NOVKMBEK 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



113 



JELUTONG AND WHERE IT COMES FROM. 



IN the pages devoted in this issue to the description of the 

 various exhibits shown at the Rubber Exposition, there is 

 a paragraph referring to the United Malaysian Co. as that is 

 primarily an American company which has succeeded in building 

 up a very considerable business in one of the lesser rubbers of 

 the Middle East— jelutong— it may be interesting to many peo- 

 ple to get a little more extended information regarding the 

 company than could properly be given in a description of its 

 display at the Exposition. 



States, the other half going to England and Germany. 

 This variety of rubber is often referred to as Pontianak, 

 because of the port in Borneo from which it is shipped, but 

 this is an improper name for it, and is not used anywhere 

 except in the United .States. Its scientific name is Dyera 

 Costulata. 



Vitw SnuwiNt; Part ok Kakimhn I'i.an'T. 



This company was formed in 1W8 to gather, prepare and 

 ship jelutong in the Middle East, and began the construction 

 of its plants in the spring of 1909. It acquired large con- 

 cessions in Borneo and planned and started the town of 

 Goebilt on the northern coast of that island in the British 

 Province of Sarawak. It also made arrangements for gather- 

 ing jelutong in the Great Karimon Islands, Sumatra and in 

 the Federated Malay States. It built two plants— one on the 

 Karimon Islands, the other at Goebilt— getting them in 

 operation in the fall of 1909. Its first shipment was received 

 in this country in December of that year. 



The jelutong tree grows in considerable profusion in the 

 section covered by this company. The tree reaches a height 

 of 150 feet— sometimes more— the branches being confined 

 to the upper third of the trunk. Formerly, the natives tapped 

 these trees in a very wasteful way. abusing them so mucli 



Interior \'iew of Pl.\xt at Karimon. 



Mr. J. Warren Bird, manager of the New York office. 

 2 Rector street, was in charge of the exhibit and he was kept 

 busy answering the many questions that were prompted by 

 the display of handsome sheets of jelutong crepe, and by the 

 large photographs that every visitor stopped to look at. He 

 distributed a small pamphlet, entitled, "Some Facts About 

 Malaysian Rubber," in which is included a number of. 

 formulae for compounding this rubber in the manufacture of 

 tires, packing, and other rubber goods. 



The four illustrations here shown give a little idea of tlie 

 work the company is doing. One shows a general view of 

 the plant at Karimon Islands; the second, an interior view 



Staff Blncai.ow. 



that in many instances they were killed. These abuses the 

 company has made great eflforts to stop, and the trees are 

 now being tapped in such a way as not to injure them. 

 One-half tlic product of this company conies to the United 



CRunE Jelutong .^t Goebilt. 



of the main factory built at that point. The third shows one 

 of the bungalows occupied by the members of the staff: and 

 the fourth shows a quantity of jelutong at Goebilt ready for 

 shipment. 



