October 1, 1912,] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Rubber World, and need only be briefly alluded to now. 1 he 

 Kmperor's visit to the exhibit was made early in the day during 

 Goodyear's absence. There was a pile of large round rubber 

 balls standing in one of the courts. The Emperor, whose mind 

 was more or less contsantly on matters military, viewed this 

 pile with great interest, and turning to a companion said: "I 

 have always thought that rubber could be used in warfare as a 

 means of defence, but it never occurred to me that it was suit- 

 able for projectiles; but there you see a pile of rubber cannon 

 balls." The pile was really one of footballs, but nobody ven- 

 tured to set the Emperor right. 

 The French were greatly impressed with the Goodyear ex- 



hibit. He was not only given the "Grand Medal of Honor," but 

 that greatest of French distinctions, the "Cross of the Legion of 

 Honor," was bestowed upon him. 



Tremendous strides have been made since that day in the 

 rubber industry. The entire value of the American rubber out- 

 put in 1851 was less than $1,000,000; today it is over $220,000,000; 

 but though it would not be impossible, it certainly would be 

 quite difticult. to reproduce today the wonderful rubber exhibit 

 that Goodyear presented to the English people at the Crystal 

 Palace in 18m, and again with notable additions repeated three 

 years later in Paris. Still there is much in the present rubber 

 show that Goodvear would never have dreamed of. 



Earlier Rubber Expositions. 



WfllLE, of course, the interest of the rubber trade now 

 centers upon the great aggre.gation of rubber exhibits 

 brought together in Grand Central Palace in Xew York, 

 at the same time, it may not be out of place, as a matter of com- 

 parison if for no other reason, to glance very briefly at the three 

 earlier rubber exhibitions; one — somewhat local in its character — 

 held in Ceylon in 1906, and the other two of an international 

 nature, held in London in 1908 and 1911. 



THE CEYLON RUBBER EXHIBITION OF 1906. 



A LTHOL'GIl exhibitions, international, local, and sectional, 

 **• had long been held in connection with other branches of 

 industry, it was reserved for Ceylon to start in 1906 the series 

 of rubber exhibitions, the latest of which is now opening its doors 

 in Xew York. 



Leading officials took a prominent part. Sir Henry Blake, 

 G. c. M. G., the governor of Ceylon, opened the exhibition, 



Sir Hexrv Arthur P.l.xke, G.C.M.G. 



attended by a military escort ; likewise acting as its president ; 

 thus anticipating the position he subsequently filled in London. 

 Among other well-known names intimately associated with the 

 exhibition, were those of Dr. J. C. Willis, director of the Botanic 

 Gardens ; Mr. M. Kelway Bamber, Government Chemist, and 

 the Hon. Mr. E. Rosling. 



Prizes were offered for the best samples of Para in biscuit, 

 sheet, crepe, worm and scrap ; for CastUloa and Ceara in differ- 

 ent forms; and for Rambong (Ficits). With a view to a more 

 extensive scope than would have been afforded by Ceylon alone. 



the competitors were divided into two sections. One of these 

 competitions was limited to Ceylon exhibitors, while the other 

 also included competitors from other countries. 



In commenting at the time upon the probable effects of the 

 Ceylon Exhibition of 1906, The Indi.\ Rubber World said : 



"One result of the exhibition will be to promote interest among 

 planters in scientific plantation methods, to the end that better 

 returns and larger profits will be made. . . . 



"Another result of the holding of the Ceylon exhibition will 

 place a higher estimation in public opinion upon rubber planting, 

 anc' '.ead to the more intelligent consideration of the subject by 

 investors." 



Who will deny that these predictions have been fulfilled and 

 that the seed thus sown has germinated and fructified in the 

 immense extension which has since marked the rubber industry? 



It is of interest to note that Malayan planters participated in 

 the competitions to which they were admitted and carried off 

 honors in friendly rivalry with the Ceylon rubber growers. 



THE LONDON EXHIBITION OF 1908. 



■XV/HILE the Ceylon Rubber exhibition of 1906 had been con- 

 ' ' fined to the products of Southern Asia, its natural sequence 

 was of the much broader scope displayed in London two years 

 later. The "First International Rubber and Allied Trades Ex- 

 hibition," held at Olympia, the largest exhibition building in 

 London, took place during the two weeks ending Saturday, Sep- 

 tember 26. As an illustration of the attention given to the matter 

 by the London press, it is of interest to recall the fact that the 

 "Times" came out on the morning of the opening day with an 

 advance notice of the show, resulting from the "press view" of 

 the previous Saturday afternoon, occupying several columns. 

 Xot a single important feature was overlooked. Special interest 

 was likewise displayed by the financial and scientific press, as 

 well as by the leading metropolitan and provincial journals. 



One reason for this attention was the growing interest taken 

 in rubber by investors, many of whom had by that time made 

 money in rubber, while others, whose holdings were of more 

 recent date, were anxious to gain information as to the prospects 

 of their being equally fortunate, when the younger plantations 

 matured. 



Another cause of the success of the exhibition was the intelli- 

 gent maner in which it was brought to the notice of the public. 

 Xever, perhaps, was an exposition of such an international char- 

 acter, and on so large a scale, organized with so little direct 

 government aid from any quarter. 



CEYI.OX. 

 Following up its local exhibition of 1906. Ceylon had a com- 

 prehensive exhibit ready for display. It comprised the products 

 of some 30 plantations, covering every kind of rubber produced 

 in the colony. The Botanic Gardens sent two Hevea trees of two 

 years' growth and one of three years'. 



