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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[July 1. 1913. 



Important Meetings at Para. 



ON May 1, a largely attended meeting responded to the in- 

 \itation of the Para Commercial Association, for the pur- 

 pose of discussing the crisis now existing in Amazonia 

 and the measures necessary for improving present conditions. 

 The meeting had more than local significance, being held under 

 the presidency of Admiral Jose Carlos de Carvalho, a prominent 

 member of the group of noted Brazilians at the recent New- 

 York Rubber Exposition, and federal deputy from the State 

 of Rio Grande do Sul. In his opening remarks the admiral 

 referred to his visit to New York in company with Dr. Jacques 

 Huber, whom he termed a "friend of .Amazonia," expressing 

 his appreciation of the information lie liad acquired on that 

 occasion. He promised to do all in his i)ower to further the 

 objects of the meeting. 



Speaking of the high cost of freights, he stated that it was 

 due to the excessive size of the crews which the river steamers 

 were obliged to carry under existing regulations. A measure 

 introduced dealing with river navigation had been defeated in 

 the Federal Senate for political motives. Other measures of 

 that character are now engaging legislative attention. 



Dr. l''crrcira Teixeira then addressed the meeting, expressing 

 the opinion that instead of taking up the many complex divisions 

 of the subject it would be advisable to try to solve two funda- 

 mental questions : — The reduction of the cost of producing rub- 

 ber, and the attainment of a higher scale of value through 

 the careful preparation of a fixed type of the article. 



In connection with the first question, he advocated the diminu- 

 tion of municipal taxes and the lowering of the freights of the 

 "Lloyd Brazileiro" for articles of food, as well as the revision 

 of customs tariffs on food, clothing and fuel. He likewise urged 

 the abolition of inter-state and other taxes on imported provis- 

 ions, as well as a lowering of freights by Amazon steamers. 



With regard to the preparation of rubber, the speaker consid- 

 ered the initiative rested with the Seritiguciro. He likewise 

 expressed the opinion that the late.x should be strained before 

 coagulation and that the rubber should be extremely dry; that 

 is, should not contain any water. "Sernamby," however, should 

 be washed, thus completely eliminating foreign substances. 



The general conclusions urged by the speaker included the 

 formation of a large association, composed of those who are 

 interested in the agricultural, industrial and commercial prosperity 

 of Para. He likewise urged the nomination of a large com- 

 mittee for the i)urposc of convening a congress at Para at 

 the earliest date possible, representing the three last-named 

 interests, in which the State of .Amazonas and the Territory of 

 Acre would have the right of taking part. 



Dr. Jacques Huber then spoke and submitted various samples 

 of plantation rubber. 



An o|)portunity was then afforded those present of examining 

 samples treated by the processes of Dr. Cerqueira Pinto and 

 Seiihor Jose- Amando Mcndes. For both of these processes 

 superiority is claimed over the eastern product. Deputy 

 Vianna Coutinho referred to his process for rublier smoking 

 with an apparatus of his own design, as well as to a machadinho, 

 also of his invention. Specimens of both the above appliances, 

 with samples of rul)lier prepared by the first-named method, 

 were on exhibition. 



Telegrams were sent to the president of the Republic and 

 the president of the Senate, expressing the hope that measures 

 w-ould be taken to reduce the cost of living. 



Various tapping appliances were shown by their respective in- 

 ventors and referred to a committee under the presidency of 

 Dr. Jacques Huber. 



KUBliKR CONGRESS RKING ORGANIZED. 



A committee was appointed to organize a congress at an early 

 date. The committee was under the presidency of Admiral de 

 Carvalho ; the members being : Dr. Jose Ferreira Teixeira, Dr. 

 J. llulier, Dr. J. Barbosa Rodrigues, Jr., Dr. Manoel Jose Re- 

 bellu, Jr., Dr. Banto Jose de Miranda, Claudino Romariz, Dr. 

 Luciano Castro, Dr. Antonino Emiliano de Sousa Castro, J. A. 

 Fonseca, Manoel Barreiros Lima, Francisco Coutinho, Jr., Dr. 

 Manoel Lobato, Col. Avelino de Medeiros Chaves, and Manoel 

 Vianna Coutinho. 



The purpose of the congress will be to deal with the present 

 rubber crisis and to develop rubber preparation. 



Following out this resolution, the principal members of the 

 committee and others interested in the subject assembled next 

 day at the headquarters of the Para Commercial Association 

 under the chairmanship of Dr. Ferreira Teixeira. 



The officials chosen to organize the congress were; President, 

 Admiral Carvalho; vice-president. Dr. Jose Ferreira Teixeira; 

 secretary, Jose .\mando Mendes ; treasurer, Manoel J. Rebello, 

 Jr.; assistant secretary, Dr. Casimiro Gomez da Silva. Various 

 other committees were likewise appointed which will deal with 

 the reductiofi of export taxes and the abolition of inter-municipal 

 imposts on flour, fish (fresh, dried and salted), meat, fruit, etc. 



Among the resolutions adopted was one providing for sending 

 circulars to all inventors of appliances for the extraction of 

 rubber, asking them to forward these articles to the congress, 

 accompanied by photographs and brief descriptions. The object 

 of another resolution was to ask from the principal Amazonian 

 navigation companies and shipowners the exemption from 

 freight of exhibits intended for the congress. 



The preparation of a program has been entrusted to a special 

 committee, which is composed of Senhores Dr. Sousa Castro, 

 Dr. J. Huber, and .Amando Mendes. It was decided to invite 

 a number of prominent men connected with the rubber industry 

 to join the committee of organization. 



The congress is scheduled to open on .August 15th next, under 

 the presidency of Dr. Eneas Martins, governor of the State of 

 Para. Several meetings of the committee have taken place, at 

 which various details were elaborated. 



MEETING OF PARj\ AVIADORS. 



Following the two meetings already mentioned, the Para avia- 

 dors and exporters (in conjunction with members of the "Defesa 

 da Borracha"), held a meeting on May 9, to consider the 

 proposal of Admiral Carvallio. This proposal, as reproduced 

 by the "Folha do Norte," was based on the alleged want of care 

 in the preparation of rubber, particularly of "Sernamby." It 

 urged that it is for the dealers to insist on the adoption of a 

 system of curing, and on the establishment of the types best 

 fitted to compete with plantation rubbers, thus improving the 

 quality while reducing the expenses. For "Sernamby" there 

 should be a perfectly clean quality, free from all impurities. 

 For the quality known as "fine," a type should be established 

 prepared on the system of J. .\. Mendes, Vianna Coutinho. Cer- 

 queira Pinto, or on any other system with like advantages. 



Senhor Rebello urged the gradual adoption of improvements 

 without giving up the present system. Dr. Ferreira Teixeira 

 expressed his approval of the principal features of Admiral 

 Carvalho's proposal, advocating the elimination of the "Entre- 

 fine" and "Cameta Sernamby" grades. Dr. Huber remarked 

 that a transformation of system could not be general, as the 

 type made in the form of balls was preferred by foreign con- 

 sumers. The smoking ought to be continued as at present, if 

 no prejudicial elements were present. The speaker coincided 



