February 1, 1913.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



237 



has been the subject of discussion in many an executive commit- 

 tee meeting, and of many patient hours' conference on the part 

 of a sub-committee appointed by your president. It is gratifying 

 to report that we are all in harmony and agreements have been 

 reached on three points. 



1. A uniform contract for the sale of crude rubber. 



2. An arbitration clause in the contract. But this will be a 

 subject for further talk this evening. 



3. A definite nomenclature ; tliat is, a delinite name shall be 

 given which shall have a definite meaning. 



The first difficulty arises over preparing the name and delinite 

 description of the kind which the name shall mean. From a cer- 

 tain river in the Amazon come several kinds of Ilevca rubber 

 which must be named and described. For example "Up-river 

 Fine." "Up-river Weak Fine," "Up-river Medium," "Up-river Sec- 

 onds Medium," "Up-river Coarse," "Up-river Nuggets," etc., etc. 



The dealers in New York trade constantly with each other 

 and they understand, as between themselves, what they will ac- 

 cept as a delivery on a contract under a name, notwithstanding 

 there are often two names for the same thing, as, for example. 

 "Seconds Medium" and "Mixed Para" ; and there are often two 

 different sortings of rubber under the same name, as, for ex- 

 ample, "Up-river Coarse" — some take out the nuggets and others 

 leave the nuggets in. 



It all seems so extraordinary that such a condition can exist 

 that the mere recital of such customs, especially when we re- 

 member that rejected lots often give an opportunity for un- 

 scrupulous dealings, should awaken us all to the necessity of a 

 correct nomenclature of kinds. 



And then think of the numerous kinds of Plantation rubber 

 masquerading under the names of "First Latex Crepe," "Smoked 

 Sheet," etc. 



The Rubber Club of America can be and should be able to 

 accomplish this nomenclaturirg of crude rubber and bring about 

 an integrity of quality which works for a standardization of the 

 principal item in the goods we manufacture, .^nd, gentlemen, 

 what helps the whole helps each part, and this is true of the 

 goods ue manufacture and of the members of this club. 



kind was named, but, unfortunately, not all the poorer qualities 

 of each kind were exhibited. 



Beautiful exhibits of plantation rubbers were shown, and the 

 public spirit of the exhibitors was always in evidence. 



Two things interested me the most. F'irst, the conferences. 

 Many carefully prepared and intelligent papers were read, and 

 much attention was paid to the solution of the nomenclature 

 problem and to the adoption of a standardized method of 

 coagulation. The conferences will all work for the integrity of 

 the industry. 



The second thing was the exhibition of old, used rubber scrap. 

 i thmk there were 168 different kinds exhibited, all properly 

 name 1 and described. This nomenclature of rubber scrap was 

 accomplished by the Reclaimers' Association, simply by the 

 adoption liy them of a circular describing the kinds of scraps and 

 the conditions of packing and sorting. Can anyone say that 

 their action in adopting the nomenclature has not worked for 

 the integrity of their business, for economical manufacture and 

 for the benefit of the whole industry? And especially for the 

 protection of the honest dealer as against the "piker"? 



Thus, a crude rubber nomenclature will work for the benefit of 

 the industry, and will benefit each person engaged in the rubber 

 business, as a dealer, manufacturer or user. The values of an 

 exact nomenclature will seek their proper levels; and what 

 pleases me most is that all the large dealers in crude rubber in 

 New York City agree that there should be a proper nomenclature 

 ;:nd seem more keen for an adoption of it than even the manu- 

 facturers, wl'.om it will benefit most. 



Hut. as I have mentioned before, the only reason it is not 

 accomplished is because of the lack of tools to properly do 

 the work. 



London does its business in crude rubber better in some ways 

 than New York. .As this country uses more than half the 

 world's production, why should not New York have more than 

 half the "say"? If any action can increase the integrity of the 

 industry right here in New York, it is the firm belief of your 

 president that it will tend to build up the importance of New- 

 York as a center of the crude rubber industry, just as New York 



J. Fr.\.\k Dunb.\r, Tre.\sui 



Wm. E. B.xrker, Dinner Committee. 



CH.i.s. A. CoE, Ch.\irm.\n Din.xer Com. 



We were fortunate in having a Crude Ruliber Exposition last 

 fall. The Brazilians were particularly patriotic in sending the 

 best collection of representative kinds of rubber ever exhibited 

 and ever gathered together. It is a pity that representative kinds 

 could not be filed in a museum for reference and studv. Each 



is the city of the world today in so many lines of industry, and 

 just as we all fervently hope the United States of .\merica will 

 be in all lines of industry. 



After the applause that greeted President Hood's address had 



