132 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[December I, 1911. 



The Rubber Industry of Japan. 



{By our Special Correspondent.) 



AMONGST the most progressive of modern industries is the 

 manufacture of rubber in Japan ; the Japanese factories 

 in that line developing their plans year by year. This fact 

 is clearly illustrated by the following comparison of the aggregate 

 crude rubber and gutta percha imports at two stages : 



Fiscal 



j-ear. Kin. Pounds. 



1905 547,377 729,838 



1910 1,193,146 1,590,891 



Yen. Equaling 



845,950 $422,975 



3,042,396 1,521,198 



It will thus be seen that Japan imported during the first half 

 of the fiscal year 1910 more rubber than had been received 

 during the whole of 1905. As shown elsewhere, the most recent 

 statistics indicate the continued progress of this increase. 



Japanese economic authorities speak with marked commenda- 

 tion of the rubber industry, for such a development of its indus- 

 trial resources. The importation and resulting consumption of 

 crude rubber is an unfailing indication of growth, much more 

 reliable than the returns of horsepower employed. These fig- 

 ures, it has been asserted, are kept as low as possible, with a 

 view to avoiding the burden of the taxes levied under that head. 



INCIDENCE OF NEW JAPANESE TARIFF. 



In view of the changes in the Japanese tariff, which went into 

 effect July 17 and which were dealt with by The India Rubber 

 World in August, 1911 (page 454), interest attaches to compara- 

 tive returns for June and August of the imports by that country 

 of rubber and its manufactures. 



Crude rubber and gutta percha still entering Japan free of 

 duty, the figures show a consequent healthy increase, the 147,263 

 pounds in June, value $102,961, having risen in August to 167,032 

 pounds, value $129,595. This development is attributed to the 

 encouragement the new tariff affords to Japanese industry. 



Among dutiable goods the following results are shown : 



FOR further use IN MANUFACTURING. 



INSULATED WIRE, ETC. 



Submarine and 



underground 



cables 1,068,280 



All others 1,939,220 



3,007,500 



3,111 

 198,831 



201,942 



39,004 

 276,933 



231 



22,827 



Rubber boots. . . . 

 Rubber overshoes 

 Elastic boot web- 

 bings 



Waterproof cloth 

 Elastic bands and 



cuds 



Air pillows 



APPAREL, ETC. 



480 pairs 

 5,384 pairs 



7,582 sq. yds. 

 6,511 sq. yds. 



not shown 

 8,880 



3.808 sq. yds. 

 2,109 sq. yds. 



not shown 

 843 



353 

 2,367 



17,144 

 3,292 



3.566 

 4.686 



7,519 



1,782 



469 

 508 



not shown not shown $31,408 $10,278 



SUMMARY. 



June. 1911, August, 1911 

 dollars. dollars. 



For further use in manufacturing... 68,250 17,886 



Mechanical 18,888 12,888 



Insulated wire, etc 315,937 23,058 



Apparel, etc 31,408 10,278 



Aggregate $434,483 $64,110 



(June, 1910 (August, 1911) 



That in some items the reduction has not been even greater, 

 is doubtless owing to the fear of deterioration through pro- 

 tracted storage, having prevented the ante-tariff importations from 

 covering all the prospective requirements of the near future. The 

 total absence of imports during August of rubber boots and 

 shoes is the most striking illustration of the prospective effects to 

 be anticipated from the new tariff when in more complete 

 operation. 



.MR. ISABUKO Y.WIADA'S AIKSHIP. 



For days and weeks, past "Yamada's airship'' sailed for two or 

 three miles over the country in the neighborhood of Tokyo, at 

 a height of 700 or 1,000 feet. 



< 



315,937 23,058 



Preparing to Sail Yamada's Airship, No. 3, at Osaki, One 

 Mile from Tokyo. 



A very enthusiastic and practical aviator is Mr. Isaburo 

 Yamada, who is a member of the family of Mr. S. Yamada, editor 

 of the "Gomu Shimpo," the Japanese rubber organ. His first plans 

 for an airship were drawn as early as 1896, and after si.x years' 

 study, he accomplished in 1902 the construction of a relatively 

 successful model. Further improving it, he finally achieved 

 such a degree of perfection as to warrant its being adopted by 



