January 1, 1915.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



181 



SOME GREETINGS ON OUR 25TH BIRTHDAY. 



/'"NN October last The India Rubber World completed 

 ^-^ its first quarter century. Twenty-five years of con 

 tinuous publication at least shows vitality; and when it is 

 accompanied by constant growth in size and in sphere 

 of influence it betokens good health. An increase from 

 50 pages, the average number per issue during our first 

 year, to L50 pages, the average number in each issue 

 during the past year, is proof positive of sound con- 

 ditions and good circulation. 



There are comparatively few journals associated with 

 any industry, either in this country or abroad, that have 

 reached their twenty-fifth milestone, and fewer still that 

 have continued for this length of time under the same 

 editorial management. We cannot help feeling that the 

 record of this publication has been quite creditable and 

 have been greatly pleased thai so many members of the 

 rubber trade agree with us in this opinion. Several pages 

 of this issue are devoted to letters of greeting and con- 

 gratulation from friends — by some of whom this publica- 

 tion has received a monthly welcome since its first num- 

 ber. There is a noticeable unanimity in these tributes to 

 the effect that this journal has always been absolutely 

 independent and continuously helpful to the trade. We 

 have been rather disposed to pride ourselves on these two 

 qualities. An industrial publication that is not independ- 

 ent and helpful certainly has no excuse for being. 



The India Rubber World has sought not only to be 

 helpful in the way of chronicling all news of interest to the 

 trade, describing promptly and fully all important inven- 

 tions, new processes and discoveries, but — a matter of far 

 greater importance — it has sought so to interpret present 

 events as to show the probabilities of the future and thus 

 to help its readers to shape their course with a view to 

 coming conditions. This has been particularly true of its 

 attitude toward rubber plantations, the desirability of 

 which — in fact the inevitable necessity for which — it has 

 preached constantly almost from its first number, although 

 for several years its preaching fell on deaf ears. During 

 the last decade, however, it has had the profound satis- 

 faction of seeing the leading American manufacturers 

 take a substantial interest in this great field of rubber 

 enterprise. This is only one instance in which this journal 

 has worked unremittingly for the welfare of the whole 

 rubber trade, at home and abroad. 



With a constantly increasing staff ; with correspondents 

 in all of the world's rubber centers, and with the wish to 

 be of still greater service to the trade in the future, we 

 enter upon the second quarter century. 



A RUBBER REPRESENTATIVE IN LONDON. 



Till decision of the Rubber Club of America to have 

 representation in London at the present time is of 

 especial interest. Mr. Betram G. Work, President of 



I he B. I ; . Goodrich Co.. who sailed for England Decem- 

 ber 30 on the "Lusitania," is just the man for the place. 

 IK- is as familiar with European rubber conditions as he 

 is with American, lie is personally friendly with the 

 leaders of the rubber trade over there. His company has 

 large interests in England and a factory in France. More- 

 ^xer, he is eminently fair, forceful and sagacious. 



AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS AND THE WAR. 



WHEN we get plenty of rubber, which we are 

 bound to do in time, the trade should prosper 

 because of the war. Tin- home market for shoes, 

 clothing, rubber sundries, etc.. will not be affected 

 noticeably. With big crops, agricultural rubber goods, 

 as elevator belts, will be needed. Railroad equipment 

 will also be in demand. Special goods such as foot- 

 wear, ground sheets and sundries for the belligerents 

 will find a good market. The tire business, truck and 

 motor, should show a constant increase. 



On the other hand, the embargo, by raising the price 

 of rubber here, has caused a loss of millions of dollars, 

 particularly for those who had to fill contracts. 



It will therefore be some time before the American 

 manufacturer is anything but a loser by the war. 



Ix 1913 England, France and Russia used 38,000 

 tons of rubber. Today, with many of their factories 

 working night and day on army and navy orders and 

 using government specifications that call for high grade 

 goods, they are using more rubber than ever before. 



On December 1 they had in sight 9,500 tons of rubber 

 of all kinds. That would mean about three months' sup- 

 ply for the Allies. It is likely that the British Govern- 

 ment, to be on the safe side, would consider that a six 

 months supply must be in sight before they would be 

 safe. With much of the plantation rubber and all of the 

 Africans corning to London, it will be probably February 

 1 before a surplus, say of 20.000 tons, accumulates. 



What, with the news suppressed or censored for 

 military reasons, do we actually know of the war's 

 progress? Take the latest Suez Canal rumor for exam- 

 ple : 



"A strong force of Turks led by German officers ap- 

 peared at (place marked out by censor). They suc- 

 ceeded in getting possession of a strip of the canal some 

 ten miles in length. This they took up and removed on 

 camels to (name blotted outL It is supposed that they 

 have cut it into ten-foot sections and will ship it to (name 

 deleted) to use as trenches for their troops." 



With censorship of this sort how can we know whether 

 or not rubber from the Far East .will still come along? 



