108 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January i, 1910. 



firm who is credited with having driven the poor producers of 

 rubber up river to sell a very large portion of their 1907-08 crop 

 at about 66 cents per pound, when, as a matter of fact, he had 

 sold most of it ahead of purchasing the same at an average of 

 $1.10. 



Like Vianna the firm last referred to "counted without their 

 host." Presuming that the native houses had no substantial 

 resources, and no personal assistance, and that no government 

 help could be counted on in the crop to follow, they carried the 

 "bear" game to extreme. The consequences were (1) the estab- 

 lishment of branches of the Branco do Brasil on the Amazon, 

 authorized to make liberal advances on rubber to the original 

 holders — i. e., producers, and (2) the promulgation of the 

 syndicate law, which, like the sword of Damocles, is only sus- 

 pended above the heads of operators venturing to carry the bear 

 movement to excess — ready to slash right and left wherever 



government assistance can be carried. Hence the failure of any 

 later bear movements. 



I doubt very much whether manufacturers would reconcile 

 themselves quietly to the price of rubber at $2 as predicted by 

 you so far back as 1906. But the sooner they do so the better, 

 for obvious reasons, among them being the fact that so long as 

 the holders of rubber are not driven to desperation for financial 

 assistance (and those of the Amazon regions are not at the pres- 

 ent time), and as long as the demand for that commodity con- 

 tinues to succeed the supply (as it also happens at the present 

 time), so long will the prices range at $2. And if it is proved that, 

 even at these figures, manufacturers can still make money, it 

 is difficult to understand why they should quarrel with present 

 prices. It is these high prices and strong financial support that 

 will stop speculation. A. paraense. 



Para, Brazil, December i, 1909. 



Growth of the Japanese Rubber Interest. 



By Kenzo Okada (Tokio). 



LET me have the honor, from across the Pacific, to congratu- [= about $2.40, gold], and 190 yen per picul for Borneo No. I. 



late The India Rubber World upon its Twentieth Anni- In spite of the high quotation the demand is increasing more and 



versary. I am happy to have such a chance to introduce more, and our rough calculation for the rubber imported in this 



our rubber industry to the Occident. year indicates 1,000,000 yen [= $498,400]. Three-fourths of the 



The Japanese industry is growing year by year, and especially amount is handled by Messrs. Dewette & Co., Yokohama, im- 



having been accompanied by the development in all lines since porters of crude rubber and rubber chemicals. They import Up- 



thc Russo-Japanese war, the manufactures of rubber goods and river fine Para, and Plantation sheet, and Borneo mainly, and 



electric insulated cables have been improved exceedingly. The some of the African product. 



works engaged in this business have been enlarged and a number Throughout the country are found good sources of water, that 



of others established lately. v ill bring great development of the industries applying hydro- 



Among the new ones are Messrs. Sumitomo Cable Works in electricity in the near future. For this reason the demand for 



Osaka, and The Nihon Densen Kaisha (Japan Cable Works. insulated wire will be largely increased together with that of 



Limited) in Tokio. Though only a short time has passed since the jinrickisha tires for which rubber will replace steel. More- 



their establishment, they are working on a large scale. Yet their over, the demand for toys, army supplies, and the like grows so 



supply of products is not sufficient for the demand. Messrs. steadily that the rubber industry must develop day after day. 



Mitatsuchi Rubber Works have lately established a rubber boot Thus our business doubtless must have great influence hereafter 



and shoe department. The machinery for the purpose has come as a factor in the national industry. 



and they are fitting up with this, while extending their water- Japanese Imports of Crude Rubber and Gutta-Percha. 



proof clothing department. Yokohama Densen Kaisha (Yoko- 1908. 1907. 1906. 



hama Electric Wire Co.) have extended their scope since the fire QU (Kin) ieS a^n) Q ?Kin) ieS O^rO QU (Kin> eS Tver!) 



last vear, having fitted up the machinery under the expert Mr. British India 22,469 35.720 39.126 53.106 31.256 41.151 



y u , . . British Straits 219,244 205,161 244,465 315,265 260,588 327,029 



1. riata S supervision. Dutch India 313,534 335.545 94,621 133,486 29,279 42,242 



Tokyo Gomu Kaisha (Tokio Rubber Co., Limited) are plan- gSpM^.;; xo^Yo .84^93 still 97^84 w.*3 ^ 



ning to establish a plant to make mechanical rubber goods, Germany 3.497 8,022 6.767 11,357 4.500 9,054 



, 1111 j 1. -i.u -i. 1 1 United States 98,889 101.291 72.015 145.841 31.124 83,493 



waterproof goods, and rubber boots and shoes, with a capital of other countries 12,668 16,546 3,827 8,404 13.557 S.039 



1,200,000 yen [= $458,400]. _ The largest cable works in the Totals ^^ ^^ -^ .TTT^' ~ ~ 6 J^T^j 



country now are Messrs. Fujikura Densen Gomu Kaisha (Fuji- [Note. — The kin is nearly the same as the Chinese picul. and roughly 

 . T , . j \xr- . t, l. r~ \ tl i is ij3 English pounds. The yen is equal to 49.8 cents, gold.] 

 kura Insulated Wire and Rubber Co.). They have a great repu- 

 tation, and have been appointed manufacturers by the imperial Imports of Insulated Electric Wire. 



department of communication. Thev are the onlv approved 1908 ' 1907 ' 1906 ' 



. - ,, . . L . . _ , „, Kin len Kin \en Kin Yen 



makers of rubber insulated wire for the government. They are Great Britain 1,854,302 860.872 998,432 647,297 535,819 



producing a large amount of high tension cable by the order of fe^ ■ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; g* g» ;£»« 'Jgffi \°™ \\ f 7 %% 



the naval and militarv departments at present, and thev have J' a 'y • • • 27,337 18,980 18,164 17.687 5.283 



, , . , ., . . . . . , : . United States 406,360 228,680 321,472 234,403 332,282 



intended to extend their works, for which they are receiving a Other Countries.. 597 275 1,420 1,399 631 



large amount of machinery from their foreign suppliers. Total 3,592,57s i^MsT .,945.146 ...29,568 sl^ij 



\\ hen the import duties for rubber manufactures was revised, 



the levy was increased little by little, and there is an expecta- Para rubber seed is now advertised by important plantations in 



tion that a further increase will result from the coming revision. the Malay States at $2 (silver) per 1,000, packed in bags, and 



Accordingly some rubber manufacturers in Europe have come $2.50 when packed in cases, at the nearest railway station. Of 



to Japan to engage in this business here, rather than pay higher course higher prices are charged for seed packed for shipment 



import duties. Messrs. J. G. Ingram & Son, of London, have for long distances. 



established a factory at Hiogo to make surgical rubber goods. 



The Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co. have established large works I am a good deal like a famous epicure, whose taste and 



near Kobe, which are now almost in working order. judgment was being criticised. "He doesn't know the difference 



Since the sudden rise of the price of crude rubber, last spring, between a brook trout and a rubber boot," said the critic. 



high quotations have been maintained continually to this day. "Why should I?" said the gourmet, "I never tasted a rubber 



At present, Upriver fine Para is quoted at 4.90 yen per pound boot !" — Rubber. 



