298 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June 



1904. 



VIEWS OF AN AMAZON MERCHANT. 



THE output of rubber from the Amazon river thus far this 

 season has shown an increase over the corresponding 

 months of any preceding year, though it does not follow that, 

 at the close of the season, on June 30, a larger output for the 

 year will be shown. According to a rubber merchant from the 

 Amazon, the annual rise in the rivers made an earlier opening 

 of the navigable season than usual, with the result that rubber 

 began to arrive in the markets from certain streams earlier 

 than in some former years. Besides, there was a higher stage of 

 water than in some years, which was further favorable to ship- 

 ping interests. The amount of rubber yet to arrive, at any 

 date in the season, is always an unknown quantity at Para and 

 Manaos, so that the end of the season must arrive before the 

 total production is known. The impression prevails, however, 

 in view of the men and provisions sent upstream this season, 

 that the total "crop " will be larger than in any past year. 



[Since this article was written, it appears that arrivals at Pard 

 have already been larger than for any whole year in the past. 

 — The Editor.] 



The establishment of peace in the hitherto disputed region 

 of the Acre, while followed of course by a larger production of 

 rubber than during the same months of last season, has not yet 

 resulted in as large arrivals from that source as in former years. 

 No doubt is felt, however, that ultimately the Acre output will 

 be very largely increased. Meanwhile trouble is brewing in 

 another quarter — the upper Jurua river region, to which Peru 

 now lays claim — with the result that smaller shipments of rub- 

 ber have been made from there.' Against this shortage, how- 

 ever, maybe considered the somewhat larger arrivals of fine 

 rubber from Iquitos, due, as is supposed, to a certain quantity 

 of rubber which otherwise would find its way down the Jurua, 

 being carried through other channels to the upper Amazon, and 

 thence past Iquitos. These suggestions are offered by the rub- 

 ber merchant above mentioned. 



" When there is a heavy advance in crude rubber prices, who 

 pockets the additional cost ? " the Amazon merchant was asked 

 by an India Rubber World representative. 



•' The owners of the seringuals get it — the first handlers of 

 the rubber," he replied. " Our house are very large buyers of 

 rubber, but only on a commission basis. We never engage in 

 any speculation, and the price of rubber is not a matter of con- 

 cern to us. The rate of commission is the same, whether the 

 market is high or low, though of course the higher the market, 

 the larger the volume of commissions on a given transaction. 

 Prices are made by supply and demand ; if manufacturers are 

 eager for rubber, when stocks are small, prices go up, just as 

 they go down when the conditions are reversed. But when 

 prices do go up, it means more money for the man in charge of 

 gathering rubber and shipping it to the prime markets, as 

 Mandos and Paid." 



" What is the effect of higher prices in stimulating the pro- 

 duction of rubber ? " 



" It has an immediate effect if prices happen to be high at 

 the beginning of a season, for then the owners of seringuals, 

 the houses which advance supplies, and everybody else con- 

 cerned in getting out rubber, plan for larger operations, but 

 after the arrangements for the season have been made, it is too 

 late for any advance in rubber prices to have much effect upon 

 production. Higher prices at any time, however, will have a 

 certain effect, since the conditions of the market become known 

 even in the remoter districts. The principal reliance for rubber 

 gathering is on the Cearenses, who leave their homes annually 

 and go up the Amazon to the rubber fields. The most usual 



method is for these men to sell the rubber which they gather 

 to the owner of the seringual who employs them, and whatever 

 is coming to them after paying for their transportation and 

 subsistence they are able to take home to their families. Nat- 

 urally they want to make as much as possible, and high prices 

 will induce them to work in weather that otherwise would de- 

 ter them from work. For instance, in rainy weather the rubber 

 sap may become so saturated with water that it cannot be 

 smoked, yielding only sernamby (coarse rubber), and unless 

 prices are very favorable the seringuiiros may prefer to do 

 nothing rather than work under such conditions." 



" What is the outlook for the future rubber output in the 

 Amazon valley ? " 



" It is largely a question of labor. There is no shortage of 

 rubber sources to be feared, but the supply of rubber gatherers 

 is limited, and thus far no alien labor has proved successful. 

 The Cearenses for the most part undertake the risk of going 

 up the Amazon only on account of the frequent droughts in 

 their own district which prevent them from farming. A good 

 year in Ceard would lessen very materially the supply of rub- 

 ber gatherers from that region. Every year, however, some of 

 the Cearenses who go up the rivers settle there, thus adding to 

 a permanent force of trained rubber workers, which has a fa- 

 vorable effect upon the rubber gathering industry," 



NEW TRADE PUBLICATIONS. 



UNDER date of June 1 W. D. Allen Manufacturing 

 Co. (Chicago) issue their Catalogue No. 21 of Belting, 

 Rubber Goods, Mill and General Supplies. It is not only the 

 largest catalogue in this field that has been issued by any 

 house, but comprises a more extensive line of goods — all suit- 

 ably described and illustrated, and prices given. The Rubber 

 Goods Department, which is a prominent feature, embraces 

 belting, hose for all purposes, packing, gaskets, valves, mats 

 and matting. In the same connection are listed a great variety 

 of hose couplings, nozzles, lawn sprinklers, and the like. It 

 would seem that this book might serve as a complete buyer's 

 directory for any mill supply house. [6%'"X9^". 512 pages.] 



G. & J. Tire Co., (Indianapolis, Indiana) issue a booklet of 

 halftones illustrating the tour of Mr. W. A. De Gress, who 

 rode " G. & J." tires to the top of Popocatepetl — claimed to be 

 the highest altitude to which a bicycle has been ridden. 

 [4%"X IO "- 16 pages. ]==An attractive new poster has also 

 been received from the company. 



Grand Rapids Felt Boot Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) 

 issue their yearly catalogue and price list of Rubber Boots and 

 Shoes, for 1904. A full line of goods is embraced, in first and 

 second quality brands, the latter being stamped "Wolverine 

 Rubber Co." [3H" X 6". 40 pages.] 



ALSO RECEIVED. 



Boston Woven Hose and Rubber Co. , Boston = Boston Spray Noz- 

 zle. 8 pages. 



The Dunlop Tire Co., Limited, Toronto, Canada=P ' Horscology. 

 [Relates to Horseshoe Pads ] 16 pages. 



The " Stitch-in-Time " Vulcanizer Co , Topeka, Kansas=" Stitch-in- 

 Time" Vulcanizer [for tire repairs]. 4 pages. 



Marsh Rubber Finger Pad Co., Manchester, New Hampshire= 

 Marsh's Hygienic Finger Pad. 8 pages. 



Charles Nuhring, No. 907 Walnut street, Cincinnati, Ohio=Interior 

 Fire Hose Appliances [fire hose racks]. 26 pages. 



Lamb & Tilden, Washington, D. C. = "A11 Rubber" Stamps. 8 

 pages. 



Wirt & Knox Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia=Catalogue for 1904. 

 Wirt's Patent Hose Carts, Reels, and Racks. 24 pages. 



