402 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May 1. 1913. 



Through the courtesy of Sr. Roderigues I also breakfasted with 

 the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sr. Miiller, who is shortly to 

 visit the United States to return the visits of Secretaries Root 

 and Kno.x. He is very much the type of man that Root is, and 

 is one of Brazil's leading statesmen. 



To make the story complete, I should describe in detail the 

 Carnival season with its joyous and orderly crowds, its mag- 

 nificent procession of "floats" and its three days of confetti 

 throwing and perfume spraying — for the Carnival came when I 

 was there. Or perhaps I should tell of the trip to the moun- 

 taintop, "Corcovada," first, by trolley that circles and climbs 

 half way up, then by cog-railway to the summit, where one has 

 an incomparable view ; or of the basket cage, slung on a cable, 

 that takes one to the top of "Sugar Loaf," the lone granite peak 

 that stands sentinel at the harbor's mouth. I certainly should be 

 derelict if I did not chronicle a delightful visit to the Botanic 

 Gardens, or the afternoon tea with the Director and his charm- 

 ing wife, and then the visit to the gardens themselves. One 



have the most nerve of any sort of Para rubber probably got 

 their extra quality because they were kept in that shape, each 

 film stretched and wet, for months before sheeting. That sheet- 



J. H. M.\cF.\DVE.\N. 



feature is particularly striking in these gardens — the palms. 

 Of the many other beautiful palms there, none are so striking as 

 a group of travelers palms, the like of which I certainly have 

 never seen elsewhere. There is some rubber, for the Hevea will 

 grow here, but its growth is slow, and it could not be profitably 

 cultivated. 



To go back to my visit to the Minister of Agriculture, I found 

 him exceedingly interested in the problem of rubber washing 

 and quite ready to listen to any suggestions. I made it clear to 

 him that I represented neither rubber manufacturers nor im- 

 porters, and that moreover I was wholly in favor of the com- 

 plete standardization of crude rubber sorts. At the same time I 

 pointed out that the rubber manufacturers of the world had 

 hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of machinery already 

 installed for rubber washing and could probably do it cheaper 

 than it could be done in Brazil. They were also familiar with the 

 various grades of Brazilian rubber as they now exist, and that 

 washing in Brazil would result in an entirely new- series of 

 grades which it would take time to learn. In addition I pointed 

 out that the biscuits of Fine Para that were acknowledged to 



In'Cltxed R.mlway to Corcovado. 



ing soon after coagulation would probably result in a product 

 of less strength. My suggestion was that the rubber manufac- 

 turers be sent small washed lots at first, and be asked to report 

 upon their, before the attempt to wash all of Brazil's rubber. 



My arguments were received with the most cordial expressions 

 of interest, and after my departure Sr. Toledo wrote me upon 

 the subject as follows: "I express my cordial thanks for your 

 courtesy. Your remarks on the question of rubber washing 

 were much appreciated — being founded on long experience and 

 study, and being for that reason especially valuable. I shall con- 

 sider these observations, and shall endeavor in the solution of 



Rest House at Summit of Corcovado. 



this highly important prciblem to proceed step by step and with 

 the greatest caution." 



(To he continued.) 



