878 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



September 1, 1921 



a liule more later on for his finished goods than present 

 prices, but still he will be able to quote closer figures 

 than his coni;ietitor who bought at the eleventh hour on 

 a risinn- market. 



HIGHER RUBBER AND SOON? 



THAT the price of crude rubber w^ill continue at its 

 present low figure is hardly a possibility. To be 

 sure, the rule has been that however one guessed as to the 

 future trend of prices in this commodity the guess was 

 usually wrong. Nevertheless, low rubber has always in 

 time been succeeded by high rubber. The three-dollar 

 level of a few years ago in the light of future needs 

 looked fairh' permanent, but such was not the case. High 

 tides recede and "low water" in time is succeeded by high. 

 If for no other reason the forced cessation of tapping on 

 the part of so many planters will bring the supply down 

 and the price up. Those who are able to hold on will 

 profit, those who do not will lose. It is a great pity that 

 planters in the Far East who so ably came forward and 

 supplied the rubber so vital to industry should suffer and 

 perhaps lose all. It would also be unfortunate if some 

 great monopoly gathered in the bulk of the far eastern 

 plantations. In all probability nothing of the kind will 

 occur. The advance of a few cents a pound would clear 

 the skies, and that is sure with the world's manufacturers 

 soon coming into the market for rubber, and lots of it. 



THE NATION'S HIGHWAYS 



APART from the production of rubber tires and his 

 interest in the vehicles using them, there is scarcely 

 anything with which a tire manufacturer might more 

 properly concern himself than the roads on which his 

 product plays such an important part in transporting men 

 and materials. Readily does he sympathize with all en- 

 deavors for the betterment and extension of the country's 

 roads, but too often he allows his affairs to so engross 

 his time that he scarcely notices the laudable efforts of 

 those working for the benefit of the whole community, 

 and much less does he give them a word of direct encour- 

 agement. He quite appreciates the great advantages ac- 

 cruing to the nation from ample, well-made, properly 

 maintained highways. He knows that their early con- 

 struction would hasten the return of normalcy and add 

 wonderfully to the comfort, well-being, and convenience 

 of millions. He doubtless realizes that national and state 

 governments have appropriated approximately a billion 

 dollars for making new or overhauling old arteries of 

 travel, yet unthinkingly he leaves largely to venal or care- 

 less politicians the matter of deciding how such an im- 

 mense fund shall be expended. 



It is begging the question to say that the politicians 

 will have the detemiining voice, no matter what good 

 counsel is offered them, and that they will only too often 

 serve special interests rather than work for the common 

 benefit. But they can be influenced for good as well as 



for ill. They can be shown the advantage of rendering 

 conspicuous public service, of doing something that is 

 of lasting credit to them, and which would largely atone 

 for remissness in other directions. 



It is in this connection that such a body as the Advisory 

 Board on Highway Research of the National Research 

 Council can be very helpful. Its disinterestedness, its 

 great accumulation of valuable data, and its readiness to 

 aid in solving- present-day problems in highw^ay making, 

 maintenance, and financing, as well as the use and restric- 

 tion of vehicles and the question of transportation from 

 every angle, must appeal even to the politician of ordinary 

 stamp. 



An organization such as this, which has the active co- 

 operation of the Engineering Foundation, army and auto- 

 motive engineers, national and state highway depart- 

 ments, and leading technical societies and educational in- 

 stitutions, certainly merits the lively interest, not of tire 

 manufacturers alone, but of all rubber men who would, 

 while promoting their own welfare, do an immense amount 

 of good for their fellow countrymen. 



THE STRAIGHT-SIDE WINNING 



IN spite of European conservatism and dread of change, 

 the straight-side tire is steadily proving its superiority 

 over the clincher. The conversion of the Dunlop Rubber 

 Co., Limited, to straight-side superiority will have an 

 enormous eft'ect. The great French, Italian and German 

 tire companies will be forced into line to keep their busi- 

 ness. To a degree it is the story of the rubber-cored 

 golf ball translated into terms of tires. 



One of the best recommendations made by the 

 American delegates at the session of the International 

 Chamber of Commerce in London was for the appoint- 

 ment of a permanent International Committee to adjust 

 difficulties in the exchange of goods between nationals of 

 different countries. Nor could a better agency be selected 

 for the elimination of unnecessary friction, often due to- 

 mere misunderstanding, in the conduct of individual trans- 

 actions in international trade. A comprehensive plan is 

 provided for rectifying, simplifying and expediting nego- 

 tiations ; and not the least important reforms proposed are 

 those for establishing a council of arbitration to save de- 

 lay and expense in litigation, the interchange of accurate 

 credit information, equal opportunities for business, the 

 lessening of artificial trade restrictions, the accurate na- 

 tional branding of merchandise, and measures to stamp 

 out trade mark, patent, and copyright piracy. 



The rubber tent used so successfully in g.\s fumi- 

 gation had but one rival, a scale-eating bug known as 

 Pcdiculoidcs. The past tense is used advisedly, for the 

 "Peds," once the scale is destroyed, turn ravenously upon 

 human beings and have already put many in hospitals. 

 The bug is therefore to be exterminated, if that can be 

 done, and the tent comes into its own again. 



