The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-11-02

new tire until he could absolutely con.
troll the construction of it and the
quality of material used as he had
some very disastrous experience about
three years ago with products of a rub
Der company.
The Factory
The construction of a large factory
becomes necessary in order to avoid
the necessity of depending on competi-
tors for material; to reduce the cost Of
manufacture Of the Brictson Tire; TO
manufacture the new Brictson Two
Piece Rubber Tire, standard and high
grade rubber tires of all sizes and
inner tubes, and other rubber pro
duets.
The method of construction now be
ing used in the Brictson Tire has
proven highly successful and profit.
able, but it has nevertheless, saddled on
the tire the burden of the first manu-
facturer's profit and the cost Of the
unnecessary rubber used in the ordi-
nary rubber tire.
In the past the company has marke,.
ed its tires direct to the consumer in
order to central the output and since
the dealer was not able to buy the
tires at wholesale prices he was, quit
naturally, a|ntoeonistic. with the other
rnw plans Of manufacture and market
ing. the company viii discontinue sell
ing direct to the consumer just as
rapidly as dealers can be- secured.
At the present time there are 49,
643 dealers in the United States, not
taking into consideration the foreign
dealers now buying great quantities of
tires and tubes in this country, and it
may be reasonably expected that under
the new arrangement and increased
output the Brictson factory can reacn
at least ten per cent Of this number,
which would be only about two deal
ors to each county of the United
States. If ten per cent of the dealers,
or 1864, were sold just 25 tires at 500
each, which would be a small stock,
amounting to $500, the total would
reach 1892, 600 90. This would keep
the factory busy at full capacity for a
long while. The company has already
secured a large number of dealers and
new applications from many others
were shown the committee. The COM
pany, also, has men out lining up the
dealers.
That the tire business is enormous
is indicated by the fact hat between
fifteen and sixteen million tires worth
upward to t%hirty-two million dollars
are being used this year and the esti-
mate has been placed by authorities
at twenty-five and half million tires
for 1917.
The automobile and tire industry is
growing and the companies engaged in
the manufacture of tires have been sue
cessful to a greater degree than any
otlItl CldNO VI lluuoIl ICo III lhlo Ioull
try. The amount of capital invested,
according to reports shown by Mr..
Brictson, range all the way from $780,
600 to 800, 000, 900 90. The sales from
one of the small companies, the Swine
hart Tire & Rubber Company, during
the past year closing September, was
81, $50, 000.O 90 net. The largest company,
the United States Rubber Company, re
ports 1915 sales at 500, 961 ,015.00. The
earnings have been good as indicated
by the dividends paid by the various
tire companies, which were from 7H 20
300. The value of the stock of the
various companies has gone beyond
the par value. One instance might be
cited-the Firestone Tire e. Rubber
Company common stock has in six
years increased from 500 to $1,125.00
per share.
Mr.. Brictson stated hat the factory
plans nearing completion provide for a
factory building and machinery cost
ing from 800, 900. 90 to $4,000 0 90
which will require from 800 to 500 men.
The company also expects to build
from from 100 to $50 houses for the
factory and office employees wherever
the company may locate.
What it Would Mean to Brookings
If Brookings people get behind this
proposition and keep Mr.. Brictson and
his factory here it will mean that from
800 to 500 men and their families will
be brought to Brookings which would
mean no small increase in population
1t would mean an increase in the value
of city property which would not under
ordinary conditions come about in five
or ten years. Figuring on a basis Of
$3.50 per day the pay roll for 800 tc
500 men would be from $1,050.O0 tt
$1,750.00 per day, or 1915, O00.O 90 tc
$525, 100000 per year. This entire
amount will be spent in Bookings fol