362 



THE INDIA RUBl^fiR V/ORLD 



[August i, 1905. 



good or even better than any one of the sorts coagulated 

 by native methods It is true that the latex of certain La/i- 

 dolphins is worthless from the rubber standpoint, and that its 

 incorporation with that of the valuable species tends to de- 

 preciate the value of the resulting product. 



Taken as a business proposition, however, the blending 

 of two or more kinds of latex by the irresponsible native 

 gatherer is not to be encouraged, for it opens the door to 

 further adulteration, and even if that were absent and the 

 work done honestly, too much blundering and a decided 

 lack of symmetry is the result. It would be infinitely bet- 

 ter for the manufacturer to receive the rubber from each 

 tree separately and do his own blending on the mixing 

 mill. 



It is to be hoped that e.xperts the world over will appre- 

 ciate the importance of Dr. Iluber's discovery and that the 

 latt-x of the Sapium acupariiim will at once receive the atten- 

 tion that the latices of other rubber producers have received, 

 and that above all we may know very soon the resin con- 

 tents of the product of this interesting tree. 



Incidentally this discovery contains in ita most important 

 argument in favor of rubber cultivation, for who could for 

 a moment imagine, if the Amazonian product had come 

 from cultivated trees, that the planters could for years 

 have been blending the latex of two different sorts in any 

 proportion that suited a vagrant fancy, and neither the 

 manufacturer of rubber goods, nor the student of the sub- 

 ject, be a- particle the wiser. 



SIMILIA SIMILIBUS CURANTUR." 



" T IKE cures like," the homeopaths say, but the text is 

 ■*--' very far from enthusiastic acceptance by the rub- 

 ber trade. Particularly is it controverted in the brands 

 on special goods, and when it comes to the naming of com- 

 panies, instead of relieving local irritation it induces fever, 

 restlessness and in extreme cases brings on fits — of anger. 

 Looking backward an instance in point was the branding 

 of " Boston Rubber Co." on rubber shoes, which greatly 

 stirred the Boston Rubber Shoe Co., who had never been 

 able to impress the word shoe upon the whole trade. Later 

 came a mechanical concern that took the name "Akron 

 India- Rubber Works" and at once, so it is said, gathered 

 in much mail intended for The B. F. Goodrich Co., who 

 for a long time operated the only " rubber works " in the 

 city of Akron. And now comes a protest and a court de- 

 cision concerning the names Kureka Fire Hose Co. and 

 Eureka Rubber Manufacturing Co. 



Without entering at all into the motives that may lead 

 one concern to choose a name that may be confused with 

 that of a competitor, or rather allowing that the similarity 

 is wholly accidental, it would seem to be fair for those 

 committing such unintentional trespass to rectify their 

 mistake as soon as discovered. A good trade name is a 

 valued possession, and its owner is naturally most jealous 

 of its use. It is quite likely that very little actual harm 

 comes from the one who appears to appropriate it. But 

 it induces bitterness and often lawsuits that are far from 

 friendly. Would it not be good business for those who 



are charged with such trespass to select a new name, and 

 say why they did it, and thus get a measure of advertising 

 that otherwise would not have come their way? Of 

 course, "business is business" and "war begets war," but 

 it would seem as if there might be some easy way out of 

 the confusion and suits that grow out of a similarity in 

 firm naming. 



The cori'ON crop will be short this year, unless all signs 

 fail. It is agreed that the acreage planted is below that of last 

 year, and a bad condition of the crop is reported from many 

 localities. Of course the extent of the yield cannot be fore- 

 casted with accuracy, but the rubber manufacturer will make a 

 mistake who regards as a possibility a crop equal 10 last year's. 



The hot water bottle has been •' menaced " in Europe 

 much longer than in America by the bag heated with crystal- 

 line salts. It is interesting, therefore, to note that the parent 

 company, after a bad year's business, regard it as a " fortunate 

 occurrence " {gliickliches Ereii^nis) that, after much effort, 

 they were able to sell the American patents for $40,000. They 

 seem to have succeeded better in selling patents than in sell- 

 ing bags. ^________^_^ 



It should encourage rubber planters everywhere to 

 note the development of the rubber manufacturing industry, 

 as indicated by the recent increase of capital of many important 

 concerns, rep )rted elsewhere in this paper. These increases, it 

 may be added, may be accepted as substantial, and not a mere 

 addition to capital on paper; the public is not being asked to 

 buy any shares. 



The secret ok making rubber has been discovered again, 

 this time by a surgeon and a chemist in Michigan, according to 

 newspaper reports. " Success has been attained after five 

 years of experimenting," the story reads. But the secret is 

 not to be made public, because its discoverers are going to or- 

 ganize a company. But this may be for the general good — the 

 field remains open for an unlimited number of others to dis- 

 cover the wonderful secret and organize companies, with a pos- 

 sibility of selling shares of stock even if they should never ar- 

 rive at the point of having rubber to sell. 



THE UBERO PLANTING COMPANIES. 



THE report of the receivers for the Ubero Plantation Co. 0/ 

 Boston, filed in June, was mentioned in the last India 

 Rubber World (page 355). The receivers petitioned for au- 

 thority (I) to sell the property involved and (2) to employ coun- 

 sel for the purpose of bringing suit for the benefit of the corpo- 

 ration against any of its officers or other persons who may have 

 failed in their duty toward investors in the company. An order 

 of the United States court gave notice to all concerned to ap- 

 oear on July 20 to show cause why this petition should not be 

 granted, and after a hearmg on that date a decree was en- 

 tered, authorizing the sale after 60 days and empowering the 

 receivers forthwith to employ counsel and bring suit. 



The same persons as receivers for the Consolidated Ubero 

 Plantations Co. filed their report in the United States court at 

 Boiton on July 14. The character of the report is much the 

 same as that of the first report filed, in that gross mismanage- 

 ment IS charged, and that the greater part of the money of the 

 investors appears to have been diverted to improper uses. The 

 amount of money shown by the books to have been received 



