June 1. 1920.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



rubber by the Netherlands Overseas Trust to manufacturers was 

 effected at the base price of $1.18 per pound for prime Hevea, 

 plus interest and warehouse charges from March 1, 1918. A 

 lower price for the poorer qualities was fixed only after lengthy 

 negotiations. The total quantity distributed was 464 tons. 

 Manufacturers could use no more because of the lack of neces- 

 sary compounding ingredients. Stocks in mid-July were esti- 

 mated to be sufficient to last six months with a very restricted 

 factory production. 



The amounts of capital invested in Dutch rubber companies in 

 recent years are of interest and were as follows: 1913, $908,520; 

 1914. ^76.i7h; 1915, none; 1916, $522,600; 1917, $2,003,970; 1918, 

 $779,880. 



Rubber goods manufacture seems likely to be stimulated by the 

 newly established cotton exchange of the Rotterdam Cotton As- 

 sociation, which promises to become a formidable competitor of 

 the Bremen exchange. Although the textile industry of the 

 Netherlands has been an important one, Dutch spinners before 

 the war covered their requirements principally in Bremen and 

 to a limited extent in Liverpool. Becoming dissatisfied with the 

 practices of the Bremen merchants in 1915, the new Rotterdam 

 cotton exchange was the result. Several large firms have en- 

 gaged in the business ; leading dock companies have constructed 

 big modern cotton warehouses along the Meuse ; the principal 

 steamship companies will operate direct lines to Galveston and 

 New Orleans at rates not above those to Bremen, and a guar- 

 anty fund has been pledged by Dutch merchants and spinners to 

 defray the heavy initial expenses of the exchange. The Rotter- 

 dam rules have been established on the basis of Washington and 

 Liverpool standards, but on the whole they correspond with the 

 Bremen rules, as Continental buyers and American shippers are 

 fully accustomed to them. 



Rotterdam enjoys excellent shipping facilities essential to the 

 success of this project. Much cheaper freight rates are obtain- 

 able on the rivers Rhine and Meuse to Belgium, the west and 

 south of Germany, Alsace. Switzerland, and even to Austria and 

 Italy, than those by rail from Bremen. Rotterdam also owns 

 several regular direct steamship lines to Denmark, Norway. 

 Sweden. Russia and the Baltic ports of Germany, so that in these 

 countries the new exchange may compete favorably with Bremen. 



A PLANTATION RUBBER KNIFE. 



There is a variety of tapping tools in use at the present 

 time on rubber plantations and all possess practical merit 

 under certain conditions. The tool here illustrated is a type that 

 includes simplicity in construction, adjustment, manner of use 

 and in sharpening. 



It is a modified farrier's knife with a strong tool-steel blade 

 and provided with a "fool proof" adjustable gage for regulat- 

 ing the depth of the cut. The curve of the cutting edge is 



Be.'.rer. 



COMBINED LATEX CUP SUPPORT AND SPOUT. 



This spout-cup bearer is made according to 

 the idea of J. H. Recoert, Soember-Tjoeling, 

 Dampit, Java. The advantages of this inven- 

 tion over all others are that it is suitable for 

 any kind of cup; it does not wound the tree; 

 no hard rubber, less scrap; the cup is easily 

 seen; the tappers have not the slightest trouble 

 with removing and putting back the cups. — 

 (Netherland Indies Metal Ware _ 



& Packing Co.. Malang, Java.) 



THE DELFT RUBBER INSTITUTE. 



The Netherland Government In- 

 stitute for Advising the Rubber 

 Trade and the Rubber Industry was established at Delft some 

 years ago, under the patronage of the International Asso- 

 ciation for the Cultivation of Rubber in the Netlierlands Indies, 

 through the exertions of Professor G. van Iterson. In 1912 the 

 first report and notes of the Institute appeared. A second instal- 

 ment of notes appeared in 1916, making a volume of 500 pages, 

 abstracts of which were published in English in 1917. 



The object of the Institute is to place crude rubber commercial 

 transactions on a scientific basis ; to advise producers how crude 

 rubber should be prepared ; and to inform the trade how various 

 crude rubbers should be treated. 



The Batavia Exposition in 1914. enabled it to analyze samples 

 and to compare the results of its investigation with those reached 

 by the rubber brokers. Since then it has directed its attention to 

 simplifying and shortening the examinations. Similar laboratories 

 have been established in Java, at Kuala Lumpur in the Federated 

 Malay States, and at the Imperial Institute, in London. 



Electro Tapping Tool. 



designed for the purpose of effective cutting and paring, and 

 when necessary the renewal of the edge by sharpening in the 

 usual manner. The handle consists of two hardwood sections, 

 that are riveted to the shank of the blade. (Thomas Newey 

 & Sons. Limited. Birmingham. England.) 



NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST. 



THE Medan Commercial Association states that the total 

 area planted with rubber in the Sumatra liast Coast dis- 

 trict, including the Atohin east coast, at the end of June, 1919, was 

 133,543 hectares, of which 71,415 hectares were producing rub- 

 ber. The whole area, despite unfavorable circumstances, has 

 increased by 10 per cent. 



The Ceylon Department of Agriculture has appointed an in- 

 spector with three sub-inspectors under him to watch the rubber 

 plantations on the island for diseases and insect pests. They 

 are to suggest measures for fighting these when discovered, 

 and to urge the planters to join the official campaign of cure and 

 prevention. 



From Padang in Sumatra, 284,800 pounds of gutta percha 

 were exported in the first six months of 1919. against 85,891 

 pounds in the same period of 1918. 



The Dutch East Indies in the quarter ended September 30, 

 1919. exported to the United States 5.515.840 pounds of rubber 

 valued at $2,165,015; 38.334 pounds of jelufong. val- 

 ued at $3,624, and 4.145 pounds of gutta percha. val- 

 ued at $1,051. 



Calcutta has started a bus service employing 200 

 vehicles equipped with tires specially constructed to 

 meet the difficulties of Calcutta roads. 



India imported rubber tires in the four months from 



.\pril to August, 1919, to the value of 3.560,000 rupees; 



of these the United Stales supplied 1.145.000 rupees 



worth and Japan 9.000 rupees worth. One rupee 



equals $0.32 United States currency. 



Burma's largest ten rubber plantations produced 1.142.383 



pounds of rubber in the first six months of 1919. The exports 



of rubber in those months amounted to 2.206.527 pounds valued 



at $836.0.52. compared with 1.340.074 pounds, valued at $808,831, 



exported in the first six months of 1918. 



