July 1, 1919] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



591 



viscosity is from 1 to 1.01 and at 40 degrees C. it becomes soft. 

 In the raw state it is well adapted for the manufacture of 

 molded articles and use in surgery, dentistry, etc. The strength 

 is less than that of caoutchouc, while the elasticity can be re- 

 tained by a weak vulcanization. The substance can be hardened 

 by vulcanizing and rendered inviolable for surgical and chemi- 

 cal uses. It is especially valuable as an insulating material 

 for electric cables. 



INCREASE OF RUBBER EXPORTS FROM THE STRAITS 

 SETTLEMENTS. 



The statistics given in our issue of April 1, 1919, concerning 

 the gross quantities and values of the imports and exports of 

 rubber for the Straits Settlements during 1917, were compiled 

 before the Government figures were obtainable relative to the 

 imports and e.xports by articles and countries of origin and 

 destination. 



The official figures recently published, according to the United 

 States Consul General at Singapore, show that the total value 

 of rubber exports for 1917 was much larger than that of 1916. 

 United States exports of Para rubber alone amounted in value to 

 $84,000,000, as compared with $47,291,000 in 1916. Imports of 

 manufactured rubber from the United States show a decrease of 

 $26,000 for 1917, compared with 1916 figures. 



In the following table is given the value of the imports and 

 exports of crude and manufactured india rubber and gutta 

 percha for 1916 and 1917: 



EXPORTS. 



U.NMANUFACTUEED^ 1916. 1917. 



India and Borneo rubber: Value. Value. 



To United Kingdom $421,000 $133,000 



.Tapan 112,000 68.000 



United States 27,000 25.000 



Totals $560,000 $226,000 



Para rubber: 



To United Kingdom $15,564,000 $18,201,000 



Australia 203 000 266.000 



Canada 885,000 6,554.000 



France 635,000 1,034.000 



Italy 167,000 1.236.000 



Japan 2,812,000 3,610,000 



Russia 6,716.000 3.173,000 



United States 47,291,000 84.000.000 



Totals $74,273,000 $118,074,000 



Gutta percha: 



To United Kingdom $558,000 $865,000 



France 8,000 23.000 



Italy 1,000 20.000 



Japan 11,000 30.000 



Russia 20.000 



United States 261.000 600,000 



Totals $839,000 $1,558,000 



IMPORTS. 

 Manufactuped — 

 Tires: 



From United Kingdom $'419,000 $223,000 



Australia 46,000 



France 54,000 253.000 



Italy 204.000 202.000 



Japan 258,000 138.000 



United States 91,000 66,000 



Totals $1,026,000 $928,000 



Druggists' and dentists' sundries: 



From United Kingdom $24,000 $19,000 



United States 14,000 10.000 



Totals $38,000 $29,000 



Other rubber goods: 



From United Kingdom $60,000 $71,000 



France 4,000 



Japan 34.000 44.000 



United States 5,000 4.00O 



Totals $103,000 $119,000 



'A peso equals $0,965 United States currency. 



BOLIVIA APPROVES PLAN FOR RUBBER GOODS FACTORY. 



The National Congress of Bolivia has approved the law pro- 

 jected by the President, by which fifty per cent of a capital 

 of 300,000 boHvianos (1 boliviano = $0,389) is guaranteed for the 

 establishment of a rubber goods factory in Santa Cruz, or 

 Cochabamba. ("Bulletin of the Pan American Union.") 



MEXICO TO HAVE NEW RUBBER FACTORY. 



The Fomento de Comercio Internacional, S. A. (International 

 Commerce Exchange), is the name of the new rubber com- 

 pany which is building a factory in Mexico City, Mexico, for 

 the manufacture of automobile tires and inner tubes. While not 

 yet completed, work on production has already been begun, about 

 100 hands being employed. About 25 tires and tubes daily are 

 now being turned out, according to the president of the concern. 



The factory is of modern brick and cement construction, 

 with its own electric lighting plant, and oil is used for fuel. 

 It is equipped with American machinery and American fore- 

 men are in charge. 



Equipment for the manufacture of raincoats, hot-water bags, 

 and rubber soles and heels has also been installed, and the 

 company hopes later to manufacture all kinds of rubber goods, 

 employing 350 hands when running at full capacity. 



There is one other small rubber factory in Mexico City, 

 equipped for the manufacture of rubber tires, but it is pro- 

 ducing none at present. 



RUBBER EQUIPMENT FOR MEXICAN RAILVkfAYS. 



Among the items of rubber materials required by railway lines 

 south of Mexico City are the following : 15,300 pieces air-brake 

 hose, and 3,150 pieces air hose. 



Quotations should be addressed to either Mr. Silviano Pru- 

 neda. Purchasing .'\gent, Estacion Buenavista, Ferrocarril Mexi- 

 cano, Mexico, D. F., or to Mr. F. P. de Hoyos, General Agent, 

 Mexican Government Railway Administration, Woolworth 

 Building, New York City. 



GUAYULE FROM THE TORREON DISTRICT OF MEXICO. 



Guayule rubber has been manufactured and exported of late 

 from the consular district of Torreon, Mexico, at the rate of 

 about 500,000 pounds a month, the exports to the United States 

 for the month of March amounting to 442,596 pounds valued 

 at $112,751. This district includes the southwestern quarter of 

 Coahuila, the northwestern corner of Zacatecas and the entire 

 state of Durango except the railroad terminals in the north- 

 west and guayule rubber is one of the leading sources of wealth 

 of the district. 



RUBBER TEXTILE IMPORTS INTO ARGENTINA. 



Statistics for the year 1917 and the first quarters of 1918 show 

 that Argentina imported during those respective periods rubber- 

 ized textiles as follows : 



First 



Articles Quarter, 1917. 



1918. 



Elastic garters, siik or mixture fcMs' 4,983 16,632 



Elastic garters, thread 4,418 21,2S1 



Silk elastic for boots 1,791 5,073 



Thread elastic for boots 6,054 41,176 



Rubberized silk or crepe 5.376 36.300 



Waterproof cir.th 31,912 117,755 



Elastic fabric other kinds 27,271 126.525 



Waterproof coats 2,847 14,484 



Soles for canvas shoes 45,149 139,849 



Totals pesos 129.801 519,045 



'A peso equals $0,965 United Stales currency. 



PANAMA SIGNS THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS' TREATY. 



The Panama Government has ratified the commercial travel- 

 ers' treaty with the United States, the purposes of which are 

 to facilitate the operations of commercial travelers and to foster 

 trade. Panama is one of the fourteen countries which have 

 agreed to such a treaty, Uruguay and Guatemala having al- 

 ready signed similar agreements. The United States Senate has 

 ratified the Uruguay and Guatemala treaties. 



Under these treaties commercial travelers may operate through- 

 out the country for a single fee, and samples without commer- 

 cial value will be admitted free of duty. 



