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Show HR OF MUM ; A RUBBER CITY AKRON, 0., Oct. 27. Some idea of tho vast scale on which the rubber in-j dustry is conducted in Akron, the rubber rub-ber capital of the world, can be gained from a description of the Firestone Tire fc Rubber company. Seventeen years ago the Firestone company occupied a small building1 with oniy one.eighlh of an acre of floor space, and buildings now under construction will increase this nine acres When the company first began the manufacture of automobile tires, its capacity was only a few tires a day. . Today It is more than 15,000 a day and i will be 25,000 when new buildings are completed. In 1916, its gross sales amounted to $36,000.000. This year it has bpen over one million a week, or over 60,000,000 for the year. Up to September 1, the sales had increased 72 per cent over the same period last year. The company now has more than 10,000 employes In Its home office and factories and 1,500 at its branches and in the field. 1 Facing the problem squarely, the rubber companies realized that if they were to keep their workmen happy at their jobs, it would be necessary to provide homes and clean, healthful living conditions. The Firestone Tire & Rubber company was one of the first to take a forward step in the movement In one year the company opened up a large allotment of home-sites home-sites for Its employes, built a clubhouse, club-house, provided a welfare fund of $1,- 000,000 built a thoroughly equipped modern hospital and employment building, and made more than 00 per cent of its workers partners in the business. TO "RICK" (Eddie Rlckenbacher, champion race driver, has been commissioned by the government to drive General Pershing's car in France. News Item.) Beyond the course of a minor game where thrilling thousands drew, Entered to fight for a fairer fame than ever speedway knew. You wait the drive in a nation's name when Pershing's car goes thru. The stake was high and the pace was hot you set at Sheepshead bay, The live car blurred to a frightened blot out far Tacoma way, But the race is all that the rest were not they offer you today. Tho nerve will hold In tho wilder ride where lurking perils wait, And tho pilotiskill Tacoma tried skirt clear theedge of Fate, For' Death on a sheer dirt track defied breeds jcerB for a Hymn of Hate. So here's to you on a foreign road, . and here's to the General, too, And may your engine obey its goad, your tires hold fast and true; And, oh! we'll cancel some debts wo'vo owed when Pershing's car goes through. By John B. Terns. oo- About 20 x women gardeners who havo been trained at Kew, England, are going to France, where they will take up the 'duty of tending the graves of British dead soldiers. oo A woman has been appointed branch secretary of the British National Nation-al Union of the Rallwaymen for tho first time. II II " ium |