The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-05
RUBBER SHOES.
AM Increasing Demand for Them-Very
Much Like Shoddy.

Much Like Shoddy.
A wholesale shoe dealer, speaking of
the business in rubber overshoes this
winter, said: There has been a bigger
demand for rubbers this season than
ever 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 a 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 the house, as they have all been
soldn
'Why are rubbers so very much
cheaper now than in former years?'
1T is the cheapnesS of manufactur-
ing them. All the rubber, or most all,
used in the manufacture of overshocs
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 syn
dicate 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
Island cabled to one firm in London for
prices, and received them. They were
rather high. The company called an
other firm in London. and still another,
and the prices were all the same. This
was somewhat suspicious, so a member
of the concern took passage on a
steamer for London under an assumed
name. Arriving IN London, he soon
discovered that all the dealers in raw
material for rub5ers occupied the same
cOunting-room. American enterprise
went to work, however. An office .;as
engaged, and in a short time the syn
dicate found itself cornered and broke
That ended the monopoly in the Paris
rubber supply, and now American man.
ufacturers, by buying 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 a shoe that will keep out the
water, but which is not as serviceable
as those made entirely of rubber. Here
is one Cpicking up substantial pair OF
pattern commonly seen on 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 in
convenience. Here is a pair which is
made up of pure rubber. 1t is as fine
and thin as silk. They cost more, of
course, but they VIII last. Here is an
other (picking up a pair of remarkably
heavy OvershOes.) These are of pure
rnbber. the same as these long boots
for sportsmen and seafaring men. They
are intended for rough outdoor work.
''Are many more sold since the price
came DOWN.
"Yes, very many. Some people now
keep several pairs of rubbers; pair for
heavy SHOWS, a pair for rainy days. a
pair for this and pair for that. Some
people keep as many as five pairs going
all the time, and are never caught,
either at the office or Mt home. without
being provided for al! kinds of weather.
Are there many styles for ladies'"
They are made UP in every con-
ceivable 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. \ woman will wear j
similar pair, much lighter in make, for
q whole season.-BdkttnlOre Sun.