February i, 1910.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



163 



"Castilloa'" Rubber in Chiapas (Mexico) — I. 



By J. L. Hermessen, A. M. I. E. E. 



CHIAPAS is the last Mexican state on the Pacific coast before 

 the Central American border is reached. Entering Chiapas 

 from the southwest by the Pan American railway, which 

 connects with the Tehuantepec National railway at Gambo (or 

 San Geronimo), the country" traversed is at first flat and un- 

 interesting, the sameness of the vista being varied only by 

 oasis like groups of a fan leafed palm or patches of corn and 

 sugar cane ; nearing Tonala, it improves considerably with the 

 frequent appearance of ranches and llanos stocked with fat 

 cattle, although still dominated by the stunted arboreal forms 

 and scrubby, ligneous undergrowth peculiar to very hot, dry 

 climates ; but some 40 or 50 kilometers beyond, towards 

 Mapastepec, a complete change supervenes, the vegetation assum- 

 ing a strictly tropical aspect, with stretches of dense jungle 

 alternating with lofty forest, along the edges of which wild 

 Castilloa rubber trees are conspicuously numerous. Thence, past 

 Tapachula, on to the Guatemalan frontier — save for the occur- 

 rence, on the low lying coastal plains, of brackish lagoons and 

 alligator haunted mangrove swamps — the region preserves the 

 same general character, but with much diminished forest areas. 

 It is a matter of history that the first planting of Castilloa 

 rubber in Mexico* was done in the 

 state of Chiapas, near the Suchiate 

 river, which for some distance from 

 its mouth constitutes the natural 

 boundary between Mexico and Guate- 

 mala. Chiapas holds also the posi- 

 tion of supremacy in rubber plant- 

 ing, having a greater acreage under 

 cultivation than the aggregate of all 

 other rubber sections in the republic. 

 There are two principal planting dis- 

 tricts in the state, located in the de- 

 partments of Soconusco and Pal- 

 enque ; while there are others of less 

 extent in the departments of Tonala 

 and Pichucalco. These planting dis- 

 tricts are indicated by the shaded 

 portions in the accompanying map. 



of San Francisco, California; "La Amistad," of Mr. V. 

 Smith; "El Dorado," belonging to The Land Co. of Chia- 

 pas (Mexico), Limited, of London; and a number of 

 still smaller properties owned by Mexicans. The several 

 corporations representing the La Zacualpa estates, all hav- 

 ing their headquarters in San Francisco, are the follow- 

 ing: La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation Co., organized in 

 1899, owning "La Zacualpa"; Hidalgo Plantation and Commercial 

 Co., organized in 1904, owning "Juilapa" ; La Zacualpa Plantation 

 Co., organized in 1905, owning "La Zacualpa II"; Soconusco 

 Development Co., and recently organized, owning "Los Tocayos." 

 Mr. O. H. Harrison, who for many years has been identified 

 with agricultural and commercial undertakings in Soconusco, is 

 president of La Zacualpa Plantation Co., vice-president of La 

 Zacualpa Rubber Plantation Co., and a director in the two 

 other companies. Mr. C. A. Lesher, as general manager, has 

 been responsible for the scheme of development and all adminis- 

 trative detail relating to these properties since 1902, having been 

 ably aided during the last five years by Mr. W. S. Fisher, as 

 superintendent at "La Zacualpa." Mr. Lesher, in his present 

 capacity of assistant to the president, resides in Tapachula, where 



Department of Soconusco. 



Some investigators have professed 

 to recognize in the Castilloa of Soco- 

 nusco a species differing from that 

 commonly known in Mexico — name- 

 ly, C. lactMora, which, it is claimed, 

 is superior to C. elastica as a latex 

 producer. There is absence, how- 

 ever, of definite proof. 



In Soconusco is situated the well- 

 known plantation of "La Zacualpa," 

 which, with its allied properties, 

 forms the largest cultivated rubber 

 estate in the world. Other smaller 

 plantations are those of "Dona 

 Maria," of the Tapachula Rubber Co., 



•This statement is supported by the state- 

 ments of the late Matias Romero, in his 

 book, "Coffee and India-Rubber Culture in 

 Mexico" (New York: 1808), and by various 

 statements which have _ appeared in The 

 India Rubber World in_ connection with 

 the same, including an article by Charles G. 

 Cano, C.E., in the issue of this journal for 

 August 1, 1901 — page 319. — The Editor. 



MAP OF THE STATE OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO. 



