October i, 1907.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



21 



RUBBER AT THE TOKIO EXHIBITION. 



THE GUAYULE INTEREST. 



BY A RESIDENT CORRESPONDENT. 



nP O THE Editor of The India Rubber World: The Tokio 

 ■'■ Local Exhibition, opened in Uyeno Park on March 20 and 

 only just closed, illustrated in a very encouraging manner the 

 industrial progress now being made in Japan. The broader appli- 

 cation of science and art to our industries within recent years, 

 with the aid afforded by capitalists, has led to development in all 

 branches in marked contrast with the comparatively primitive 

 conditions prevailing up to less than a decade. 



This improvement refers in no small degree to manufactures 

 of india-rubber. At the fifth Japanese National Exhibition, held 

 at Osaka in 1902, tha exhibits of rubber goods of domestic manu- 

 facture were much inferior to those in the same classes shown 

 by foreign makers. At the late Tokio Local Exhibition, as its 

 name implies, only local manufacturers were invited to exhibit ; 

 it was not even open to all Japan. But the display of rubber 

 goods was of striking interest, and gave evidence of remarkable 

 progress in this industry. The range of rubber exhibits is indi- 

 cated by the following list of the principal displays : 



Gomel Kaisha Mitatsuchi showed especially ebonite for elec- 

 trical uses ; also, rubber tires, divers' suits, rubber balls, and 

 hygienic articles. They were awarded a silver medal of honor. 



Meija Gomu Meiji (Meiji Rubber Works) exhibited automo- 

 bile tires, bicycle tires, hydraulic hose for 4000 pounds pressure, 

 vacuum hose, and ebonite goods. A sample was shown of hose 

 12 inches in diameter made especially for the navy, for dis- 

 charging water from the warships captured during the Russo- 

 Japanese war. This hose and the automobile tires attracted 

 special attention. A silver medal of honor was awarded to this 

 exhibit. 



Tokio Rubber Works, Limited, received a diploma of the tirst 

 order for a display in which rubber rolls and belting predomi- 

 nated. Paper mill rolls were shown, 8 feet long and 10 inches in 

 diameter, and belting up to 20 inches. The exhibit included also 

 suction hose, packings, and rubber sheeting. 



Nippon Gomu Kabushiki (Nippon Rubber Co., Limited) ex- 

 hibited suction and delivery hoses, packings, and rubber gloves 

 and balls. Their "Anchor Brand" suction hose is this firm's 

 specialty and has attracted much attention in the market. Award : 

 Diploma of the first order. 



Exhibits were made likewise by the Ida Shoten, of general 

 rubber goods ; the Kamijo Shoten, balloons and caster rollers ; 

 K. Furukawa, rubber balls ; Nomoto Kojo, bicycle tires, soles, 

 and hose pipes. 



Fujikura Insulated Wire and Rubber Co. were exhibitors of 

 rubber insulated wire of every description. Their display in- 

 cluded some special wires which have been adapted b\ 

 the army and by the navy of Japan. Such supplies until 

 recently were all obtained abroad. But since the 

 product of the Fujikura company has been adopted, their 

 wires are being used exclusively. They have also been 

 appointed makers of wires for the department of com- 

 munication, being the only Japanese makers so approved. 

 The department named is very particular in its wire 

 specifications, there being very few manufacturers 

 abroad whose product has been approved by it. 



Tokio. Japan, .\ugust 15, 1907. KENZO OKAD.A. 



[The Tokio exposition buildings were numerous, 

 many on a large scale, and attractive architecturally ; 

 as indicated by views of two of them on another page. 

 These buildings were described as the "First Com- 

 pound" and the "Second Compound" and designed for 

 general prohibition purposes, besides which there were 

 many buildings for specific classes of exhibits. Not the 

 least interesting feature, from the Japanese viewpoint, 

 w«§ the war equipment manufactured at home. — The 

 Editcr.] 



D IDS were opened at Austin, Texas, on September 5, under 

 ^ the law passed in that state in April last for the sale of the 

 guayule shrubs on lands belonging to the state. It was required 

 (i) that bids for guayule should be for the entire supply within 

 the state: (2) that no raw guayule should be shipped outside, 

 but must be manufactured into finished products within the state; 

 and (3) that no bid would be accepted from any person who is 

 "a party to or a member of any trust, monopoly, or combination 

 in restraint of trade." Though not officially stated at last 

 accounts, it is understood that the highest bidder was an attorney 

 of San Antonio, Texas, representing the Big Bend Manufactur- 

 ing Co., a corporation of Delaware, which on September S 

 received a permit to do business in Texas. The bidder men- 

 tioned said that his principals intended putting up a $200,000 

 factory near Eagle Pass. They estimated the total guayule 

 shrub supply in the whole of the state of Texas at 180,000 to 

 200,000 tons. 



AT TORREON. 



Charles J. McGregor, who died at Torreon, Mexico, on August 

 13, aged about 35 years, was a native of Geneva, Ohio, where his 

 remains were sent. He settled in Mexico some ten years ago, 

 practically without capital, and acquired a fortune, partially 

 through the guayule interest. He started a guayule rubber factory 

 at Torreon, which got into operation in May, 1906, after which 

 time it was at work day and night. The Indi.\ Rubber World is 

 informed that McGregor left his estate in good shape and that 

 the operation of the factory is being continued. 



The law making Torreon a city became effective on September 

 16, which event was the occasion of the greatest celebration ever 

 seen in that place. The program for the day formed part of the 

 usual celebration of that date, which was the anniversary of the 

 declaration of Mexican independence. The progress of Torreon 

 has been very rapid of late, being contributed to not a little by 

 the development of the guayule rubber interest there. Guayule 

 is now the largest item of export from Torreon. The value of 

 guayule shipped during July was $468,050.97 (Mex.), and during 

 .August $532,481.71. 



Just before starting for the United States on his summer 

 vacation, J. A. Whitcomb, superintendent of the guayule factory 

 of the Continental Rubber Co. at Torreon, was tendered an enter- 

 tainment at the clubhouse maintained by and for the employes, 

 that was largely attended from Torreon and a number of neigh- 

 boring places. The finest orchestra in northern Mexico was 

 secured, and a special train on the Mexican International railway 

 chartered. 



>.ma,i^1ti 



A Huge Japanese Made Cannon at the Exhibition. 



