398 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[August 1, 1911. 



Cleveland, as his lawyers hail from there) for a rubber 

 tire with special features adapting it particularly for 

 motor-car use. Happy Hilton, there's a million in it 

 for him at the very start. 



"THE RUBBER BUSINESS AND EXPECTATION OF 



LIFE.' 



IT has often been remarked that rubber manufacture 

 must be a fairly healthful occupation because there 

 were so many men well along in years that were still 

 actively emploj^ed. So far as we know the life insur- 

 ance companies ha\e uc\ cr taken tlic trade as a whole 

 upon which to base any of their figures. It therefore 

 remains for us to present a table of vital statistics 

 which will be of interest at least to those who have 

 passed the fifty mark. 



Taking one hundred officials in rubber concerns in 

 the United States and Canada, who during the past 

 ten years have passed away, the following is found: 



Deaths between 20 and 30 1 



2 

 10 



our exports to that market only represented $2,797,210. 

 Venezuela returns show total exports from that 

 country for 1910 of about 18 millions of dollars, of 

 which about 6 million dollars' worth came to the coun- 

 try. During the same period the imports of Venezuela 

 represented about 8^4 millions of dollars, of which the 

 American share was (as already shown) about 2f4 

 millions. 



N'enezuelan exports include: 



To all countries. 



Cofifee $8,050,070 



Cocoa 3,381,733 



Hides 932.745 



Balata 2,193,901 



Rubber 851,939 



Other articles 2.538.529 



34 



21 



6 



1 



100 



A surprisingly high average of life is found, the 

 figures being 65.76. 



Pneumonia and heart failure seem to be the diseases 

 that are most common. The months of June and 

 March are the fatal months, while September has the 

 fewest records of death. 



The common belief that the period of a man's life 

 that comes between 50 and 57 is most critical would 

 seem not to apply to rubber inen, according to these 

 figures, although dangerous periods occur from 53 

 to 56 and from 63 to 65. 



TRADE RELATIONS WITH VENEZUELA. 



SO long as this countr\' is imjiorting to the extent 

 of about 200 millions of dollars from South 

 American countries, and is exporting in that direction 

 only about one-half of that amf)unt, there will remain 

 an unfavorable balance of trade, which our manu- 

 facturers and exporters are constantly trying to equal- 

 ize. These general conditions apply even in a higher 

 degree to the case of Venezuela, from which country 

 we imported in 1910 to the extent of $6,701,352, while 



$17,948,917 



Comparing the figures for total \'enezuelan exports 

 of rubber and balata. with the United States returns 

 for the imports of those articles from \'enezuela. the 

 following result is shown : 



1910. Balata. Rubber. 



Venezuelan exports $2,193,901 $851,939 



U. S. imports from Venezuela. . 35,261 511,057 



Thus, while apparently 60 per cent, of A'enezuelan 

 rubber comes to this country, only a small quantity 

 of balata from that source finds its way here. 



As to cotton goods, the preponderance of England 

 in Venezuelan imports is notable. Out of a total im- 

 port of $3,756,750 this country only supplied goods to 

 the extent of $289,070, while England secured trade 

 representing $2,367,370. 



Perhaps a little encouragement by United States 

 purchasers of ^'enezuelan balata might through mu- 

 tual influence reciprocalh' affect the favor of American 

 cottons in that country. Anyway, the interests of 

 American exporters and importers are more or less in 

 harmony as to trade relations with oiu- nearest South 

 Americp.n neighbor. 



WITH A BORDER OF TAPPING TOOLS. 



A RUBBER jjlanting company asks us to suggest a 

 catch phrase for their letter head that will be 

 appropriate, chaste and to the point. \\'c are 

 of the opinion that catch phrases are overdone and not 

 as effective as they once were. Some new method of 

 attracting attention is required, as, for example, a bit 

 of verse, such as 



Little drops of Latex 



Gathered in the hand 

 Make the mighty motor tire 

 And the rubber band. 



