44 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November i, 1903. 



times 35 per cent. On this account, several qualities are recog- 

 nized, having prices according to their degree of purity. Pres- 

 ent price 6.75 to 7.75 francs per kilogram [ = 57^ to 62 cents 

 per pound], 



" Finally, Madagascar ships a quality of the lowest grade, 

 known on the European markets under the name of East Coast 

 Niggers. This comes in the form of medium sized balls, made 

 up of Caoutchouc filaments rolled upon themselves. Unfortu- 

 nately, the better part of these balls is only the outside film, 

 for on taking it off we find the center to be crammed with 

 stones and earth, which gives this gum considerable false weight 

 (50 to 75 per cent, of foreign matter introduced with fraudulent 

 intent). The intrinsic quality of this Caoutchouc is excellent, 

 for were it pure, it would be worth 9.50 to 975 francs, but on 

 account of the foreign matter which is enclosed it scarcely 

 brings more than 4 to 4.50 francs. Here we see a great cause 

 of depreciation and a remedy is urgently needed. 



" On the other hand, there appears to me to be no doubt that 

 the diminution observed in the Madagascar harvest is caused 

 by the ravages made by the gatherers. Steps should be taken 

 to see if the trees or plants which produce the Caoutchouc on 

 the island are not susceptible of being reasonably tapped, so as 

 to prevent its perishing as a result of this operation, and if so, 

 there should be severe legislation specifying by what means, 

 according to age and size, these plants should be tapped and by 

 what process. 



" We were a long time under the impression that in the inde- 

 pendent Congo Free State the Hams (vines) could be periodi- 

 cally bled without their being necessarily lost; but practice 

 shows that the natives cut the Hants in sections of I meter in 

 length for the purpose of obtaining suitable results ; the pieces 

 being suspended, the milk runs out freely. But otherwise, 

 when they are bled in a rational and prudent manner, the quan- 

 tity of the milk is insignificant, and the liane dies slowly of its 

 wound. We must necessarily conclude, that both processes are 

 equally defective. 



" The system which has been adopted is as follows : To trans- 

 plant as many lianes as are destroyed, and even more, so as to 

 make up for the deficit which will not fail to occur within a 

 few years. For this purpose the legislation of the Congo state 

 has considered it useful to reenforce certain provisions of the 

 enactment of January 5, 1899, for the purpose of preventing 

 the impoverishment of the Caoutchouc forests of the domain. 

 This enactment notably prescribes that there must be annually 

 planted in the forests of the state a number of Caoutchouc pro- 

 ducing trees or lianes, calculated on a basis of 150 plants at 

 least per ton of Caoutchouc gathered thereon during the year. 

 A later enactment carries this up to 500 plants for each ton, 

 dating from January 1, 1903. 



" As a result of the enforcement of this law on the companies 

 and the individuals engaged in gathering Caoutchouc, the 

 number of plants set out in 1901 amounts to about 510,000, 

 against 500,000 in 1900, and 410,000 for the preceding year. 

 Besides, we may estimate the total number of Caoutchouc 

 bearing plants planted by the state as being in the neighbor- 

 hood of 2,500,000, which are a direct result of the law or as 

 conforming to the instructionsof thegovernment which orders, 

 independent of what has been stated, the commencement of 

 vast plantations of Caoutchouc plants throughout the eastern 

 territory. 



" I will add that before proceeding with these replantings 

 the state consulted with, and made inquiries through, agricul- 

 tural engineers and foresters, for the purpose of determining 

 suitable kinds which would be the best adapted for the seed 

 plots and for slipping, and to determine und< :i what conditions 



these plantations should be started, so that the chances should 

 be the most favorable for success. 



" Up to the present time very few plantations have given 

 convincing results, and as they are a long time in coming to 

 maturity, not producing suitable results for several years, it 

 was thought desirable before commencing, to have funda- 

 mental principles well established, and to thoroughly study 

 the nature of the various plants, before using them for re- 

 planting. 



" The various names of Caoutchouc from the Congo, such as, 

 Kasai, Lopori, Aruwimi, etc.. relate to distinct species from 

 which this Caoutchouc is gathered. As they are classed in 

 the same manner according to quality, the buyers are saved 

 considerable trouble, as they know exactly what each quality 

 represents, and they are thus able to buy according to descrip- 

 tion and through correspondence. The observations which 

 General Gallidni has made in respect to the necessity for the 

 classification of Caoutchouc is very commendable. 



" In effect, before the buyers can have confidence in the im- 

 partiality of the commission merchant's classification of Caout- 

 chouc, they must in a measure be always able to buy qualities 

 which are the same and regular, so that the delivered products 

 all conform to the designated kinds. This system has great 

 advantages for sellers, who can thus be assured from one day 

 to another, of the sale of their whole output in times of over 

 production and low prices. 



" I herewith send you the sales conditions as employed at 

 Antwerp. The method of making sales by inscription is satis- 

 factory to everyone, in that buyers throughout the entire world 

 are enabled to participate in these sales, since we always allow 

 an interval of twenty days between the time of placing the pro- 

 duct on the market, and that of making the sale. 



" As there have been of late very few lots from Madagascar 

 among the receipts, I regret my inability to send you sam- 

 ples of the varieties, but I shall not fail to do so on the first 

 occasion. 



" Copal Gum. — This product, which is beginning to be ex- 

 ported from the Congo in considerable quantities, should like- 

 wise be exported from Madagascar. Its good quality (fossil 

 gum), hard and clear, alone merits attention ; the young gums 

 have almost no value. Before it is exported, it is desirable to 

 have it thoroughly assorted for the purpose of taking out the 

 defective parts, without which exportation becomes impossible, 

 on account of their small value. This assorting should be done 

 by agents who have a certain knowledge of the article as Copal 

 gum possesses an infinite variety of qualities according to its 

 degree of hardness. The value of good Copal gum varies from 

 200 to 275 francs per 100 kilograms. 



" If any other information should be of use to the colony of 

 Madagascar, I place myself at the entire disposition of the gov- 

 ernor to furnish it. Yours truly, emile grisar." 



In connection with the current charges of corruption in the 

 postoffice department at Washington, questions have been 

 asked regarding contracts to furnish supplies, obtained by per- 

 sons not manufacturers, sometimes at a lower price than the 

 goods could be made for in the best conducted factories. A 

 postoffice inspector, to illustrate how this might occur, without 

 involving fraud, says : " The rubber pads used by the small 

 offices throughout the country at that time were made in 

 Pennsylvania by women and boys who worked for $4 and $5 a 

 week. The New York bidders figured on paying men $12 to 

 $15 for the work, as the union schedule provided. I don't say 

 that is the case with all the contracts, but I know that in some 

 of them the bidders shaved pennies." 



