JULV 



1919. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



593 



RUBBER IN THE BENI DISTRICT OF BOLIVIA. 



From the British Vice-Consul, Riberalta. 



TRADE DEi'KEssiON ill the Belli district, which marked the 

 opening quarter of 1918, continued with greater emphasis 

 during the quarter ended 30th June. 



Owing to late rains and the conseqeunt water-logged condi- 

 tion of the estates, the extraction and transport of rubber to 

 suitable points on the rivers for exportation were greatly re- 

 tarded. This fact, however, did not materially influence the 

 rubber market, as, owing to the lack of transport facilities at 

 the Atlantic ports during the first quarter of the year, large 

 stocks became accumulated, and for this reason chiefly trade 

 depression was markedly felt. 



DIFFICTTLTIES OF THE INDUSTRY. 



The prices for fine rubber, both in the English and United 

 States markets during the quarter ended 30th June were con- 

 sidered fairly satisfactory, even taking into consideration the 

 high rates for transport and insurance. To the scarcity ol 



Cutting Rubber fko-m P.vudles, Bolivi.v. 



shipping at the Atlantic pons is attributed the most acute crisis 

 which has ever been felt in the Bolivian rubber industry. For 

 a time it was believed that Brazilian rubber was getting the 

 preference of shipment, over Bolivian transit rubber, at the ports 

 of Manaos and Para, and while this would only seem to have 

 been a natural procedure, no proof was ever forthcoming in 

 support of the allegation which doubtless originated in subtle 

 pro-German minds. 



The two largest exporters of rubber from the Beni received 

 instructions during the period tmder review to withhold all 

 exportation, and the smaller firms, dealing through commercial 

 houses in the Brazilian centres of Manaos and Para, were com- 

 pelled to adopt a similar action on account of the lack of buyers, 

 w^hose business disappeared with the scarcity of shipping at 

 these ports. A moderate estimate of* the stocks of rubber and 

 caucho stored in Riberalta and Cachuela Esperanza ready for 

 export on June 30 was 1,000 tons. The inevitable result of 

 this accumulation of stocks was a big slump in the local prices. 

 Hesitancy characterized the action of the limited circle of 

 buyers, and only nominal rates were ofifered, fine rubber being 

 quoted at \s. per poimd, and caucho at Ad. per pound, thus af- 

 fording a magnificent opportunity to the speculator with a 

 little ready capital. 



MOVEMENT OF BOLIVIAN RUBBER. 



The following table shows the movement of Bolivian rubber 

 from the three principal northern centres of export, by way 

 of the Madeira-Mamore Railway, with outlet to the Amazon 

 at Porto Velho, for the first six months of the year, the figures 



for the corresponding periods of 1917 and 1916 being given for 

 comparison. From these statistics it will be seen that the crisis 

 really only began to be realized in the month of June, when 

 exports were restricted to approximately 60 tons. 



VIA VILLA BELLA (BENI DISTRICT). 



1>J16, 1917. 1918. 



January kUos 179,015 194,587 278,856 



February 161.2)7 146,754 199,864 



March 246,927 347,825 181,237 



Apiil 112,89) 200,500 44,520 



May 202,993 209,613 277,685 



June )33,505 96,284 )7,290 



Totals ),03S,548 ),)95,563 999,452 



VIA MANOA (RIVER NEGRO DISTRICT). 



19)6. 1917. 1918. 



January kilos 154,549 203,689 162,068 



February 132,037 89,763 197,612 



March 85,625 146,926 78,773 



Ar.ril 84,235 126,728 70,522 



May 31.872 84.325 81.040 



June 65,433 96,542 34,019 



Totals 553.751 747.973 624,034 



VIA GUAYARA MERIN (MAMORE DISTRICT). 



19:6. 1917. 1918. 



January kilos 10,865 1,136 



February Kl,n67 1,617 



March 3,667 18,688 



.^pul 2.919 1,906 11,165 



-Ma> 8.792 29,069 



June 1,130 12,956 7,968 



Totals 17,475 73,484 21,886 



The following is a summary of the preceding tables: 



1916. 1917. 1918. 



Villa Bella kilos 1,036,548 1,195,563 999,452 



Manoa 553,751 747,973 624,034 



Guayara Merin 17,475 73,484 21,886 



Totals 1.607.774 2,017,020 1.645,372 



NEW WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS. 



The extension of radiographic communication with Brazil has 

 ii.cn effected, an arrangement which offers great facilities to 

 rubber merchants whose interests are bound up with the Ama- 

 zon valley. At Trinidad, the capital of the province of the Beni, 

 a wireless has been established on the Telefunken system, while 

 at Cobija, the frontier town of the Brazilian Acre territory, 

 another is being built. In addition to these improvements, the 

 Bolivian Government has made a further concession to the 

 public by the reduction of wireless rates by 50 per cent, resulting 

 in a notably increased business. 



RUBBER IN SEYCHELLES. 



Rubber exports from Seychelles during 1917 amounted to 

 8,631 pounds, valued at $1,907.84; in 1916. to 6,025 pounds, and 

 in 1915, to 625 pounds. New areas are being opened for plant- 

 ing and there are enough trees already set out to produce 

 224,000 pounds in a few years. 



The rubber is remarkably free from disease and actually 

 thrives on the lateritic soil of this country, which is quite worn 

 out. Signs of two kinds of fungi have been reported which 

 were identified as Himeola hispidula, a harmless species grow- 

 ing on any dead branches, and Hcxagonia discopoda, having a 

 peculiar inclination for the dead branches of trees that are alive. 



DISCOVERY OF TALC IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



Since the outbreak of the present war a new industry has 

 been developed in the Barberton district of South Africa, due 

 to the discovery there of talc or soapstone. Large quantities 

 are used in garages for the inside of tires as well as for many 

 other purposes. Only the scarcity of shipping freight is said 

 to hinder a large export trade. 



AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ARGENTINA. 



The American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina has re- 

 cently changed its name to The Chamber of Commerce of the 

 United Slates of America in the .Argentine Republic. 



Buy War Savings Stamps — Build for American prosperity 

 and your own success. 



