644 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September 1, 1913. 



Some Rubber Interests in Europe, 



NETHERLANDS RUBBER TRADING. 



ACCORDING to the report of United States Consul General 

 Listoe, of Rotterdam, the local rubber market was exempt 

 from wide fluctuations during 1912. Forest rubber in un- 

 clean and lower qualities was in much less demand than planta- 

 tion rubber, which found a ready market through the whole year. 

 Only small quantities of Castilloa and Maiiicoba were imported 

 during that period. 



The prices paid in Amsterdam and Rotterdam were in general 

 quite satisfactory and above the level of other markets. Several 

 shipments of rubber were sent to the Netherlands, which in 

 former years had been consigned elsewhere. United States pur- 

 chasers were regular buyers in Rotterdam, a continued expansion 

 of which market is anticipated. 



In the twelve monthly inscriptions of 1912, a total of 1,034,440 

 pounds was disposed of, four-fifths of which consisted of planta- 

 tion rubber. A further total of about 160,000 pounds was sold 

 outside of the public auctions. 



Some 35,200 pounds of leaf gutta was sold by inscription in 

 1912. The crop of balata suffered from the drought in Surinam, 

 the quantity marketed in the Netherlands amounting to only 

 400 tons. 



The exports from the Rotterdam district to the United States 

 included the following amounts : 



1911. 1912. 



Crude $165,168 $316,950 



Waste 54,757 16,178 



Exports of rubber from Amsterdam to the United States rep- 

 resented in 1911, $30,975, and in 1912, $278,495. 



GERMAN CRUDE RUBBER STATISTICS. 



RUBBER ORGANIZATION FOR AMSTERDAM. 



An association of 30 houses has been formed at Amsterdam 

 in the interest of the local rubber trade. It is preparing regulations 

 for the conduct of business and will include an arbitration 

 committee for the settlement of disputes as to quality and 

 other matters. Further applications for membership are pending. 



RUBBER MANUFACTURERS IN BOGOTA. 



/'^ ERMAN statistics for the first five months of the last five 

 ^^ years show that up to 1911 the quantity had increased, 

 while it fell slightly in 1912 and 1913. Exports followed more or 

 less the same course, but the reduction was much more important 

 in 1913. 



The exact figures are : 



January-May, 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. 



Imports . .pounds 5,534,100 8,419,300 9,593,100 9,066,460 8,846,300 

 Value in millions 



of dollars 12.02 18.29 18.24 17.90 17.47 



Exports ..pounds 1,364,800 2,307,100 1,902,200 2,309,000 1,639,400 

 Value in millions 



of dollars 2.31 4.97 4.11 4.39 2.63 



Cons'ption pounds 4,169,300 6,112,200 7,690,900 6,757,460 7,206,900 



The largest quantities of rubber were imported from Brazil, 

 while a good deal was received from Mexico, Congo and 

 Camerun. German East Africa showed a remarkable increase in 

 its production. The quantity shipped to Germany during the first 

 five months rose from 86,600 pounds for 1910 to 357,500 for 1913. 



Owing to the importance of Germany in the distribution of 

 rubber, it is necessary to consider the imports and exports to- 

 gether, thus arriving at the net consumption. Treating the 

 figures in this way it will be seen that the quantity of rubber used 

 in Germany increased by 80 per cent, between the first five months 

 of 1909 and 1913. 



Prices have this year considerably fallen in Germany and stand 

 lower than in 1909, as will be seen by subjoined table, giving the 

 average price of different grades of rubber for the month of May 

 for the past five years. Equivalents in American currency per 

 pound: 



1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. 



South Camerun $0.77 $1.32 $0.66 $0.77 $0.57 



Upper Congo 1.01 1.76 .99 1.19 .70 



Peruvian balls 89 1.59 .82 .87 .58 



Mexican rubber 90 1.54 .82 .91 .61 



NTOT very much has been heard regarding rubber manufacture 

 ^ ^ in Colombia, but a recent inquiry of one of the public offi- 

 cials in Bogota brought out the fact that there is at least one man 

 in that city who has devoted a great deal of time and thought to 

 the possibilities of rubber. He is Ismael jose Romero. Being 

 a traveler and quite a good deal of a scientist, he began about 

 twenty-five years ago to make a theoretical and practical stuily 

 of the botany. of the rubber tree as found in Colombia, traversing 

 the country and exploring many of its forests. He related his 

 experiences in a little book, which has proved so popidar that 

 it has run through several editions. 



Having informed himself very thoroughly as to the botany 

 of rubber and the extent of its growth in that republic, he begati 

 in an experimental way to do some manufacturing, producmg 

 quite a variety of waterproof fabrics and some other articles. 

 His products were awarded a gold medal and diploma at the 

 Fair held in Bogota in 1891 ; a gold medal, silver medal and 

 diploma at the Exposition of Arts ana Commerce held in Medel- 

 lin in 1898; and first prize, gold medal and diploma of honor a* 

 the Centennial Exposition in Bogota in 1910. 



Owing to lack of resources, he states he has not been ab)'* 

 to establish a rubber factory in that city for all classes of fabrics, 

 biit believes that such a factory would be eminently successful. 



THE HACKETHAL INSULATING PROCESS. 



Herr Louis Hackethal, Director of the German Telegraphs, 

 discovered, in 1899, after many years' trials, a process f6r the 

 effective insulation of overhead electric wires. It consisted 

 in wrapping the bright or already insulated wire with layers 

 of paper and fiber, saturated by a special process with 

 a patented composition. 



Among the advantages claimed for this system is the pro- 

 tection of all electrical connections against reciprocal disturbances. 

 Hence, it has been adopted for fire engine and signal stations, 

 alarms, block stations and electric clocks. 



REMARKABLE MILEAGE FOR SOLID TIRES. 



They appear to be getting some remarkable solid tire mileage 

 on the other side of the water. The Paris General Omnibus Co. 

 reports that it has used some tires for 30.000 miles before it was 

 found necessary to take them off the wheels ; and some of the 

 tires on French army trucks have shown a mileage exceeding 

 20,000 miles. To be sure the omnibus tires are probably used on 

 more than ordinarily good streets, but in the use of army trucks 

 it is not possible usually to pick out just the roadways on which 

 tires could be used to the best advantage. 



