The times., 1899-02-15
TEE DEMAND FOR
RUBBER GOODS
The Advance in the Value OF
the Trusts Stock.
A Year Usual Sales Crowded Into
Two Days.
The Securities of the Con1 Roads
Go Upward Because of
the storm

The blizzard was good to the great rub
ber trust and to the holders of the stock of
that concern. Probably not one person in
ten has thought Of any effect that the SHOWS
and winds and freezing temperature would
have on the fluctuations of stocks, but il
is a terribly i'll wind that blows no good
TO some trust. Rubber stock scared more
than 81 a share over Sunday and Monday
as direct result of the storm and the i'm
mense demand for rubber goods.
Every city east of the Alleghenies was
filled with snow Sunday and Monday. and
almost every pair of rubber shoes and
boots in every store in all these cities was
sold before Monday night. large part of
the remainder went yesterday. II is said
that never in the history Of the country
have so many pairs been sold in such a
short time.
People bought rubbers who never owned
rubbers before. Dealers soon ran short Of
goods and fancy prices became the rule.
Even al the advanced prices everything
made OF rubber Was sold out before night.
II is now almost impossible TO buy pair
of oyershoes or rubber boots anywhere
south OF New York city. a few pairs are
still left at one or two stores in Washing
ton.
The peculiar condition Of affairs thus de-
yeIoped that more business was done in
Two days in usually almost forgotten line
Of goods than in many of the ordinary sta
ples More money was spent for rubbeTs
than for leather shoes. Probably more
people bought ovorshoes than hats. which
year in and year out are sold by the mil
lion every month. In years time Wash
ington streets ordinarily VIII not see three
pairs OF high rubber boots. Yesterday they
Were in every snoSdTift.
The Rubber Trust has almost a monopoly
When one buys pair of rubbers il is very
nearly certain that he is contributing a
good profit TO the Rubber Trust. II may be
cents or it may be 20 cents. Yesterday.
therefore. the entire Eastern section of the
United States seemed to be devoting itself
to the enrichment OF the Rubber Trust
The man who bought one pair forgot that
he was only one OF millions. The Rubber
Trust could not forget it. And it seems
that a good many stock brokers remem-
bered il. The first quotation in Rubber
stock yesterday morning was 81 above the
price of last Friday. the last market day
before. Within a few minutes another
dollar had been added TO the price. And
all day the interest in Rubber stock con
tinUed. There was more trading in il thar
usually occurs in weeks.
The storm also had its good effect OF
the stocks of the great railroads that do {
large business in hauling coal. Coal II
advancing In price and is in great demand
For long time there has been more Goa
mined than could be consumed and the re
cult has been that the railroads, as wei
Is the mines, have suffered from unprofit.
able contracts. The cold weather mean:
an immense consumption of coal, and, sec,
ondarily. many full train loads for the Goa
roads al better rates.
Reading, Jersey Central, Delaware. Lack
savanna and Western. and Delaware ant
Hudson stocks all advanced over Sunda
and Monday. opening yesterday mornin
from 81 to SO higher. II is computed tha
in addition 10 the profits in selling rubbe
goods and hauling coal the Rubber Trus
and the coal roads are so. goo 900 better o
IN the increased value Of their stocks o
ecrouuf of the storm