July 1, 1913.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



507 



well known in that country — introduced Third Assistant Secre- 

 tary of State Malone to speak for the United States Government. 

 Mr. Malone touched a responsive chord when he said that he 

 would not be a party to any conspiracy to keep the diners away 

 from the theater, which he knew they would enjoy more than 

 his speaking. He was followed, briefly, by Ambassador Domicio 

 da Gama. and then the chairman presented to the guest of honor a 

 beautiful traveling clock, ir.scribed with an appropriate sentiment, 

 from the Pan American Society. Dr. Miiller responded in a few 

 words, and at 9 o'clock the guests repaired to the New Amster- 

 dam, a few doors away, on the same street, to witness "Follies," 

 a light and sparkling performance, eminently adapted to the 

 condition of the mercury on that particular evening. While cpiite 

 a little of the humor of the performance consists of what is 

 known as "local hits," the distinguished Brazilians, for wliom 

 the four lower boxes had been reserved, appeared to enjoy it 

 heartily. 

 The editor of The Inoia RunnER World had the pleasure of 



COMPARATIVE PRICES OF BRAZILIAN AND PLAN- 

 TATION RUBBER. 



I X discussing the fact of hard Para rubber being quoted at 

 ■^ a premium over that of plantation rubber, the "Malay 

 Mail" quotes a suggestion of Mr. E. L. Killick, to the effect 

 that the former article should, in all newspaper quotations, 

 be shown on the basis of its content in actual rubber. The 

 Brazilian product is known to contain on an average 15 per 

 cent, of moisture and impurities, there being thus only 85 per 

 cent, of rubber in comparison with 100 per cent, in the pure 

 product of the plantation. Thus if both qualities were quoted 

 at 4s. the real proportionate cost of line Para would be about 

 4s 8^jd, as compared with plantation rubber at 4s. 



Mr. Killick (the rubber expert of the London "Financier"^ 

 further holds that the vaunted superiority of hard fine 

 Para to plantation rubber is mainly traditional, that opinion 

 gaining adherents every day. even among the most conservative 



Dinner Given to Dr. Muller by the Pan-American Society of the United State?. 



breakfasting with Dr. Miiller last winter at his liome in Rio de 

 Janeiro and looks back upon the hour spent with this eminent 

 Brazilian statesman as one of the pleasantest and inost profitable 

 during his entire visit to that interesting country. 



Dr. Miiller is rather a slender man — "wiry," as we say in 

 America — and capable of an amount of physical and mental 

 exertion to which many a heavy-weight would succumb. He is 

 of much the same mould as Senator Root, whose visit to Brazil 

 while Secretary of State is now being returned. While born in 

 Brazil, he is of German ancestry and is a fine representative of 

 the sterling German element that has become so prominent in 

 Southern Brazil, both in government and commercial affairs. 



The members of the special embassy attending Dr. Muller 

 include Dr. Helio Lobo, secretary of the embassy ; Capt. An- 

 tonio Sampayo, Lieut. Euclides Hermes da Fonseca. military aid 

 and son of the President of the Brazilian Republic : Capt. .-Xn- 

 tonio da Fonseca, military attache of the Brazilian Embassy at 

 Washington ; Dr. de Acquino. Leopoldo Moreira, Allierto do 

 Ipanema Moreira, naval aide, and Capt. Thein Costa, commander 

 of the Brazilian dreadnought Minas Geraes. 



of manufacturers. He adds that one or more of the new 

 curing processes now on trial in the East may turn the scale 

 of the market sentiment in favor of the plantation product. 

 Mr. Wickham is actively engaged in Ceylon with his new 

 curing system, which is said to turn out plantation rubber 

 identical with fine Para, less the impurities of the latter. 



The new Byrne process is being taken up in Malaya with 

 results of a highly encouraging nature, a trial consignment 

 made to London some months ago. cured by this process, 

 having been found in perfect condition, containing only '4 

 per cent, of moisture, and fully equal to any quality of first 

 latex crepe. It is reported that arrangements have been made 

 to install the process and apparatus on about 30 rubber estates 

 in Malaya and Ceylon. 



In conclusion, the fact is urged that the chief handicap to 

 the cultivated product has been the lack of proper standard- 

 ization. The opinion is expressed that if the Byrne process 

 is instrumental in bringing about this very desirable end it 

 will do much to establish plantation rubber as the recognized 

 market standard. 



