INDIA RUBBER TRADE. 



10- 



The export of caoutchouc goods through the European frontier may be seen 

 below, in yearh- averages during stated periods: 



Pouds. 



1869—1875. 1876—1878. 1879-1883. 1884—1886. 

 . 2,795 12,275 6,881 10,596 



The export through the European and Asiatic frontiers Avas as follows: 



1884. 1885. 1886. 



Pouds. . 21.286 22,493 22,327 



Eoubles . 885,909 432,444 682,709 



Thus during the space of 17 years tlie export increased eightfold, or from 

 2,795 pouds in 1869, to 22,327 pouds in 1886. 



The next table shows the state of the export during the second half-decade 

 of 1880. 



A still greater increase in the export of rubber and guita-percha goods is 

 shown in the second half of the decade, although accompanied by considerable fluctua- 

 tions. The largest item consists of gutta-percha boots and shoes, Avhich in 1889 

 amounted to 1,470,706 roubles, the total export for that year being 1,527,000 roubles. 

 From 1885 to 1889 the production of the India rubber industry and its foreign trade 

 increased from 6.976,000 roubles to 10,312,000, or about 50 per cent. During the 

 same period the import decreased almost 30 per cent, and the export showed a rise 

 Oi over one million roubles. At present the export is equal to about 14.8 per cent of 

 the total' production, and the import, about 2.8 per cent. 



The produce of a large India rubber mill consists of materials and manufactured 

 goods; the materials are, sheet rubber, semi-transparent, made out of raw rubber, 

 rubber glue, which is a solution of raw iudia rubber in benzine, and india rubber 

 thread. These materials are prepared from pure natural india rubber, and their cost 

 is somewhat high ; the glue, for instance, costs 1.50 roubles per pound, the sheet 

 rubber, 2 roubles and the rubber thread, from 2.50 to 3 roubles per pound. Another 

 material called horn rubber, or ebonite, is made by treating india rubber with a 

 considerable quantity of sulphur at a comparatively high temperature and mixing it 

 with litharge and lampblack ; a compact hard substance is thus obtained which is 

 capable of being planed, turned and polished, and is much used for making a va- 



