by Hon. ( 

 Chien, reputed to be the wealthiest man in Ciiina. While here 

 the < hinesc Honorary Commercial Commission visited various 

 prominent industrial plains One party, which included Presi- 

 dent Chang, made a visit of inspection to the American Rubber 

 Co.'s factory at Cambridge. The interpreter was kept busy tl 

 lating the questions of Mr. (hang and the answers of Super- 

 intendent Woodward, Sales Manager Greene and Treasurer 

 Nance. It seems that, among his many enterprises, President 

 Chang is interested in plantation rubber; so that this visit and 

 the information supplied in reply to his questions were of special 

 interest to him for future utilization. 



The guests were shown all through the big plant of the com- 

 pany, pausing long enough to see a rubber shoe being made under 



the deft lingers of a champion maker. Superintendent W I 



ward promised to send that identical shoe to President Chang 

 in China, after it had been vulcanized. The honorary commis- 

 sioner took him at his word, and with his pencil indented in the 

 soft rubber his autograph for identification, explaining through 

 his interpreter that he should look forward with pleasure to the 

 receipt of a shoe put together under his own eyes. 



* * * 



The Goodyear Rubber House, which for so many years was on 

 School street, but of late years was near the Touraine Hotel, on 

 Boylston street, has made another change, and is now at 20 Fed- 

 eral street. Manager Eldredge believes there is a better business 

 to be done on this direct route between the South Terminal 

 Station and the post office, hence the change. 



* * * 



At the regular monthly exhibition of the Massachusetts Hor- 

 ticultural Society in this city last month, the principal feature 

 was a new geranium exhibited by Mrs. Lester Leland, wife of 

 the vice-president of the United States Rubber Co. This new- 

 variety is a seedling of two of the most beautiful and costly 

 species of geranium, and is a rich silver pink in color. The 

 society voted to name it the "The Mrs. Lester Leland.'' and 

 thus the name will be known wherever rare and beautiful flow- 

 ers and plants are appreciated. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN RHODE ISLAND. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 

 ""THE rubber industry throughout this State is sailing along 

 * under full steam, with practically every plant rushed for 

 the delivery of goods. Several of the factories have enough 

 orders from Europe to keep them going on full time for a con- 

 siderable period, and in many of the departments overtime is the 

 rule. There is still a very general demand for competent em- 

 ployees, much difficulty being experienced in securing good help. 



* * * 



The dividend on the common stock of the Washburn Wire 

 Co., of Providence, recently paid at the rate of 7 per cent, per 

 annum, has been increased to 8 per cent., payment at the new 

 rate beginning July 1, to stockholders of record on June 19. 

 The regular quarterly dividend has been declared on the pre- 

 ferred stock at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum, payable July 1. 

 The initial dividend on the common stock was declared April 1, 

 1913. at the rate of 5 per cent., and this was increased to 7 pel 

 cent. April 1. 1914. The local plant of the corporation is at 



Phillipsdale. 



* * * 



In the list of manufacturing, mercantile and miscellaneous 



