184 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1912. 



railway either to the Brazilian frontier, or to districts of known 

 commercial value, and this is one of the main issues upon which 

 the present elections to the legislature are being fought. There 

 is, however, very little difference of opinion with regard to the 

 necessity of such a railway, and it is almost certain that the new 

 combined court, as the local legislature is called, will be pledged 

 Combined Court, as the local scheme for accomplishing that end 

 The promise of the secretary of state to send to this colony an 

 administrator of "proved constructive ability," in succession to 

 the governor who has just relinquished the reins of otfice, has 

 galvanized public opinion on this matter, to an encouraging 

 degree. 



RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION— HOW BALATA INDUSTRY IS 

 AFFECTED. 



Apropos of a railway, George Garnelt, who was at one time 

 largely interested in the balata industry, and who has already 

 been elected a member of the Combined Court unopposed, de- 

 livered an interesting lecture in the Town Hall, Georgetown, on 

 November 13, upon a scheme which he has elaborated. He 

 suggests that a railway should be run to the Brazilian frontier 

 from Georgetown up to the Potaro valley to the Kaieteur Fall, 

 and thence to Boa Vista, Brazil, thus cutting the colony in two. 

 He estimates the cost at $17,500 per mile (which is regarded as 

 an optimistic estimate here), and, taking the total distance at 

 250 miles, the capital cost would be $4,375,000. Interest at 3J4 

 per cent, would in round figures be $150,000. "Where would the 

 traffic come from?" he asks. "Gold-diggers, balata bleeders and 

 timber people," he replied. With reference to balata he said : 

 "The Siparoni-Rupununi district produces at present over 700,000 

 pounds of balata. Given easier access, especially if the cutting 

 of old trees be allowed, this could easily be increased to 1,500,000 

 pounds or more. The cheapening of freight would be fully equal 

 to 8 cents per pound on the cost of production, besides the most 

 important point of view of supervision. A tax of 4 cents per 

 pound would, I believe, willingly be paid, and this would reach a 

 total of $60,000. Taking it that in the gold, balata and timber 

 industries only, 5,000 additional men were employed, or con- 

 siderably less than the difference in the number now employed 

 and the number which was employed in 1905, and remembering 

 also how tremendously the revenue benefited when gold was at 

 its zenith, a rough calculation can be made of the probable rev- 

 enue that would come to the government from the earnings of 

 the people. The balata bleeders could earn on 800,000 pounds 



for, say, 250 days; in seven years they would probably earn 

 somewhere in the neighborhood of $600,000, or a total of $780,- 

 000. Taking three-fourths of this to be spent on food, clothing, 

 liquor, etc., and taking the incidence of taxation at only 25 per 



PuRUNi River, B. G. 



cent., the revenue should benefit to the extent of $147,000." Mr. 

 Garnett's lecture was received with a great deal of enthusiasm 

 by a large audience. 



RUBBER SCIENCE IN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

 Henry Daley, manager of the Essequibo Rubber & Tobacco 

 Estates, Limited, in a letter which appeared in the local news- 

 papers ventilates what appears to be an undoubted grievance. 

 He points out that some weeks ago the Assistant Director of 

 Science and Agriculture, S. H. Bayley, and other officers of the 

 department inspected the estates under the Rubber-Planting 

 Leases Regulations. Subsequently he wrote to Professor Harri- 

 son, Director of Science and Agriculture, asking "whether it is 

 possible to secure a copy of the report made by the Commission 

 of the Agricultural Department that visited Liberty Estates some 

 weeks ago. Doubtlessly, the commission could give us valuable 

 information as to whether the present scheme of planting and 

 drainage is correct, in their estimation. Also with their experi- 

 ence, they might possibly make some suggestions that will enable 

 us to more effectually develop these islands. I have approached 

 you on this matter, as I know you are greatly interested in see- 

 ing the rubber plantations of this colony turn out a success. I 

 can assure you that there is, pending certain inspections of land 

 this year, every probability of a new company undertaking the 

 planting of Hevea on a very large scale, should these inspections 

 be satisfactory." He was informed in reply that the department 

 regretted being prohibited from divulging the contents of official 

 reports. "I understand the same answer has been given to simi- 

 lar applications made by the Consolidated Rubber & Balata 

 Estates, Limited, and the Bartica Agricultural Estates, Limited," 

 says Mr. Daley. "Why? I understood the Department of Sci- 

 ence and Agriculture is in existence to give information and 

 help to planters. When three gentlemen of the experience of 

 the inspecting Commission visit an estate together, their joint 

 impressions and opinions must be of the utmost value to planters, 

 and I can certainly see no object in withholding their report. 

 If this is to be the attitude of the government it is time for 

 planters of rubber here to look around for pastures new." 



Indian Banab, Puruni River, B. G. 



(being the difference between what I consider could easily be pro- 

 duced and what is now produced in those districts) about $180,- 

 000. Supposing 4,000 men to be working at gold, timber, etc., 



MORE AMERICAN CAPITAL IN BRITISH GUIANA. 



An American syndicate has acquired the property of John Junor 

 (known as "Plantation Vreedstein"), on the left bank of the 

 Demcrara River, for the purpose of cultivating rubber. The 

 plantation will be operated under the direction of G. S. Hayes, 

 by a local corporation, which has been formed under the style of 

 the Vreedstein Plantation Company. 



