July 1, 1913.J 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



513 



tricts, and in this manner bring about a substantial reduction in 

 the cost of living. If wc turn to the said law we lind that the 

 government has provided for the creation of several agricultural 

 farms precisely for the said purpose. 



Eighth. He urges the establishment of one or more experi- 

 mental stations in order to demonstrate economical methods of 

 producing rubber and foodstuffs. If we turn to page 153, we 

 find a complete law, making every provision conducing towards 

 the point he suggests. 



Tenth. He suggests arrangements to facilitate the acquisition 

 of tapping tools and agricultural machinery at low costs. By 

 virtue of the said law, all such machinery and tools are allowed 

 to come into the country duty free; and it would be impossililc 

 for any government to do more than this, within reason. 



And last, but not least, the introduction of the system of plant- 

 ing food crops in the alluvial deposits on the river banks after 

 the annual floods. Mr. Akers will be astonished to hear that this 

 system does not require to be introduced, for it has long been 

 prevalent along the Amazon. The only reason why it is not 

 carried on to greater extent is because there is not enough labor. 

 To remedy this Mr. Akers suggests the introduction of coolies 

 from China. The law already referred to provides for the intro- 

 duction of native and European labor, f^ir which suitable ac- 

 commodations arc to be built in the principal points along the 

 Amazon. 



So far, then, one wonders whether the Federal government 

 was inspired by Mr. Akers or his associates, in the drafting of 

 the good laws, or whether Mr. Akers chose to follow the gov- 

 ernment's trodden path, only emphasizing here and there the 

 points of great importance to the interests he represents. 



But on this score, we, at least, have not the slightest doubt. 

 For almost every item provided for in the said laws was fully 

 commented on by Dr. Passes de Miranda Fitho at the Rubber 

 Congress held in Manaos in 1910 and the one which followed 

 it in Rio in 1911. We have not the slightest doubt that Brazilians 

 are quite capable of solving their own problems and have dis- 

 posed of the whole matter, satisfactorily, so far as making legal 

 provision and voting the appropriations were concerned. 



Mr. Akei s' report then could have been made for no other 

 purpose than to infuse enthusiasm in European financial circles, 

 and we are pleased to see this done so cleverly and effectually. 

 The question is whether the same purpose could not have been 

 attained by a simpler method. For, as we have said, the world 

 wonders who is it that has authorized Mr. Akers to issue a re- 

 port of such pretensions on the Amazon valley, when it seems 

 that no one in authority ever asked him to do so. We are 

 quite certain that Brazil is ever ready to accord the bond hold- 

 ers of any enterprise within its limits every reasonable oppor- 

 tunity to improve their position and satisfy themselves of the 

 solidity of the guarantees they hold, and it looks a bit out of 

 the ordinary to adopt the indirect methods that are constituted 

 by what is now known as the "Akers' Mission." 



BRAZILIAN CHEDIT IN THE FIHST RANK. 



In writing the "Foiha do Norte," Mr. Franklin Morse re- 

 marks: "The future of South America is the subject of serious 

 discussion among the principal European bankers. According 

 to the classification made by Lombard Street of the South Ameri- 

 can countries, there figure in the first rank Brazil, Argentina 

 and Chile; in the second rank — Peru and Uruguay; and in the 

 third rank Bolivia and Colombia. The remaining South Ameri- 

 can countries are considered as outside the limit of financial 

 operations of a serious character." 



BRAZILIAN GEOGRAPHICAL CONGRESS. 



The Brazilian Geographical Congress, which has met in recent 

 years at Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Curuyuba, is to be held 

 this year at Recife, on September 7. A geographical exhibition 

 will remain open until September 16. 



A HANDSOME RUBBER MEDAL. 



An interesting souvenir, prepared by the thoughtful Brazilians 

 at the New York Rubber Exposition, was a disc of Fine Para 

 Rubber, to which was attached a rosette 

 of satin ribbon in colors that artistically 

 blended those of Brazil and the United 

 States. This was put up in a sumptuous 

 satin-lined box. It was planned as a 

 decoration for the presiding officer at 

 the Rubber Banquet that closed the Ex- 

 position. An error prevented its being 

 worn, but it adorns the editorial sanc- 

 tum and is one of the very pleasant 

 souvenirs of a memorable occasion. 

 .Aside from its value as a remembrance 

 it has a very distinctive prophetic value. 

 The fact that a Brazilian is able to pro- 

 duce easily and cheaply a product in 

 every way the equal of the finest planta- 

 tion biscuit, points to what may be done 

 with the latex of the wild Hcvea once 

 it has been found to be necessary. 



NEW AKERS EXPEDITIONS. 



As reported in the June issue of The 

 India Rubbkr World, Mr. Akers had 

 arrived in Para, where a demonstration 

 took place of the Oriental method of 

 tapping. 



The "Folha do Norte" states that he would leave Para for 

 Europe and the East in June, with the view of organizing two 

 supplementary expeditions. These expeditions, it is added, are 

 intended to develop the service of instruction on the Upper 

 Purus and the Upper Jurua rivers, as well as in the region of 

 the Lower .\mazon. 



BRAZILIAN PREFERENCE AGAIN IN FORCE. 



As explained in the May issue of the India Rubber World. 

 page 409, certain American goods have hitherto enjoyed a pref- 

 erence in Brazil. This preference has amounted to 30 per cent. 

 on wheat flour and 20 per cent, on some 15 other articles, includ- 

 ing manufactures of rubber. These preferences were with- 

 drawn by the BraziHan government on April 9, but have since 

 been restored under the decree of May 6. 



BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT INCREASES GRANT TO RIO EXHIBITION. 



At the request of the Minister of Agriculture, the Brazilian 

 Minister of Finance has given instructions for the credits allotted 

 the fiscal delegations of the various states for defraying the 

 expenses connected with the Rio Exhibition to be increased by 

 Rs. 208:480$000 ($69,493). The amount will be divided pro rata 

 between the delegations of Amazonas, Para, Maranhao, Ceara, 

 Rio Grande do Norte, Parahyba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, 

 Bahia, Parana and Goyaz. 



THE EAST PASSES BRAZIL. 



For the first time in the history of rubber, the production 

 of rubber from the Far East for the year ending June 30, 1913. 

 will exceed the output of rubber from Brazil. According to 

 the closest estimates, the Brazilian production for the j'ear 

 will be 42.000 tons, an increase of about 2,000 tons over last 

 year — while the output from the East vv'ill be somewhere 

 from 50,000 to 54,000 tons, or 20 per cent, more than the Braz- 

 ilian product. Incidentally, it might be mentioned that the 

 price of fine Para on June 1st was 90c a pound as against 

 $1.10 a pound one year ago. 



Should be on every rubber man's desk — Crude Rubber and 

 Compounding Ingredients; Rubber Country of the Amazon; 

 Rubber Trade Directory of the World. 



