The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-03-19
Rubber Shoes.
From tho Baltimore Sun.

A wholesale shoe dealer, speaking Of
the business in rubber overshoes this
winter said: "There has been bigger
demand for rubbers this season than ev-
er before. In fact we have not had
enough, nor can we get them fast enough
to supply the needs of the trade. One
retail dealer in this city bought 1000
cases few weeks ago. He began to
get panicky, but the successive SHOWS
and rains came to his relief, and he sold
out the entire lot. You see that lot on
the sidewalk? We have just received
them from the manufacturer, and will
send them away without bringing them
inside tho house, as they have all been
sold.
"Why are rubbers so very much
cheaper than in former years? ?"
1T is the cheapness of manufacture
ing them. All the rubber, or most all,
used in the manufacture Of overshoes,
comes from Para, in South America.
Sometime ago the entire stock of rub
Der on hand and even in the trees of
South America, was bought up by a
syndicate in London, who dispensed the
material at their own figures to the en-
tire trade in this and other countries.
A manufacturing concern in Rhode Is
land cabled to one firm in London, and
still another, and the prices were all
the same. This was somewhat suspi-
cious, so member of the concern took
passage on steamer, for London un-
der an assumed name. Arriving in
London he soon discovered that all the
dealers in raw material for rubbers oc-
cupied the same counting-room. Am
erican enterprise went to work, howev-
er. An Office was engaged, and in a
short time the syndicate found itself cor
nered and broke. That ended the mo-
nopoly in the Paris rubber supply, and
now American manufacturers, by buy
ing from first hands, can make goods so
very much cheaper than before"
Are all the overshoes sold and worn
now made of pure rubber?"
mo. Other material, principally
lampblack, is mixed with the Rubber.
1t makes shoe that will keep out the
water, but which is not as serviceable
as those made entirely of rubber. Here
is one (picking up substantial pair of
q pattern commonly seen Oh the street,
There is scarcely any rubber at all in
that shoe. A shoe that is altogether OF
rubber can be made light enough to
fold up and put into the pocket without
inconvenience. Here is a pair that is
made up of pure rubber. It is as fine
and thin as silk. They cost more, of
course, but they will last. Here is an
other (picking up pair of remarkable
heavy overshoes.) These are of pure
rubber, the same as those long boots
for sportsmen and seafaring men. They
are intended for rough outdoor work. !"
"Are many more sold since the price
came down."
Eyes, very many. Some people now
keep several pairs of rubbers, pair
for heavy SHOWS, pair for rainy days,
q pair for this and pair for that. Some
people keep as many as five pairs going
all the time, and are never caught, eth
er at the Office or at home, withou be-
ing provided for all kinds of wealth
er."
Are there many styles for ladies?"
"They are made up in every conceiv-
able style, and in all cases can be made
much lighter than those for men. This
is because of their superior grace and
light footedness. Some men can wear
out pair of overshoes in few weeks
by the mere weight of their own self
Importance. A woman will wear
similar pair, much lighter in make, for
q whole season."