836 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[Seitember 1, 1920. 



Ostcrrictli & Co., Societe Anonyme Bunge, Willaert Freres, G. 

 & C. Kreglinger, Compagnie du Kasai, Grisar & Co., "Belgica" 

 Comptoir Colonial; the last-named company has been particu- 

 larly active in the planting of Hevca in the Congo and has 

 plantations which have entered the productive period. 



Of the exhibits, one of the most interesting certainly was a 

 case of samples of Hcvca from the plantations in the Congo 

 run by the State and by the two companies that have persevered 

 in planting Hevea, namely, the Forminiere and the Belgica. The 

 samples are said to be of excellent quality and were quoted in 

 Antwerp at as high as 14-15 francs per kilo. It is further stated 

 that in spite of doubting spirits, Hevca in the Congo is succeeding. 

 The root disease from which the young trees suffered at first 

 has been stopped and the trees are big yielders of excellent 

 rubber. Many of the 7- to 8-year-old trees are said to have 

 circumferences of over a meter (39.37 inches). 



The annual production of plantation rubber in the Congo is 

 estimated to be around 500 tons. And by the way, the estimated 

 output of wild rubber for 1920 is 2,500,000 kilos. In 1917 the 

 yield was 2,659,000 kilos. 



AH strength to the little country that put up such a brave 

 fight during the great war, and is with equal pluck making 

 strenuous efforts to win its way back to prosperity . 



COMPAGNIE BEEGOUGNAN BELGE. 



The Societe Generale des Etablissements Bergougnan, whose 

 headquarters are at Clermont-Ferrand, France, has just estab- 

 lished a branch in Belgium known as the Compagnie Bergougnan 

 Beige. Its object is the commerce and industry of rubber and 

 other gums, rubbered fabrics, chemical and industrial products 

 for the manufacture of rubber and other gums, and of all that 

 is connected with that branch of the industry ; further, it will 

 manufacture and sell all articles of metal or other substances 

 that are related to the cycle, automobile and general vehicle in- 

 dustry. The capital of 20,000,000 francs is represented by 40,000 

 shares of 500 francs each, and 20,000 founders' shares. 



The first directors are: Raymond Bergougnan, Etienne 

 Clementcl, Jean Bergougnan, Albert Galicier, Adrien Josse, 

 Baron Edouard Empain, Frangois Empain, Georges Theunis and 

 Albert Mary. 



BELGIUM'S COMMERCIAL REVIVAI.. 



That Belgium is picking up rapidly is abundantly apparent, 

 and really all the trumps are with her; the sympathy of the 

 world; a rich colony to develop and a thrifty, hard-working 

 population ; no Near Eastern question to bother about ; no road 

 to India to guard; being such a small country and having suf- 

 fered so much in the war, she is not expected to take up un- 

 desirable burdens and to interfere when she would rather not. 



Consequently she is able to concentrate ail her efforts on re- 

 gaining her former prosperitj', and statistics show that she is on 

 the highway to success. It is held that of all the European 

 countries, Belgium's condition is the soundest. During the first 

 quarter of 1919, Belgium had an unfavorable trade balance of 

 over 91 per cent ; the first three months of this year showed 

 that the adverse balance had been cut to 42.1 per cent. 



Her shipping is also picking up ; since the war 24 steamship 

 companies have been established in Antwerp; of these 10 have 

 a total capital of 211,500,000 francs. The other 14 each have a 

 capital of less than one million francs. 



RESTORING THE ELASTICITY OF RUBBER. 



Rubber articles that have become hard recover elasticity if 

 soaked in three per cent carbolic water or three per cent aniline 

 solution. In carbolic water black goods become gray. If it is 

 desired to preserve the black or red color of the goods, that 

 can be done by using a one per cent solution of pentasulphide 

 of potash. This smells unpleasant, but the restoration of 

 elasticity is quite considerable. 



THE RUBBER INDUSTRY IN AUSTRIA. 



By a Special Correspondent. 



MEN closely connected with the conditions in the Austrian 

 rubber industry are inclined to be more hopeful about the 

 economic future of Austria. It seems that the Austrian rubber 

 manufacturers have been able to collect a fairly efficient labor 

 force ?,nd will endeavor to specialize in the manufacture of high- 

 class rubber goods requiring special skill for their production. 

 For this kind of work Austria seems to be well equipped and as 

 high prices can be obtained today for practically all articles re- 

 quiring a large percentage of labor there is hope that Austria 

 may be remunerated for her efforts. Among the principal ob- 

 stacles to the development of the Austrian rubber industry at the 

 present mom.ent are the frequent internal political crises which 

 are interrupting the slow progress of reconstruction which is 

 being carried out with great energy by the manufacturers. 



NOTES FROM GERMANY. 



A somewhat peculiar experience is that of the German rubber 

 sole industry. During the war rubber and substitute soles were 

 much in demand. This enthusiasm for rubber footwear has con- 

 tinued all through the first year after the war. Now there is 

 suddenly a falling off in the demand. The manufacturers thought 

 that the decline in orders was due only to the general depression 

 of the market, but it appears now that the German public is not 

 so interested in rubber soles and heels as formerly. Great ef- 

 forts have been made to retain the business, but notwithstanding, 

 fewer rubber soles are sold and the demand for leather soles 

 increases. Two reasons are given for this occurrence. The first 

 is the comparatively low price of leather following the recent 

 readjustment of hide prices and the second the poor quality of 

 most of the rubber soles manufactured at the present time by the 

 German manufacturers. A contributing cause which is of minor 

 importance is the disinclination of the rubber goods dealers to 

 sell rubber soles in competition with other retailers, such as dry 

 goods stores, etc. The sale of rubber goods is still specialized 

 in Germany and there are quite a number of goods stores dealing 

 in nothing else but rubber articles. These stores are looking 

 askance upon the wholesale distribution of rubber heels and in 

 some cases have refused to handle the goods of factories dealing 

 with other retailers. 



The manufacturers of sporting shoes with rubber soles report 

 a heavy decline in orders, due principally to the high prices still 

 ruling. The fact is that the German public has regained its usual 

 understanding of the value of money and is not inclined to spend 

 as recklessly as a few months ago. This naturally has an effect 

 upon the distribution of high-priced goods, and where four 

 months ago any price would have been paid, today the customer 

 will leave the shop and think twice before purchasing. 



The Central Union of Surgical Rubber Goods Dealers is firing 

 a broadside at the Commissioner of Imports and Exports against 

 the recent regulation which forces exporters to quote in foreign 

 money units. It seems that the necessity of quoting in foreign 

 money has led to a considerable reduction in foreign orders for 

 German merchandise and that other difficulties have resulted from 

 the regulation. It is, for instance, practically impossible for any 

 German merchant to draw a perfect balance as he never knows 

 how he stands with reference to his foreign credits. The Sur- 

 gical Rubber Goods Dealers are of the opinion that it should 

 be left to the exporter to say whether he wants to quote in Ger- 

 man or foreign money. 



The same association has also raised a protest against the re- 

 cent law imposing a duty of ten per cent on all exports. 



GERMAN CRUDE RUBBER MARKET. 



A market for crude rubber has been established in Hamburg 

 and rubber importers are again able to quote German prices, 

 subject, however, to frequent changes. The following are the 

 prices ruling the first week of July: crepe, finest light, iZ marks 

 per kilogram; first latex crepe, thick, 33 marks; prime smoked 



