August 1, 1913.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



593 



AUSTRIAN TALC ASSOCIATION. 



ACCORDING to tlie booklet issued by tbc Austrian Talc As- 

 sociation (Association of Those Interested in Talc), an 

 effort is being made by that body to promote the sale of the article 

 in various industries. With this object a summary has been com- 

 piled of its industrial uses, among which rubber manufacture 

 occupies a leading position. On this subject the report says: 



"Talc is used for various purposes in the rubber industry, but 

 a further extension of its use could be attained by its employ- 

 ment at the points of production, for the preservation of crude 

 rubber against oxidation, by which the value of the rubber 

 would be increased. The Association has approached the Bra 

 zilian government on this matter. Talc is used in rubber manu- 

 facture in vulcanization, and as a filling material for various 

 rubber products. It is of special importance in the manufacture 

 of cables and in that of insulating rings for electrical connec- 

 tions. For this purpose there is required a very light quality, 

 with a considerable resistance to electricity, absolutely free from 

 sand and other impurities. In the testing of current, any ring 

 which contains even a small grain of sand is at once penetrated 

 and becomes useless. Talc is likewise used for packing intended 

 to resist heat, steam, acids and water." 



This association does not engage in the sale of talc, liut is pre- 

 pared at all times to answer questions about the article and its 

 sources of supply in Austria and Hungary. Its address is 

 Schwarzenbergplatz 4, Vienna, Austria. 



United States imports of talc (ground or prepared) varied of 

 late years as follows: 1910, 18,158,871 pounds; 1911, 12,878,292 

 pounds ; 1912, 20,465,942 pounds. The chief sources of imports 

 were in 1911: Italy, 6,531,256 pounds; France, 3,580,501 pounds; 

 Canada, 1,282,772 pounds; Austria-Hungary, 1,174,976 pounds. 



Austria thus stands lowest among the larger sources of the 

 American supplies of talc, but is evidently desirous of a larger 

 share of United States trade. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN JAPAN. 



By a Rcsidt'iit Correspondent. 



JAPANESE INTERESTS IN MALAYA. 

 A CCORDING to recent statistics there are in the Malay 

 ^ *■ Peninsula 87 Japanese rubber plantations, with a total 

 area of 85,069 acres, of which 16,455 are under cultivation. 

 The total investment of Japanese capital in Malaya is esti- 

 mated at about $1,000,000. About $10,000,000 would, however, 

 be required for the exploitation of the uncultivated holdings. 

 Of the investors, two-thirds are small, planting being with 

 them an additional occupation. They are consequently un- 

 able to wait several years for profits, and growing discouraged 

 at the low price of rubber, are considering whether it would 

 not be better to sell their plantations than to invest more 

 money in them. 



JAPANESE EMIGRATION. 



By the latest official figures, the population of Japan is 

 69,148,980 and the area of the country 268,897 square miles. 

 Four years' returns show the average yearly increase in pop- 

 ulation as 4.3 per cent. The young men of Japan have 

 therefore been giving attention to emigration as an outlet for 

 this growing population, being encouraged by the press in 

 their aspirations. Instances are recorded of some of them 

 having taken up rubber planting in the South Sea Islands, 

 with satisfactory results. 



Upon finally venturing to go to the Malay Peninsula they 

 at first suffered from fever, but after vanquishing this and 

 other difficulties, became successful planters and prominent 

 among the local Japanese population. 



A PLANTER'S OPINION. 



An opiinnstic rubber planter lately said: 



"Three problems are before the Japanese rubber planter: 

 1. artificial rubber; 2, white ants, and 3. future lower prices 

 of rubber. With regard to the lirst, it is not considered as 

 likely to rival Para rubber, and even if it corresponded with 

 the latter in chemical and physical conditions, would never 

 rank with it as a practical industrial raw material. As to the 

 second, if proper care is exercised on the plantation, serious 

 damage need not be anticipated from this cause. With ref- 

 erence to the third, it may be anticipated that reduced prices 

 will come in the near future, but this reduction will of itself 

 bring about many new forms of consumption. The lower 

 the price, the more will demand increase. 



"No serious damage will ensue for rubber plantations un- 

 less the price descends below two shillings per pound. 



"Rubber planting in the Malay Peninsula is certainly a 

 profitable business, and the only problem is how^ to plant so 

 as to make it as much so as possible." 



The above is an optimistic opinion. Others of a pessimistic 

 character have of late been expressed, based on the tnost 

 recent conditions. However, Japanese planters are much en- 

 couraged by the report that Baron Shibuzavva, the most im- 

 portant business man in Tokio, has bought a plantation of 

 1.000 acres, and it is thought that his example will encourage 

 other investors. 



THE B. F. GOODRICH CO. MOVES TOKIO BRANCH. 



The B, F. Goodrich Co. recently moved its Tokio branch 

 to No. 1 Chonie Yurakucho, Kojimachi, Tokio. It has been 

 handling tires and other rubber goods for the last twelve 

 years, and now contemplates importing full lines of automo- 

 bile and cycle tires, belting, hose, packing and surgical goods: 

 as well as specialties for railways, electric car works, paper 

 mills, etc. 



COMPARATIVE IMPORT STATISTICS. 

 The following are statistics of Japanese imports of rubber 

 goods for 1911: 



Pounds Value 



Insulating Tape — 



United States 198,108 $75,161 



Great Britain 20,679 13.627 



Germany 5,415 1.689 



Sheets — 



United States 66,088 67.217 



Germany 37,676 22,215 



Great Britain 4.244 6.354 



Sweden 8,080 10,812 



Switzerland 1,833 1,964 



Tubes and Hose — 



United States 19,569 16,975 



Germany 36,179 31.007 



Great Britain 8.299 10.603 



Rubber Webbings for Shoes — 



Germany 49.370 



Great Britain 21,195 



Rubber Cords and Threads- 

 United States 3,149 



Germany 4,352 



Great Britain 14,444 



Other Rubber Goods- — 



Ignited States 95,996 



Germany 140.211 



Great Britain 66,060 



Overshoes (pairs) 40,293 19,852 



Rubber shoes (pairs) 9,627 20,579 



Air pillows (number) 24,207 13,606 



-Ml imports of overshoes were from the United States. Air 



pillows were mostly from Germany. 



