30 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[October i, 1905 



THE TEXTILE GOODS MARKET. 



THE present condition of the cotton duck market is firmer 

 than one month ago, with the tendency upward. The 

 fact that the cotton plantersat their recent convention resolved 

 to hold the price at 11 per pound would indicate that prices 

 for manufactured goods would be higher than they were last 

 season, though manufacturers of ducks have not as yet made 

 any prices for next year. It is not improbable that the sched- 

 ule will be prepared within the current month. 



There appears to be a persistent demand for ducks of every 

 description and it is estimated by a competent authority that 

 if demand increases proportionately next season the mills will 

 probably be unable to meet it. 



The raw cotton situation is extremely strong, the speculators 

 exerting every efifort to promote a strong " bull " movement 

 and with considerable success. It the speculators are able to 

 eflfect continued advances the spinners will be compelled to 

 buy, which will naturally add strength to the situation. 



The following letter from the president of an important 

 southern mill to their New York agents isa faithful and signifi- 

 cant reflection of existing conditions : 



Owing to the advance in cotton and more than that to the very evi- 

 dent tendency to market slowly on the part of producers of the staple, 

 we are compelled to make an advance in the price of goods. We 

 would much prefer to continue selling at same prices if we could secure 

 cotton at a profitable price. We know the danger of curtailing the con- 

 sumption of goods by high prices and regretfully make the advance. 

 There can be no doubt of the disposition or ability of the farmers to 

 hold cotton until they can get their own price and we expect a sharp ad- 

 vance as soon as the slow marketing shall show up in the receipts. 



The demand for numbered ducks is so heavy and results so 

 satisfactory that it will be likely to exert an effect during the 

 coming season on hose and belting duck prices. The disposi- 

 tion on the part of rubber trade buyers seems to be to avoid 

 contracting for fabrics at existing quotations as long as present 

 supplies or those covered by last season's contract agreements 

 hold out. 



NEW CABLE TO CHINA AND JAPAN. 



A CERTIFICATE of increase of capital of the Commercial 

 Pacific Cable Co., incorporated under the laws of New 

 York state, from $12,000,000 to $15,000,000, was filed at Albany 

 on September 1 5, together with an amendment to the certificate 

 of incorporation providing that the line now extending from 

 San Francisco, California, by way of Hawaii and Guam to Ma- 

 nila, may be extended from the latter point to Shanghai, China. 

 Another extension is to be made from Guam to Yokohama. 

 Japan. These extensions will have the effect of completing the 

 original plans of the company, which it has been impossible to 

 carry out hitherto owing to certain obstacles in the way of se- 

 curing landing rights on the Asiatic mainland which have now 

 been removed as a result of recent diplomatic negotiations. 

 The consent of China to a landing at Shanghai was obtained 

 several weeks ago, and the signature of the Japanese minister 

 to the United States to an agreement with the cable company 

 was made on September 13. The company will now proceed 

 promptly with the manufacture and laying of the two new 

 cables, which will require several months. The company's 

 system will then pierce the Far East at three points : the Phil- 

 ippines, China, and Japan. With the new cable from Canso, 

 Nova Scotia, to Port au Basques, Newfoundland, which was 

 opened for business on September 11, and the fifth transatlantic 

 cable, which was laid during the month, the Commercial sys- 

 tem will extend over more than two- thirds of the way around 

 the globe. 



The London correspondent of The Times of Ceylon writes: 

 ■' Talking to thedirector of a Straits rubber company this week, 

 he mentioned that on their property 100 coolies a day were 

 hard at work tapping and bringing in 12 ounces a day. The yield 

 per tree (the trees being from six to seven years old) was some 

 6 ounces from the one tapping, and the manager estimated that 

 the yield per tree for the year would be \)i pounds of rubber 

 per tree operated upon. The first consignment sold last week 

 at ds. jd [ = $i soy'i]. " 



REVIEW OF THE CRUDE RUBBER MARKET. 



THERE is practically no change to report in rubber market 

 conditions since our last publication. Prices are higher 

 for every grade quoted in these pages, but the figures 

 given in this issue merely record a recovery from the 

 decline which began about four months ago, covering the period 

 of lessened activity in the industry during the heated term. 

 The highest figures we have quoted for fine Islands Pard have 

 been 132 @ 133, and the same grade is now 127 @ 128. 



Considering the apparent activity of the factories in every 

 branch of the industry, and the extent of stocks, together with 

 the fact that it is yet too early for a large output from the Ama- 

 zon for the current crop season, there is little to encourage the 

 hope of lower priced rubber during the current year. 



At the Antwerp sale on September 19, the 260 tons oflfered 

 found ready buyers at a somewhat higher average than at the 

 preceding sale. The August sale, it will be remembered, cov- 

 ered exceptionally large offerings tor that market, and at higher 

 prices than the brokers' estimation. The fact that at the next 

 succeeding sale prices should show a still further advance is 

 significant of the general situation in the rubber market — firm- 

 ness and an upward tendency. 



Arrivals at Pari thus far for the crop season have been some- 



what larger than during the same months in preceding years, 

 but not enough larger to suggest any probability of lower prices 

 in consequence. The figures follow : 



1902. 1903. 1904- 1905. 



July Ions 1290 1280 1250 1450 



August 1370 1230 1260 13CO 



September 1670 2010 1780 31850 



Total 4330 4520 42go 4600 



\a — To September 28. J 



On another page appear details regarding the plantation rub- 

 ber from the Far East oflered at the London auctions during 

 September. The rubber referred to appears to have become 

 permanently established in the London markets and the amount 

 coming forward may be expected to increase steadily with each 

 year as more trees under cultivation come into bearing. 



Following is a statement of prices of Pard grades, one year 

 ago, one month ago, and on September 29— the current date : 



PARA. October I, '04. September I '05. September 29. 



Islands, fine, new io8@i09 I25@I26 127(8128 



Islands, fine, old none here none here none here 



Upriver, fine, new iio@ii2 I28@I29 129(2130 



Upriver, fine, old 112(0)114 131(3132 132(5)133 



