The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-10

very ulHtTtHI llOLl luS Sell uStihS
clog" zephyr" or "arctic" Of today. The In
dams first made model Of boot or foot
from clay peculiar to the locality. There
was procured an earthen jar in which was
built fire made Of dry palm nuts. The
''maker," seated on a stool before the fire
conveniently arranged about him his stock of
lasts or models
The "gatherers" brought in the result Of
their toll in large turtle shells. The maker"
was now ready for business. Taking one of
the clay models in one hand, with the other
he deity covered it with the raw rubber con-
tanned in the turtle shell. The model was
then quickly turned few times in the white
smoke Of the palm nut fire, which had the
effect of quickly coagulating the raw rubber.
This done, another model received similar
treatment while the first was stuck on a
stake to dry.
An Indian and one attendant would make
by this primitive method about twenty pairs
a day. The rubber was left on the model for
some little time that it might harden. The
clay was afterwards removed, the shoe
stuffed with hay, and it was ready for mar
ket. Whatever such rubber as this may
have lacked in style and appearance was duly
merit of being pure rubber.
Soon the Indians learned to add ornamen-
tation by way Of tawdry gliding in unique
designs after their own peculiar fashion.
The first rubber shoes ever seen in the
United States were brought to Boston in 1870.
A small box held the entire amount Of the
importation. At first they were regarded
more as curiosties, but at length their merits
became known. Three years later 1888 a
venturous Boston merchant imported 500
pairs. These found ready market at IS a
pair and upwards. This reception induced
further venture until the annual importation
amounted to upwards of half q million pairs
To Thomas c. Wales is due the credit of i'm
porting the first rubhers from Para This
gentleman had almost monopoly of the rub
Der trade in the United States from the year
1925 to 1870
The imported rubber very much resembled
a sock foot or, as "A Boston merchant said.
'they look like an Indian dug out" AS
will be seen by the illustration they were
little more shapely than those first made.
In 1871 shoe lasts were sent to South Ameri-
Gu to take the place of the clay models. This
had the effect of giving better shape and form
to the rubbers. The rubber business had now
grown to some magnitude, due in great
measure to the decreased cost, as now rub
bers were sold at about 81 pair The mat
ter was receiving the attention of many of
the most prominent business men, and many
ingenious devices were resorted TO in order to
utilize this valuable product In 1893 boots
were made in New York and shipped to
South America to be vanished or coated
with the rubber gum. These, on being re-
turned, were sold as gum elastic boots. Cloth
was also sent to South America, a coating of
the gum coagulated between two pieces and on
returning was made into sort of cloak. One
enterprising firm went so far as to have car
pets treated in similar fashion, in order
that they might be impervious to water and
grease Another firm shipped quantities of
sole leather, which, after being coated with
rubber, was made into boots and shoes, and
sold under guarantee mot to leak or soak
water
The years from lS4l to 1874 were prolific in
tho development of the rubber industry.
Crude rubber was brought to Boston as ships
ballast and sold at four or five cents pound
The great difficulty experienced was han
ding this crude rubber after it had coagu-
lated And again, the rubber of those days
required much care, as severe cold hardened
them, while heat had an effect quite the re-
verse. No history of the rubber trade could
be given without mention of Charles Coed
year, who may be termed the father of rub
bers. Born in New Haven, Conn, on Dec.
90, 1900, like rlany others of his time, he be-