January 1, 1912] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



187 



DBINKING RUBBER. 



A LoNJON publication, in giving some news on the rubber situ- 

 ation, cites the following historical facts — often mentioned be- 

 fore but interesting to recall — regarding rubber, from which it 

 will be noticed that South Americans of two centuries ago 

 thought the latex of the rubber tree an efi'ective antidote for 

 hemorrhage : "The first European mention of rubber was as a 

 toy. One of Columbus' lieutenants reported that the natives of 

 Hayti played games with balls made from the gum of a tree. 

 But the tree was not identified until 1615, when Torquemada 

 mentions its sap as good among other things for removing tight- 

 ness of the chest. It was also drunk to stop hemorrhage, and 

 even then was being used by the Spaniards to waterproof their 

 cloaks. But it took long for .\merica to walk on rubbers — and 

 the world to ride on them." 



THE STATE OF PARA IN 1910. 



jV^ORE comprehensively and in greater detail than most other 

 ^^ ^ like summaries, the official report of the State of Para 

 for 1910 deals with many points of general interest as to the 

 cultivation and distribution of rubber. 



In the opening remarks the broad proposition is again enun- 

 ciated that rubber deserves the support of the State government, 

 in the same degree as has been the case in Sao Paulo with coffee, 

 and with the anticipation of results equally successful and en- 

 couraging in Northern Brazil. 



Dealing, as it does, with the history of 1910, the Manaos Con- 

 gress of February 22 to 27 of that year receives appropriate 

 notice, special mention being accorded to the suggestions ten- 

 dered on that occasion by the editor of The Indi.\ Rubber 

 World, for the benefit of planters, as being a typical expression 

 of the views of the rubber industry at large. 



The preponderating importance of rubber to the State of Para 

 is shown by the fact that the article forms 95 per cent, of the 

 total amount of exports of that State and contributes 98 per cent, 

 of its export duties. The share of Para in the world's produc- 

 tion is illustrated by the following statistical return : 



world's production of rubber, 

 para official figures. 



1909. 1910. 



Tons. Tons. 



Federal Territory of .Acre.... 10,500 11,565 



State of Amazonas 10,700 10,454 



State of Para 11,400 10.257 



State of Matto Grosso 2,200 2,300 



Island of Cajueiro (Piauhy). ISO 200 



Republic of Peru 2,700 2,495 



Republic of BoHvia 2,300 2,486 



Republic of Venezuela 34 25 



Republic of Columbia 6 18 



(South America) 39,990 39,800 



Central America 5,000 6,000 



East Africa 5,460 4,200 



West Africa 15,500 14,800 



20,960 19,000 



Ceylon and Malasia plantations 4,050 8,200 



Total tons 70,000 Total tons 73,000 



CONSUMPTION. 



While, owing to a typographical error, the official figures are 

 not quite clear, they would apparently indicate that the world's 

 total production for 1910 was 73,000 tons, with a total consump- 

 tion of 70,000 tons (or more than double the 33,952 tons recorded 

 for 1895). American consumption had in that period only ad- 

 vanced from 17,044 tons to 28,636 tons, or about 68 per cent. 



Another point of interest shown is that South America, which 

 suppHed in 1895 about 60 per cent, of the American consump- 

 tion, now only furnishes about 50 per cent., the remaining 50 per 

 cent, coming from other countries, as against 40 per cent, fifteen 

 years ago. 



DESTINATIONS OF SOUTH .■VMERICAN RUBBER EXPORTS. 



In connection with the estimated South American production 

 for 1910 of about 40,(XX) tons (as shown in tables of world's pro- 

 duction), interest attaches to the following details of the ports 

 to which shipments were made in that year. 



Tons. 



Antwerp 88 



Hamburg 814 



Havre 3,988 



New York 14,622 



Liverpool 18,086 



Tons 37,598 



The larger proportion of exports to Europe as compared with 

 America, already referred to, is thus further illustrated, as well 

 as the continued preponderance of Liverpool as a rubber im- 

 porting point. 



PROPORTIONS OF VARIOUS QUALITIES OF RUBBER. 



As shown in previous tables, the State of Para 1910 production 

 was 10.257 tons. Dividing this quantity amongst the various 

 qualities, the following proportions are shown ; 



Tons. About 



Fine 4,610,228 45% 



Entrefine 403,371 4% 



Sernambv 4,047,366 39% 



Caucho 1,196,052 12% 



Mangabeira 340 Nominal 



Tons 10,257,357 100% 



FUTURE SUPPLY OF RUBBER. 



Regarding the question of future supply,- the opinion is ex- 

 pressed that no large increase can be expected in the production 

 of forest rubber, the consequent urgent necessity being pointed 

 out of developing plantations. The view of Seiihor Amando 

 Mendes is quoted, to the effect that the most vital problem for 

 the State is to meet the competition of Asiatic rubber by plan- 

 tations established upon a large and systematic scale. Only by 

 such a course, it is added, will the cost of production be reduced 

 to such an extent as to facilitate competing with the Far East. 



As to the future supply to be looked for from Asia, the esti- 

 mates which have been put forward of 70,0(X3 tons annually from 

 that source within four years are referred to as being based 

 upon a much lower cost of production than prevails in the State 

 of Para. 



While only a few of the salient points in the able report of 

 Dr. Jose Antonio Picanqo Diniz have been quoted, they may be 

 regarded as typical of his work and its treatment of the im- 

 portant question of South American production as a factor in the 

 world's rubber supply. 



IMPROVEMENTS AT PORT OF PARA. 



The expenditure of the Brazilian Government on the improve- 

 ments now approaching completion at the port of Para is said 

 to represent nearly $39,000,000. More than four years have been 

 occupied in the work. In addition to providing facilities for 

 docking, dredging, warehousing and other operations directly 

 connected with the needs of the port, efforts have been made to 

 improve the existing hygienic conditions ; particularly by elim- 

 inating the mosquito, for which purpose large sums have been 

 reserved by the State and municipal governments. 



