January i, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



133 



THE TEXTILE GOODS MARKET. 



THE price of raw material has reached an altitude not re- 

 corded since 1875, ar >d there are predictions that cotton 

 will go to 15 cents, and possibly higher, before a new crop 

 comes on. A bale of spot " middling " cotton in New York at 

 this writing is valued at 14.10 cents a pound, while at this time 

 last year it was worth 8.85 cents, making a difference of $26.25 

 a bale. The 14 cent mark was passed on December 28, when 

 that price was bid for March, with all the later months up to 

 August much higher. The " bull " leaders have millions of dol- 

 lars at their back, while the " bears" have been greatly weak- 

 ened by their heavy losses, and it seems to be a case where the 

 " money makes the mare go." 



The statistical position or any other factor is quickly swept 

 aside by the tremendous manipulation of the bull faction. They 

 have not hesitated to liquidate large accounts, for just as soon 

 as the market was seen to sag a little they stepped in and buoy- 

 ed it up by a spurt of buying. The manipulators take out their 

 profits from time to time only to again invest them, and like a 

 rolling snowball they increase in size. It is contended by many 

 while admitting that the crop of cotton is short, the prices are 

 too high for this time of the year, and yet they fail to suggest 

 something that will break them. They hope to see them topple 

 over from becoming top-heavy. Following are the prices of 

 cotton middling upland spots at the leading ports : 



New York. New Orleans. Liverpool. 



December 1 11,95 cents 11.50 cents 6 \od. 



December 8 12.50 cents 12.25 cents b.^bd. 



December 15 14.45 cents 12% cents b.y^d. 



December 22 13.30 cents 13 cents 7.061/. 



December 29 i4.iocents 13^ cents 7-4 oa '- 



The market for duck and sheeting has followed in the wake 

 of staple cotton, although it cannot be said that the goods have 

 advanced in proportion to the staple. The cotton duck mills 

 have instructed their selling agents in this market to withdraw 

 all prices, and to refrain from accepting contracts at current 

 rates. About two thirds of the rubber trade using duck have 

 made their yearly contracts, while the remainder are buying 

 only for immediate requirements. In the latter case they are 

 paying from 22 to 24 cents per pound, while those who made 

 contracts a month ago secured their supplies for the year at 

 2o# cents. 



The duck mills are closing up last year's contracts. They 

 have enough cotton on hand to carry them along into the 

 spring, or at least a sufficient quantity to cover the contracts in 

 hand. This cotton was bought at below 10 cents, doubtless, and 

 now ihit the manufacturers are compelled to pay approxi- 

 mately 14 cents, they are of course obliged to advance the price 

 of their product. 



The representative of a concern supplying the rubber trade 

 with cotton duck said to an India Rubber World reporter : 

 " I have endeavored in a great many ways to persuade the rub- 

 ber people to contract for their supply of cloth before the price 

 advanced, as it seemed from every conceivable standpoint that 

 cotton was to reach a high level before the spring, but these 

 consumers sneered at the suggestion. I have recently received 

 contracts from rubber mills for duck at 23 cents per pound, 

 while the same goods were offered them a short time ago at 

 20# cents. Of course, they admit that they made a mistake in 

 not taking my advice, but they were the buyers and I was the 

 seller and we were looking at prices from an entirely different 

 standpoint. Then too, the rubber manufacturers are inclined 

 to accuse us of being too narrow in respect to our credit sys- 

 tem. If we have changed our method of extending credit, and 

 are not as liberal as formerly, there is good reason for it, and it 



certainly will not militate against their interests. Now that we 

 have withdrawn our prices, consumers will be compelled to pay 

 for what goods they take, as the withdrawal of prices does not 

 necessarily mean that we will not contract to supply the con- 

 sumers, but they will be compelled to pay a price based on the 

 cost of cotton from which their goods are to be made." 



PRICES CURRENT FOR SHEETINGS FOR THE RUBBER TRADE. 

 Tick. Yds. to Lb. 



36° Household Favorite 6 cents. 



40" Household Favorite 6fs cents. 



36" Henrietta, L. L 5% cents. 



39" Henrietta, H (net) = ;£ cents. 



38J" Henrietta, S (net) 5 cents. 



40" Henrietta, P. W 7^ cents. 



36" Florence C 4 X cents. 



40" Majestic C. C (net) 8 "^ cents. 



40" Majestic B. B. B " 7% cents. 



40" Majestic B. B " 7^ cents. 



40' Norwood ... " s'i cents. 



36" India, A. A. A " 7 cents. 



Sheetings. 40" Selkirk. . . . 8 c. 40" Shamrock. . 10 c. 



40' Highgate . . . 63/c. 40" Sellew 7M"c. Ducts. 



40' Hightown. ..7 c. 48' Mohawk. . .11 c. 40* 7 oz. Cran- 



40" Hobart 7'^c. 40" Marcus. .. 6}£c. ford. ...10 c. 



40" Kingstons. ..3 c. 40' Mallory 6 c. 40" 8oz. Chart- 



39" Stonyhurst.. .6 c. 36" Capstans. . ..4^-20. res ioj^c. 



39" Sorosis 5j^c. Osnaburgs. 40" iooz.Carew. 13 c. 



40' Seefeld 8#c. 40" Iroquois. ...10 c. 40' 11 oz.Carita.14 c - 



HYDROCARBONS IN RUBBER COMPOUNDS. 



THE term " hydrocarbon" is a convenient chemical designa- 

 tion for any compound containing only hydrogen and 

 carbon. The use of the term is frequent in connection with the 

 rubber industry, for the reason that certain groups of such 

 bodies, both native and artificial, have been for years in common 

 use as ingredients in rubber mixtures. Typical among such 

 mixtures may be mentioned tarand pitch, from the destructive 

 distillation of wood or bituminous coal, and, in more recent 

 practice, the natural bitumens, such as Asphaltum ("mineral 

 rubber"), Gilsonite, and other similar substances. 



The adaptability of these substances to rubber compounding 

 is due to their possessing to a greater or lesser degree certain 

 physical resemblances to India-rubber — especially plasticity 

 and low melting point. These characteristics permit the bitu- 

 mens to be easily combined with rubber and earthy matters, 

 and in this way they assist very considerably the mixing of 

 what otherwise would be over-compounded and utterly un- 

 mixable stocks. 



Being practically proof against oxidation and inert to chemi- 

 cal action, the presence of these hydrocarbons is entirely 

 harmless in a rubber compound as affecting the life of the stock. 

 They may be credited with actually having a beneficial effect, 

 inasmuch as they not only add plasticity to the stock and retard 

 its rapid drying before vulcanization, but they fill the space of, 

 and thus exclude, much of the air which is always included, to 

 a considerable extent, in every rubber mixing. By thus dis- 

 placing air, which would otherwise be enclosed in the stock, 

 the hydrocarbons practically lessen the internal oxidation of 

 the cured rubber, and in consequence the life of the goods is 

 lengthened. 



While these hydrocarbon stocks have a recognized place and 

 value in the rubber industry, they ought always to be considered 

 as " assistants " or " doctors " rather than substitutes for rub- 

 ber, which they are not. In employing them the manufacturer 

 should do so with proper regard to the adaptability of the re- 

 sulting compound to the purposes intended. Thus employed 

 such materials have their legitimate uses, and may be regarded 

 as valuable compounding ingredients. 



