SHOES. 317 



About thirty years since, the first few pairs of native gum- 

 elastic shoes, or what might more properly be called India rubber 

 bottles, with openings in the sides, were imported into Boston. 



At that time their uncouth and clumsy shapes, added to their 

 weight, was a great hinderance to their introduction ; notwith- 

 standing which, their importation continued to increase, as they 

 were gradually improved, until 1840, previous to which time more 

 than half a million pairs were imported in one year. 



The first vulcanized gum-elastic shoe was made by the inventor 

 in 1840, but owing to the difficulty of operating the heating pro- 

 cess at that time, and the embarrassments of the writer, this 

 manufacture was not fairly started until 1843, or much noticed 

 in any way until 1844. 



In 1845, a successful shoe manufacture v^as put in operation 

 at Hamden, Connecticut,* and another at Naugatuck.f As the 

 manufacture of these shoes was improved, they came rapidly 

 into favor with the public, and the demand has increased, so that, 

 at the present time, fifteen thousand pairs per day are manufac- 

 tured by the licensees of the inventor. 



For several years past the increase of this manufacture has 

 more than doubled each year, which will probably be the lowest 

 estimate which can be made of the increase of the manufacture 

 for some years to come ; since, in addition to the real utility and 

 durability of these goods, the manufacturers have attained a per- 

 fection of finish, and a style of execution, which is hardly sur- 

 passed in any branch of manufacture, either in this or any other 

 country ; and the demand for them is not only becoming general 

 throughout the United States, but they are being exported largely 

 to England, and are also being introduced into many other 

 foreign countries. They have become so common in the United 

 States, and their qualities are so well known, that any remarks 



* JJy Mr. L. Candee. t By Mr. William Deforest. 



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