Dfxe.muer 1, 1913. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



133 



SIEGHUND SELZGKANN. 



A reniarkaljlc anniversary lias lately been celebrated in Ger- 

 many. Siegmund Seligniann, a pioneer of the German rubber in- 

 dustry, attained his sixtieth year on August 19 last. Being at 

 the head of the Continental Caoutchouc luid (iuttapercha Co.. 

 of Hanover, his name is familiar tn the ruliher trade in general, 

 but in view of the recent celebrati<iu it may he appropriate to 

 recall some personal details of his career. 



Born on August 19. 18.S,3. at Verden (Aller). he passed 

 through the Royal Cathedral (iymnasiuni at Verden. later on 

 stmlying privately at Marburg (Elbe). His cotninercial training 



.SitGM L M) bELl(;.\IA.\.\". 



was received in the Hanover banking house of B. Magnus, the 

 proprietors of which were co-founders of the Continental Co. 



On April 7, 1876, Herr .Seligmann was appointed to a confi- 

 dential position in the Continental Co. for the purpose of a 

 reorganization. Jn the year 1875 the company's situation was 

 so menaced that Herr Jacob Frank, the director, submitted an 

 alternative proposition of suspending payments or obtaining 

 new credits. Hence the intervention of Herr Seligmann became 

 necessary. In the capacity of cashier of Messrs. Magnus, he 

 made a thorough investigation of the company's position, as a 

 result of which new credits were accorded by the bank. This 

 re-organization was due to his energ}', ability and caution, show- 

 ing what young Seligmann was made of, and his eligiliility for 

 future higher responsibility. On April 7, 1876, his services were 

 transferred to the company for which he held a power of at- 

 torney from October 12 of the same year, becoming a member 

 of the board on July 17, 1879, which position he still fills. For 

 the term of thirty-seven years he has thus held various posts of 

 increasing responsibility, culminating in tlie direction of tlic 

 company's operations. 



With the entrance of Herr Seligmann and of the late chemist. 

 Dr. E'rinzhorn. the upbuilding of the company began, the 

 foundation being laid for its ultimate important position in the 

 world's rubber industry. 



In 1905 Herr Seligmann received the distinction of "komuicr- 

 zienrat," or "Commercial Councillor." while in various other 

 capacities he has acquired a Iiigh reputation. He is a member 

 of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, of the board of the 

 Central Association of German Rubber Goods Manufacturers, 

 and a member of the board of tlic German E.xhibition 

 Commission. 



The Indi.-v Rubber World adds its own to the many expres- 

 sions of personal regard for Herr Scli.gmann on the part of 

 European rubber contemporaries. 



GERMAN OPINION RESPECTING THE FUTURE OF 

 RUBBER. 



IN commenting upon the position and prospects of rul)ber, vari- 

 * ous German authorities have called attention to the absence 

 of the Stock Exchange operations and reckless establishment of 

 plantations which led to the depression succeeding the boom of 

 1910. Supply and demand are now^ the regulating factors, gov- 

 erned in their turn by the available stocks and the wants of 

 dealers and manufacturers. 



One of the explanations adduced for the disproportionate fall 

 since May, 1911, of about 50 per cent, in Fine Para and of nearly 

 70 per cent, in plantation, is the different manner in which the 

 offerings are made. Wild rubber is concentrated in the hands of 

 relatively few concerns, while every plantation company has a 

 representation in England, altho in some cases grouped with 

 others for tlie sake of economy and convenience. Plantation rub- 

 ber is widely distributed among the London houses on consign- 

 ment and is thus at the mercy of bu\ers. 



One prominent (ierman rubber merchant attributes the lack of 

 uniform quality to the fact that with so many plantations and an 

 equal number of managers, differences in preparations are un- 

 avoidable; uniformity in large quantity not being possible, as in 

 the case of Fine Hard Para. Large buyers are said to recognize 

 the fact that all qualities of latex from known trees arc in them- 

 selves good, and that the production of a better or an inferior 

 rubber depends upon the mode in which the latex is treated. 



In the matter of future supply, the question of the possible 

 overthrow of wild rubber in favor of plantation rubber and the 

 latter controlling the market is generally regarded as unworthy 

 of serious consideration. "Long before a rubber tree was planted 

 in Asia," it is remarked, "the forest used to .send us rubber at 

 prices near the present limit." 



Regarding the statistical position, the tact of production and 

 consumption for 1912 having maintained an even balance of about 

 100,000 tons is adduced in proof of the assertion that there is at 

 present no visible overproduction. .Starting from this point of 

 100,000 tons consumption for 1912 and adding an estimated annual 

 increase of IS per cent, the anticipated quantity for 1919 would 

 be 265,900 tons, against the Akers estimated production for the 

 same period of 302,450 tons. 



In relation to plantation rubber, two proposals have been venti- 

 lated which have attracted much attention in Germany : The 

 Central Selling Agency in London, and the project of selling 

 rubber in the countries of origin. Both these plans have been 

 commented upon with favor. 



COMPARATIVE EXPORTS OF RUBBER GOODS TO BRAZIL FROM 

 GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES. 



A comparison of statistics shows between 1907 and 1911 Ger- 

 man exports of rubber goods to Brazil increased by about 38 

 per cent., while the augmentation in United States exports to 

 that country beween 1907 and 1912 equalled abou 265 per cent. 

 The figures are as follows : 



EXPORTS OF RUHBER GOODS TO BRAZIL. 

 From From 



Germany. United States. 



1907 $206,000 $56,012 



1908 156,750 59,867 



1909 170.500 84,462 



1910 254,500 105,145 



1911 278,750 150,465 



1912 199,239 



HARD RUBBER PROPELLERS FOR AIRSHIPS. 



Advices from Germany state that renewed attention is being 

 given to the possibility of using hard rubber propellers for air- 

 ships in place of cherry, walnut and pear, those woods having 

 been most generally employed for that purpose. A wooden 

 propeller costs from $400 to $500. 



