New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-16
BIG CUT IN RUBBER GOODS.
MADE BY THE BOSTON RUBBER SHOE
COMPANY AND THE TRUST.
THE NEW PRICE LIST FROM I2 TO is PER CENT
BELOW LAST YEARS SAID TO BE
CAUSED BY THE COMPETITION OF

CAUSED BY THE COMPETITION OF
FOUR RIVAL CONCERNS.
Boston, March 15-The Boston Rubber Shoe
Company one Of the largest corporations in the
manufacture of rubber shoes, sent out circular
to the trade this morning. In which a reduction
of from - to 16 per cent was made from the
price list Of last year. The reduction was sur
prise to the other manufacturers. most Of whom
in the United States Rubber Company. COM
monty known as the Rubber Trust" II was
taken In some quarters to mean a fight on the
trust
The Boston Rubber Shoe Company denies the
statement that IL has withdrawn from the trust.
because it has never been stockholder MEM
ber of the United States Rubber Company. II
has simply been acting in concert with the other
companies in maintaining prices and regulating
the trade. A few years ago the company acted
Independently Of the trust. and 1t proposes to re-
turn to the old basis of doing business. The re-
duction in prices, 1t is stated is not attack on
the United States Rubber Company. The official
statement made by Mr.. Leland, manager of the
Boston Rubber Shoe Company this morning, is
as follows:
THE Boston Rubber Shoe Company will con-
duet its business without conference with other
rubber boot and shoe manufacturers This does
not mean that our position is at all antagonistic
toward any other company, and will not be So
unless necessary to protect our trade, and we do
not think that there will be necessity for such ac
ton part"
A representative Of the United States Rubber
Company stated this morning that that corpora
ton had reduced the prices Of rubber shoes to-
day TO correspond with those in the new price list
OF the Boston Rubber Shoe Company. He said
| M ant
| Eanles but that each would conduct its business
independently. The relations between the two
corporations were as friendly as ever. although
they would not act in concert in regard 10 prices
sales, credits, etc.
From another source IL was learned that the
reduction in the prices OF rubber shoes was
brought about by the competition OF four new
companies, which have recently been led TO go
into the business through knowledge or the
profits to be made at the prices ruling last year
These corporations are the Providence Rubber
Company and the Banigan Rubber Company. or
Providence; George Watknson q Co, of Phiia-
delphia and the Hood Rubber Company. of Bos-
ton and WatertOWn. These cOmpSr rieS have been
| fighting the United States Rubber Company until
their competition came to be serious matter 10
the companies interested in the trust, as well as
to the Boston Rubber Shoe Company which ad-
hered to the trust prices In its new scale the
| Boston Rubber Shoe Company has made prices
| low enough to meet the competition OF the new
companies and the United States Rubber Com
| pany has willingly followed the example set
The prices made are lower than those Of the COM
| panies which have been lighting the trust.
Charles r. Flint, treasurer OF the United States
| Rubber Company, said yesterday:
There has not been any agreement between the
| Boston Rubber Shoe Company and the United
States Rubber Company AS TO prices. For ten
years or more, long before the organization or the
United States Rubber Company. as a matter OF
| convenience the companies manufacturing stand
| ard boots and shoes. viz. the j.. Candee Company
| = a. and
| Goodyear Company. issued uniform price lists and
| II has been convenient for them to make sales on
| about the same terms as to payments. .
! although | have not had the pleasure or meeting
| the Messrs Converse or Mr.. Leland for long time.
! I know that the most friendly relations exist be-
tween the officers OF the United states Rubber
| Company and those OF the Boston Rubber Shoe
| Company and | satisfied that, as good trus-
| tees all OF the parties as they have done In the
past. will furnish standard goods al prices Wnlcn
will leave a reasonable profit 10 the shareholders OF
| the respective companies.
| boots and shoes for the coming season ls outlined
| in my testimony before the Lexow Committee. As
| then stated. the business OF manufacturing ruD-
| Der boots and shoes. clothing, etc, Is OF such Il
| complex character that it takes more time TO Sc
| cure the economies through the Capitalization OF
manufacture than In cases where there IL Dut one
| product.
'The United States Rubber Company however,
| has closed a number OF factories that were run
| ming at "A disadvantage. and had plans 10 erect
| further consultations of manufacture, SO tnat IL
can produce goods at cost to justify substantial
| reduction in prices the consumer. AS ] stated
| i'm my testimony, il il only by reducing prices. as
economies are effected. that 4 company can laiSe-
! ~ Increase and permanently hold great volume
! 1T may be claimed that the object OF such a
course is to prevent the establishment of new con-
Germs in the sa me Industry but that is not the pur
| pose OF that policy although II may DE an incl
| dental result