continues, will then be of 98,603 tons, the production of Brazil 
and of the Orient together will surely render a quantity much su- 
perior to that demand. 
The average cost per Kilo of fine Para rubber in the valley 
of the Amazon is from 3$000 to 3$500; in India of 2$650; how- 
ever, this difference should disappear under the operation 
of the Rubber Defence Act, which is inserted further on, 
and the possible augmentation of the price in the Orient, 
where manual labor will become dearer later on when all its 
plantations are in full exploitation, and by the consequent scarc- 
ity of labor, against which agriculturists are already commencing 
to struggle. 
The industrial element still continues to give preference to 
the Brazilian rubber, this being better in quality, nerve and in 
elasticity—properties these which may probably be attributed to 
the process of curing, which is not employed in the Orient, or 
possibly to the meteorologic and climate conditions, the geolog- 
ical composition of the soil, etc. It is true that the quotation for 
planted rubber has been superior to that of wild rubber, but it is 
advisable not to. forget, that while the former shrinks only 3 per 
cent, and has a much better appearance, the latter loses 18 per 
cent of its weight. The price difference is thus amply explained 
and when accounts are made up it is still the fine quality from 
Para that is the better quoted. 
THE INDIA RUBBER PROBLEM—MEANS 
SUGGESTED AND RESOLVED BY THE STATES 
Threatened with losing the predominant position it has al- 
ways occupied in the rubber market of the world, Brazil could 
not, without committing an economical suicide, remain inactive. 
The time having come when native rubber would enter into 
competition with planted rubber, Brazil had to defend its inter- 
ests by becoming equipped for the struggle, making the cost of its 
product cheaper in order to ensure its occupying an advan- 
tageous position in the market. 
Many are the causes which at present contribute to the high 
cost of Brazilian rubber, but they may be united into three 
groups, as follows: Ist, expensive labour; 2nd, heavy transport 
tariffs; and 3rd, excessive export taxes. : 
The expensive labour is due to the scantiness of population 
in the Amazon valley, the want of foreign immigration to com- 
pensate it, and the high cost of food supplies. 
The rubber-producing trees (seringaes) of the Amazon are ex- 
44 
