New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
How Akron Came
To Be the Rubber
Centre

Figures show that more than 10000
J tires are shipped out of Akron every
day, nearly three-fourths of the entire
! number manufactured in America.
! More than $4,000 workers are en-
ployed in the great rubber factories,
most of them engaged in some way
in turning out tires for autoists, motor
cyclists, bicyclists and aviators.
In ten years the growth Of the tire
industry has turned Akron from city
of $4,000 inhabitants into town from
which needed workers are turned away
because it is impossible to find houses
or rooms for more than the 1882
persons the latest census shows live
here.
In forty-six years the rubber busi-
ness, of which the tire industry is the
chief part, has changed. the entire in
dustrial complexion of the city. There
are now twenty-one factories in Akron,
each turning out from 100 to $4,000
tires day.
The way in which Akron became the
rubber centre of the world reads like
romance. At the close of the Civil
engaged, in u small way, in the real
estate business down East. Through
series of transactions he found himself
saddled with small rubber factory at
Hastings -on-the- Hudson. The doctor
knew nothing about rubber and cared
less, but attempted to run the plant in
order to make his security good
About this time the city of Akron,
through its Commercial Club, was
making a strong bid for factories DR..
Goodrich came to Akron, presented his
case and, as result, moved his fac
tory here in 1871. The plant which
was erected could be built twelve times
in the present mill and calender room
of the factory. Rubber products at
that time were mechanical goods, boots
and shoes, clothing and druggists sun
DRIES. Everything promised normal
development, and rubber products
slowly came to be looked upon as
| staple articles.
The rubber industry got boost by
the invention of the bicycle and the
demand for rubber tires for its use.
Men began to wake up to the posi-
bilities of rubber. The invention of
/ the automobile was another stimulus
!
In connection with this it is interest
ing to note that the first pneumatic
tire was manufactured for Alexander
Wnton, of Cleveland, in the ZOOS. Mr..
Winton asked Goodrich officials to
make him a pneumatic tire for his au-
tomobile. The rubber men hesitated
They had never made so large tire
before. 1t was not until Mr.. Winton
guaranteed to pay for the mollds that
the tire was made.
The rubber industry did not receive
the benefit of this successful expert
mcnt until years later. In fact, it was
in 1908 that the rubber boom started.
Up to this time there had been only
a normal development. New automo-
bilcs came into general use, and the
boom 'was on. Factory after factory
already located in Akron gained ma
tion-wide business. Many new enter
prises were launched
Akron naturally became the rubber
centre and profited most First, be-
cause Akron was home to the men who
were able to profit by the experience
OF the pioneer company and see the
future Of the rubber business from a
sane standpoint. Second, these men
could contract with the Goodrich peo-
pie to manufacture their goods in
small quantities until their selling or
ganlzation could support factory of
its own. Third. practically all the
skilled rubber workers in America were
centred in Akron, for even then the
Goodrich company had grown to a
point where 1T employed 1000 men.