October i, 1902.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER "WORLD 



9 



punishable by fine or imprisonment, the maximum in either 

 case being severe. 



The Lubefu's report follows, in full : 



During the fiscal year just ended, we have produced loi tons of 

 Caoutchouc as against a production of only 71 tons for the year preced- 

 ing. Though the 71 tons produced in the year Igoo left a substantial 

 net profit of 225,000 francs, the greater crop of the year just closed has 

 been gathered at a loss. Of this state of things, the principal cause 

 arises from the fact that the managers in Africa, without previous no- 

 tice, have been paying double the normal price for the product, at the 

 same time failing to insist upon the delivering of a better quality of 

 gum. By the time the home office could intervene, and bring to bear 

 useful measures to remedy these disastrous dealings, the fiscal year had 

 advanced too far to permit of a total reparation of the injury already 

 done. However, about the end of the year the old prices were re- 

 established and the vigorous measures pursued had greatly enhanced the 

 quality of the product. 



As to the plantations themselves, we must acknowledge that, during 

 the year 1901, they sustained an appreciable setback. In his report 

 dated January 16, 1901, the resident director states in effect, that there 

 are 25,698 Liberian coffee trees of mature growth, which promise a crop 

 at the end of the year ; 250 indigenous coffee trees well laden with ber- 

 ries ; 29,830 Laiidolphia [rubber] plants, in a thrifty condition and cov- 

 ering a tract of 30}^ hectares [ = 75.4 acres.] There are also a great 

 quantity of rubber plants in the nursery waiting to be transplanted, as 

 soon as the ground therefor can be cleared and made ready, also 25.620 

 Landolphia plants to furnish the state taxes; 120,000 banana trees, etc. 

 The statement issued by the inspector, whom we sent out to the fields 

 refers to the condition of the property on February iS, 1900, when he 

 says that "the amount of land already under cultivation is practically 

 nothing" ; that he found " only a few coffee plants and fewer still of 

 the rubber plants set out" ; the plantings for the state taxes for 1899 

 were doing well, but nothing had been done to provide for the govern- 

 mental imposts for 1900 and 1901 . There was not a plant of any kind 

 in the nurseries, and a proces verbal had been served upon the manager 

 by the inspector of forests. 



We now hasten to add that a speedy remedy was found for this un- 

 promising condition of affairs, and at this writing a new impulse has 

 been given to the cultivation of the plantations, from which we have 

 every reason to expect excellent results. We are also pleased to add 

 that the reports from our new inspector presage immediate relief of the 

 situation, thanks to judicious management and increased activity in a 

 new direction. 



We are also assured that he is using his utmost endeavors to increase 

 the output and raise the cultivation to the status quo ante, and although 



he has reduced the prices paid for the raw gum he has still succeeded in 

 maintaining the production approximately at the normal figure. 



An important event has signalized the close of our fiscal year — an 

 event which has also definitely fixed the destiny of our company. You 

 will no doubt remember the formation of the Compagnie du Kassai, in 

 which we were invited to take part. After a general meeting of our 

 shareholders, and with their entire approval, we have subscribed to the 

 stock of the new company, merging the whole of our commercial sys- 

 tem, but reserving our plantations, our property, and our options upon 

 purchases. Among the Kassai companies the Lubefu ranks fourth in 

 importance, and as its share in the new venture it has been allotted 217 

 parts. We shall continue the systematic extension of our plantations, 

 which will constitute a magnificent reserve. 



li.-VLANCE SHEET, YEAR ENDING DECEMEKS 3I, igol. 



ASSETS. 



Land in Africa francs 34,000.03 



Growing plantations 105,915.50 



Factories and other buildings 41,044.70 



Material and furniture in Africa 12,673 24 



Ditto in Europe 28S.50 



Boats and barges 9,830.91 



Flocks and herds 2,430.00 



Merchandise for barter 348,464.55 



Products of Africa , 296,864.02 



Miscellaneous debits 67,498. 10 



Joint accounts 54,250.08 



" Ordre " account 35.000.00 



Total 1,008,259.63 



I. I A i; I L I T I ES. 



Capital francs 600,000.00 



Legal reserve 19,775.03 



Extra reserve 30,000.00 



" Previsions" account 98,999.13 



Miscellaneous Credits 223,929.66 



" Ordre " Account 35.000.00 



Profit and Loss 555 8r 



Total 1,008,259.63 



PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT. 



To Interest and commission on sales .francs 18,993.77 



General administration expenses in Europe 26 451.59 



Ditto in Africa 108.83S.63 



Merchandise lost and spoiled 4i797.95 



Balance to close account 555-81 



Total 159.657-75 



By Amount brought forward from 1900 francs 6,779.80 



Gross profit for fiscal year, 1901 152,877.95 



Total 159.657-75 



GENTSCH'S "NEW GUTTA PERCHA." 



THE method of producing the substitute for Gutta-percha 

 referred to at length in The India Rubber World of 

 September i [page 385] as the " New Gutta-percha " is the in- 

 vention of Adolf Gentsch, of Vienna, and covered by patents, 

 granted first in Austria-Hungary, and later in Germany and 

 elsewhere. The German patent is No. 116,092 (date of appli- 

 cation June 24, 1899), the specification for which states that the 

 method consists of the mixing of India-rubber with vegetable 

 wax, after which thickened oil may be added. The mixture is 

 kneaded in a slowly rising temperature, which may be done to 

 advantage in a kneading machine, care being taken not to bring 

 the temperature so high as to melt the wax. A fixed propor- 

 tion of ingredients cannot be prescribed. Waxes having a high 

 melting point are used alone or mixed with thickened oil, as 

 described in the German patent No. 76,773, having first been 

 freed from water and dirt by melting. Mixtures may be made 

 according to the purpose lor which they are intended, in a 

 proportion of 50 parts wax and 50 parts Caoutchouc, or 40 wax, 



10 oil, and 50 Caoutchouc. Outside of palm wax (carnauba 

 wax), few vegetable waxes are known that possess a high melt- 

 ing point, and it is advisable, therefore, as in German patent 

 No. 1 1 1,088, to raise the melting point of the wax before knead- 

 ing. It is also advisable that the rubber be first well dried. 

 The result claimed is a homogenous product, possessing the 

 characteristics of Gutta-percha and particularly, the electrical 

 properties of the latter. 



Gentsch's Gutta-percha, it is stated, behaves like the natural 

 product, except that it possesses a higher softening point and 

 becomes firm again at a somewhat higher temperature than 

 natural Gutta-percha. This is held to be greatly to its advan- 

 tage, as making it serviceable as an insulator for wires made or 

 erected in situations where the temperature is apt to rise above 

 the normal. Added to this advantage is the low cost of pro- 

 duction, as compared with natural Guttapercha. In addition 

 to its use in insulation work, the new material is mentioned as 

 being suitable for manufacturing certain beltings and for vari- 



