468 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June 1. 1914. 



port ; the abundant water-power will supply opportunity for 

 electrical development and manufacturing on a large scale, thus 

 furnishing a market for great (juantities of mechanical rubber 

 goods. The primitive agriculture of the high country will ini- 

 IJrove and become far more profitable, with the growing cities 

 and tlie rich coast land for markets. Still more prolitalile wi 1 

 be stock-growing; and the shepherds, herdsmen and farmers, 

 who. since the ti^nie of the Incas, have lived and done nothing 

 more, will now liave nmney to spend. Is there any doubt that 

 these people, whose only climatic enemy is the frecpicnt occur- 

 rence of torrential rains — often cold and always wet — will be 

 rejoiced to learn of the existence of rubber coats, which will 

 insure dry skins while they arc at their outdoor tasks ? The 

 .\nierican cocoa-drinker wants his breakfast drink ; the planter 



(of^yn^lil b\ i r.,]crn;ood <!r Cntterzi'ootl. 



Gathering C.vc.vo in Ecuadcr. 



of the coast wants the potatoes and mutton of his countrj-'s 

 uplands; the grower of these commodities wants his rubber 

 coat. So the cacao is sent across the ocean, ground, and sent 

 back to America with freights and profits added; the rubber 

 of the forests makes two journeys across the Atlantic, and the 

 American manufacturers in both lines let this prolitable business 

 go by. and busy themselves looking after the "home market," 

 like the islanders who made money by taking in each other's 

 washing. The rapid rise of wealth in the cities and among 

 the planters means a greatly increased market for druggists' 

 sundries and articles of luxury, and this market can be found 

 by visiting Guayacpiil and the towns on the railroad running 

 from that port. With newly foimd prosperity among tlie poorer 

 classes, they also will have wants. .\n enterprising manufac- 

 turer could derive no mean profits from the sale of toys and 

 rubber balls among these siinple-minded people, who are pas- 

 sionately fond of their children, and ready to make any sacri- 



fice for their pleasure. It is safe to sav that the native trades- 

 man with a stock of rubber animals of the type familiar in his 

 own district, alpacas, mules and sheep, would drive a busy and 

 e-Kciting trade, and the demand would never cease so long as. 

 little brown-eyed babies continue to be born in the vallexs of 

 ihe .Andes. 



\fler all, licuador occupies but a small place on the map of 

 South America, but the fnanufacturer who studies it will learn 

 much of wider import, lie will learn that a business man whO' 

 communicates with a South American merchant must do so in 

 tlie Spanish language. He will learn that politeness in such 

 dealings is not only desirable, but .?iitc qua iion. He will i'lnd 

 that brusqueness, swagger and boast will not do. He will find, 

 too, tliat he must obey instructions in the matter of packing. 

 The railroad has climbed the Andes, to be sure, but the mules 

 .ire not out of a job. Freight to hundreds of villages must 

 make the final .stage in the old way. It is liable to spend hours 

 in the midst of a tropic rain, and there are other vicissitudes 

 which the merchant knows and seeks to guard against by his 

 careful instructions. When lie finds those instructions delib- 

 erately disregarded, the goods ruined and payment ioTsisted upon,, 

 his erstwhile dear American friend has become "a wooden- 

 headed pig of a Yankee." and it is hard not to sympathize with 

 his frame of mind. In the matter of credit, too, the custom of 

 the country must be followeil. The South .-Xmerican wants our 

 goods, but he is not obliged to have them. England, Germany 

 and France still have something to sell, and if they take the care 

 and extend the consideration which the .\nurican will not, they 

 will get the trade and deserve it. 



At present there are seven lines of .steamships carrying freight 

 from New York to Guayaquil and the west coast of South 

 America. Three of these sail via the Strait of Magellan, and 

 lour carry cargo via Colon, where it is transshipped and re- 

 loaded at Panama on steaniers calling at Guayaquil. 



The Merchants' lines have s'ailings twice a month for Guaya- 

 iiuil via the Strait of Magellan. 



The steamers carrying freight to Guayaquil via Panama are 

 the Hamburg-American Line, sailing every week ; the United 

 Fruit Co.'s steamers, sailing twice a week, and the Royal Steam 

 Packet Co.'s steamers, sailing once every two weeks. The 

 Panama Railroad Co. has six sailings a month. 



I'reight rates are levied in one of two ways, at the optitm of 

 the steamboat companies — either b\' weight or by bulk. The 

 freight rates on manufactured rubber goods, including tires, 

 belting, hose and rubber goods generally, are 68 cents per 100 

 pounds, or 38 cents per cubic foot, via the Straits route, and 

 8,S cents iier 100 pounds or 47 cents per cubic foot via the 

 Panama route. 



Two steamboat companies operate between Panama and 

 Guayaquil — the Pacific Steam Xavi.gation Co., with boats sailing 

 every ten days, and the Compania Sud .\mericana dc \"apores, 

 with sailings every week Init not on regular days. 



RtJBBER GKOVEKS' ASSOCIATION. 



Tlu rcpnrt to December 31, 1913, of the Rubber Grow'ers" 

 Association records the opening by that body of its own offices at 

 38 Eastcheap, in place of the agreement for accommodati'm wit.i 

 the London Chamber of Commerce. The membership roll now 

 includes 368 companies and 171 individuals. -\ further extension 

 of the membership is anticipated. Mr. .\lfrrd Inmnin has been 

 appointed secretary. 



In order to meet its increased expenses, the association has had 

 to readjust its subscription, which now stands at £1 Is. for an 

 individual and i3 3s. for a company, with a further amount if 

 the product fur the 12 monlbs under review has exceeded 100,000 

 pounds. 



