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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[NoVEMIiER I, 1905. 



THE COLORADO "RUBBER" PLANT. 



TO iiiE Editokoi' Thk India Rubdk.k World: We have 

 had brought to our attention as a possible source of 

 rubber supply the plant known as " picradenia floribunda 

 utilis," " pingue," or " rabbit weed," which plant It Is claimed Is 

 indigenous to the western states and territories. If the claims 

 made for this plant are correct, we would be Interested in de- 

 termining whether or not It grows in those sections of the west 

 tributary to our lines [Atchison, Topeka and Santa ¥€ railway]. 

 Before attempting to ascertain this fact, we desire to secure 

 such Information as we can concerning any tests that have been 

 made of the rubber from this plant, and It Is to secure this in- 

 formation we are addressing you. 



We presume you are thoroughly familiar with all the facts, 

 and if you can find it consistent to do so, would be glad to have 

 such Information as you can give us along the following lines : 



First. Whether or not. In your opinion, the commercial 

 extraction of rubber from this source Is possible. 



Second. The quality of this rubber as compared with the 

 various other grades of rubber in the market. 



Third. The results of any tests that have been made on this 

 product. 



Fourth. The prices such rubber will bring in the various 

 markets. we.sley merritt. 



Industrial Commissioner The Atchison, Toptka and Santa Fc Railway System. 

 Chicago. October g. 1905. 



We have followed with much interest and many times with 

 amusement the claims of the western company promoters con- 

 cerning the extraction of rubber from the plant known as 

 Picradenia floribunda utilis. While it appears that this plant is 

 very abundant throughout the southwest, it Is yet to be proved 

 to contain rubber in sufficient quantity to warrant its extraction. 

 We have been open to conviction on the subject all the while 

 but none of the interested parties in Colorado or elsewhere 

 have brought forward theslightestproof that they have anything 

 as worth while as yet. This plant, by the way, should not be 

 confused with the " Guayule " plant (PartJienium argentatum) 

 of Mexico, which is a rubber producer to an extent that makes 

 its handling commercially profitable. — The Editor. 



THE COLORADO RUBBER GAME. 



THE arrival Is reported at Durango, Colorado, of three car- 

 loads of machinery from Cleveland and Elyria, Ohio, for 

 the use of The P. F. U. Rubber Co., mentioned in The India 

 Rubber World (August i, 1905 — page 3S6) as having been 

 incorporated in Michigan with $250,000 capital to operate under 

 a license to Edward C. Dunbar, from the American Crude 

 Rubber Co., a Colorado corporation, to extract rubber from 

 " rabbit weed " (Picradenia floribunda utilis). Of this capitali- 

 zition $175 000 is represented by the license. Mr. Dunbar is 

 manager of the P. F. U. company ; Bethune Dutiield, secretary- 

 treasurer, and J. D. Hudson president. All these are citizens 

 of Detroit, Michigan. The Durango Herald says that Mr. 

 Dunbar has " moved without undue haste in the matter of se- 

 curing machinery," and it hopes that the experiments to be 

 made will make the extraction of rubber " a fixed industry " in 

 that section. A press despatch from Durango says: "This 

 factory when complete will be the only plant in existence of 

 its kind and will be capable of handling from 18 to 26 tons of 

 the weed per day." 



In response to a request for further Information, Manager 

 Dunbar advises The India Rubber World: " I beg to refer 

 you to Mr. Frank R. Marsh, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, 



who will give you such information as Is deemed expedient to 

 give at this stage of the game." Mr. Marsh is the gentleman 

 who something more than a year ago promoted the American 

 Crude Rubber Co., on a promise to have 10 factories making 

 Colorado rubber, within 18 months, and who was active in sell- 

 ing shares of stock with the help of a show window in a Denver 

 street containing samples of rubber goods stated to have been 

 made of the Colorado product. So tar as The India Rubber 

 World can learn, manufacturers of rubber goods were never 

 able to secure any rubber from Marsh, and efforts to obtain 

 from him information for publication were unavailing. 



RUBBER STOPPERS AND APPENDICITIS. 



nPO the Editor of The India Rubber World: It appears 

 •*■ that Dr. Pond, of Liverpool, has published in the London 

 Lancet a new theory with reference to the origin of appendicitis 

 and other disturbances of the digestive organs. He calls at- 

 tention to the fact that such ailments often can be attributed to 

 anliinonlal poisoning and the source of the antimony absorbed 

 by man is said to be the rubber rings used to close all 

 sorts of bottles. Dr. Pond seeks to establish the fact that 

 such rings consist of almost one-third their weight of anti- 

 mony. He says not only is the antimony dissolved by the mineral 

 waters containing alkalies and organic acids, but these rubber 

 rings, as daily observation shows, soon become brittle and 

 some of the compound falls into the contents of the bottle. 



It may be noted that appendicitis is quite prevalent in 

 the United States, where but little antimony cured rubber ever 

 comes in contact with articles of food. Many persons have 

 had the disease who never used any article that had antimony 

 In it. The first case ever brought to my attention was In 

 1862 or 1863, which was before the date at which antimony be- 

 gan to being used in connection with rubber. The disease 

 has existed no doubt for a very long period, but In old times 

 the patient either got well or died without the assistance of 

 the surgeon. Now, thanks to Lester and antiseptic surgery, 

 as soon as a person has an ache in the right side below his ribs 

 he has to be operated upon. Sometimes they find that he 

 has appendicitis; sometimes even that the patient has no ap- 

 pendix. 



Dr. Pond's article reminds one of an old writer upon Chinese 

 metaphysics. When asked how he managed to write on this 

 subject he said that he had read up on metaphysics and also 

 on Chinese in the encyclopedia, and had put the two articles 

 together. So far as the rubber men are concerned they need 

 feel no anxiety over Dr. Ponds " red rubber " scare, since they 

 can produce rubber stoppers and rings that will answer every 

 purpose and that can be guaranteed to be free from antimony. 

 I think that If no one should have appendicitis until it is 

 caused by antimony In rubber the business of the surgeons will 

 have a collapse. s. v. sharples. 



Boston, Massachusetts, October sg, 1905. 



RUBBER FOR CHANNEL CEMENTS. 



TO the Editor of The India Rubber World: I am a 

 reader of your Journal, and if it is not asking too much 

 of a favor I would like to know what rubbers are best adapted 

 to the manufacture of channel cements. I am experimenting 

 on an article and channel cement answers my purpose best, 

 owing to cost and adhesive qualities. I have tried red Massai, 

 but it Is not as strong as the channel cement on the market. 

 Trusting you can give this information, and thanking you In 

 advance for same, I am. Very truly yours, v. d v. 



Akron, Ohio, October 11, 1905. 



