Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-09
DEAD PIONEER IN AIuTOIi
TIRES H0N0RED At AKRON
-. i. Goodrich Rubber Company
-'Lauds- Founder at Golden Ami.
vcrsnry Of business.
WAS CIVIL WAR SURGEON
Entered Rubber Business When
/, Uses Were Few. but Never lived
to See "liorsclcss Carriage" BE.
come Useful in Commerce..


AKRON ONO. Jan. S.--A man
whpse pioneer work In the rubber
industry WAS destined to Hgure prom
ihen'iy In the development of the
automobile. but who did not live to
sec II 'horselcss carrlasc." Was sinsu-
i's!y -honorcd here last week His
name is DIR. benjamin Franklin Good
r!cH. founder Of the rubber company
nearing his name
Last week marked the golden an
uWeisdry ~ the founding Of the q. j..
"o"drich rubber Company. the par
.n,p r.,r'oiy OF me Rubber CITY" The
W.. lh'o officials and employees Of
nv company. residents Of the city.
agI thppsanhs Of fricnda and Gus
.ohers throuShou, the country joined
!" NagiHE Tribute 10 the memory OF
Termination of a cuIl half century OF
~" ~ COMPANY ne established,
To- 1890 :, r,,ans"d II in the space Of u
rev decades from quiet little mill
nS Town of f"w Thousand in
inanntariurine cen;cr> In the I'nitcd
S,a'rS Consequently. the people al
msnton l""i duly graz cfnl 10 the man
whn nrst Brought the Industry To Tho
yrnwth.
rlt;y yGats ago when .Goodrich was
,vunnea me uses OF rubber were few.
W"s Just beginning 10 be npprcci-
St.n a. factor in INDUSTRIAL life.
, IT, mar Time the ingenuity and
~ ' ~ - o, man have created
-. ,l'N material sinny thousands Of
IpfohucN which today are absolutely
tSeltial % the continued progress
Former Physician.
br Goodrich. e resident az New
oit SLATE. MAS physician by pro-
s,,r,.. howeV.r. after serving ms a
~, real estate and 4hortly found him
~. - prssesSi"n 81 q small ruhher
"S9rS NJ hastings the Hudson.
nr ,.."nHtcap"d by lack of funds. his
niHI ch"riN 20 oprrate this factory
unsuccessful. Attracted bv
Ahron" transportation advantages
ssnn ''n of'er % hnanciai assIslamce
pf-.iEht lds equipment 10 this city
Tie. manufacture of rubber products
Wa hrSt started by pr. Goodrich in
Tart rs 100 feet, witch could lie
p'hcob IN on" az the mill rooms OF
ths ples' ~ llant. 10 start win. th"
concern "mrl"ycd tw"n;y-flv" men.
SIN grown uutil today Z; comprises
SIXTY three buildings OF brick and
70. -. --coEnrn= 10 acres OF land
IN" early struggles To finance the
lndpstrS were bitter aHd DISCOURAGE
INK, In thOS. daYS not rnauy uor-
sons had mnch ..nith In ih. rutur, ~
lhr rubber Industry and many or the
rlsinal Et"ckh"ldcrs hropp"d opt,
tcHrlng they would lose cycrylh fiig
thcI had put into 81 Dr GoodrIch's
rfrslStcnCc ana optimism. however
finally succeeded in obtaining SUI
hci"nt caDNal To enable tho com pa u y
- start IT'S march TOWARD. prosperity.
Bicycle started Growth.
nc nrst big stride In the growth
OF The Goodrich came With tho popu-
iartt% OF III" bicycle. When the high
%neoiers give WAY 10 wha, was
tres were introduced. and Goodrich
sp"cdily took Np Their manufacture
before this time. Goodrich had taken
Ahe Initial ,s'ens In the evolution o!
brubhes -shoi wucels by pcr!ecting tho
solid rubber tire for carriages.
Thc success OF this carriage tire
irflowcc by that Of the pncurnnil IL
IiSI" for bicycles. naturally led 10 the
manufacture OF tirns for automobiles
Tho first one made was "A crud. NJ
lair, with many layers of fabric aud
q very heavy trend, improvements
came rapidly. however. aud bv the
tire automobiles passed th. freak
stage, dependable tir" was being
rs The facilities Of railways and
shipping were cxparded. the world
hc.Hn 10 grow mora RAPIDLY. $50,
whom travel and transportation over
The highways were medc smoother
aul sWiftrr. distances were shortened
and Il became possible TO extend in
lustr.al EFFORT and growth. ~ every
point rubber h-7 helped in. the en-
pansion Of tn. transportation facili-
ties of this country.
Makes 'Inny Auto Tires.
Although the manufacture nf auto
tires VAS large factor in the lat
tcr-day growth OF Goodrich. they are
nevertheless only one hranch OF the
ORGANIZATIONS production. MechanI-
ca rubber goods. rubber footwear.