A LECTURE ON RUBBER Prepared by: The Hducational Department | United States Rubber Company, 1790 Broadway, New York 1924 f Nhe hARRRT WAL Ae ON tae NOUR AS VIN d No ay beh UREA ESCH RALA hy Rute ht Ut a Pale Lar AY Mii aU Weis ah BIA a | 4 ue 1 , wih \ nee a LUNs 7 ve yy Val Ay ly Wey iibay | ude ‘ \ | i 7 a Uh iy Gri iby f 1 oyun Hah teiy \h NUR as, PAW ty’ Payor) a gh % nol Bames ee) eee, G1 RUBBER: irate a8. ¥ At iv 1 oe es = nes, 9 eee. i , by a esa at he “wars ed, i? etuathe bete | gs er ee panei ae ; ks foun" ee ae eh TS Buea meg! sen E wet ba + ee aie prt eee RUBSER MA NURACTURS IN AMRICA | The country's preduction of articles of rubber is approxi-~ mately seven times as largo as that of the next largest rubber- manufacturing nation. On the first of January, 1923, the industry in the United States comprised 500 concerns, giving employment to 175,000 persons. The value of the rubber rcoods manufactured and scold during the year 1923 was 4961,000,000, of which only four per cent. was for export. The world's production of crude rubver for the year 1917 was 205,925 tons, of which the United States imported 177,089 tons, Or GUa per Genb. Ot the whole production, .The next largest consumers were the United Kingdom, With 26,985 tons; France, 18,875 tons; Italy, 5,593 tons; Japan, 5,747 tons; and Canada, 5,846 dons. The enormous growth of the incustry in America is shown by the fact that in 1906 the United States consuined 24,1135 tors, as against 15,858 tons ror Great. Britain, the next largest consumer; While in 1923 the United States consumption had grown to 305,000 tons, aS against 27,500 tons for Great Britain, or an increased consumption in the United States of 208.000 tons since 1906, while the next largest consumer, Great Britain, increased only,14,000 tons. The growth of rubber manufacture in the United States is shown by the following figures from the Government Census Revorts, covering the period since rubber was first included in census returns in 1879: YEAR VAIUS OF BRODUSTS NO. On PACTORIES _ EMPLOY ES 1879 $25,310,000 104 11,789 1889 4:., 654,000 167 20,152 1899 | 99, 881,000 201 35, B66 1904 148,015,000 £65 43,873 1909 197,395, 000 £67 49 £64 1914 . $00,994,9C0 44.2 %4 OFL 1919 1,138,216, 000 AN? 168, 649 1923 -(Est.} 961,000,000 BOO 175,000 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding trom University of Illinois Uroana-Champaign https://archive.org/details/lectureonrubberOOunit ore Pans Y WAN UPACT URE _ It is estimated that eighty per cent,of all rubber consumed in the United States goes into automobile tires. During 1923 the United States produced 3,644,000 motor cars ang 070,000 mator trucks, a total of 4,014,000. The highest previous production in any year wes that of 1922 with 2,659, ,064. The total wholesale value of cars and trucks in 1923 was we, 510,385,000, Tire production for the year was 45,000,000, with a whole- sale vaiuvation of $620,000,000,. The motor vehicle registration in the United States on Jan. 1, 1924 was approximately 15,300,000, divided into 13,500,000 motor cers and 1,800,000 trucks, The world registration of motor vehicles is estimated at 18,100,000, giving the United States eighty-three per cent. of the total registration through- out the world. Of the motor vehicles in the United States, 4,250,000 are owned by farmers. Only eight per cent of the vehicles manufactured last year were exported. 7} Nha eae ry 4 ta ny , Sy . AG yp 1S : ag y fans i fe se ; ve eh ce : bg ae v hd é or \ my We vee at A a 7 AEDS, Adi SO ua ae ter P tal ve rh am v4 a He tae f . ie y 4 REG fl oe ‘i ae Rad abe 2m i Ei OU, GCA SY sce Mehr hae or der meee 3 ; Rane? ngs avis: 793 thescan aa | ‘ hes ‘pier BA): ele Moldy SO . TS a vent) 08 ars 35 DPT. RUE aero) ae Te da add: hegitat) ata Anatol tee oe erat to Oren 3 ag rien. ‘i Ld Be AR, ws a : . i al ote 9 rr Seat anal i Oi 7 ( We, ' Ha . re f i ‘i ‘ i ' ; a >) af i ty j i ’ 4 ‘ Lf RUBBER FOOTWEAR _ ee an The first considerable demand for rubver goods in the United States after the discovery of vulcanization was for rubber shoes and mechanical goods. The following census figures show the steady progress made in rubber footwear manufacture: 1879, $9,706,000; 1889, p18, 652,000; W699; 941,090,000; 1904, $70,075,000; 1909, Rag VOq oo e914 whos. 8e2,000;' 1919, Si16), 917.0005’ 1921, Koa 033,000. The figures for 1923 show total footwear output of $145'000,000. Next to tires, rubber boots and shoes have formed the most important branch of the rubber industry. The wearing of light rubbers in bad weather is a general custom in the United States, especially outside a few of the larger cities. There is a highly developed line of rubber footwear for the farmers, lumbermen, miners, fishermen and other outdoor workers. The warmth and moisture-roof qualities of these goods make them popular throughout the whole country, especially dur- ing the period when snow is on the ground. One of the most important fields of rubber footwear is that of canvas rubber-soled shoes for summer and sport wear. The United States Rubber Company's Keds are known the world over. There are types of these shoes for every purpose, whether it be for ordinary outdoor wear in summer, or for athletics. In basketball, tennis and hand - ball they are especially well known. aus CORRAL, ea hs cheers ret: Se a Ph ey ih eb Hey Ml ; i a } ‘Np i ie ny he i) in : A wa ake aan RUBBER MECHANICAL GOODS The third important classification of rubber manufacture is mechenical goods. The velue of goods produced under this classification in 1923 was ¢ 64,859,000 . The list of articles is very long, including many that are vitally essentiel in industry such as beiting, packing, hose, hard rubter goods, flooring, printers' blankets, and tape. The List of the varieties of hose is a long one: ‘acetylene, aco weeks eur Ori lial nr, Siena), air tool.) boiien, car heating, chemical extinguisher, creamery, coke, deck, discharge, divers’, dredging sleeve, engine and tender, fire, earaen, gas, gasoline, hydraulic, locomotive, mill, oil, pecking house, paint spray, paves machine pneumatic drill, radiator, railway, sand blast, spray, squirt, steam, street flushing, suction, tanners', vacuum, vinegar and picrle, and water, Theré @re many sub-divisions, oil hose, for instance; including the following types: barrel filler, discharge, rotary, sea loading suction, suction and dis- cnarge, tank car, tank wagon, and oil burning Locomotive. Rubber beltines has an important place in American rubber manufacture. Rubber belts for conveying, elevating, and transmission have a strongly intrenchea position. Because of the mammoth operations, with vast tonnages, the belting question has received especial attention, and it has been found that Yor rugged service where adverse conditions are likely to anpear, the very nature of rubber gives it Supenioricy. Rubber packing has been regarded by some authorities as the most useful of all rubber products. It is used to make jolnts in- engines, puis, ete., impervious. ‘ “, ' . eos pe te ey at ce ASY : . ) RUBBER SOLES AND HETLS _ The most remarkable instance on record of success tnat has come to a rubber product after long and persistent effort on the parry’ ol nose who were ‘convinced of its merit is the rubber heel. Rubber heels have been manufactured in the United States for meny years but they met with firm resistance from the leather manufacturers. But the rubber heel manufacturers persisted in pushing their product with the result that during the past three years they have swept forward into pheriomenal success. During 1923, 200,000,000 pairs of rubber heels were consumed in the United States. It is estimated that at the present time close to eighty per cent. of all new shoes go into the market equipped by their makers with rubber heels. The acceptance of the rubber heei is indicative of the progress rubber nas made in a field which up to a few years ago was granted to another industry. No other class of commodity had been so generally accepted for centuries as a shoe made of leather in all its parts. The inroad being made by rubber in the field of leather today needs no other index than the fact that leather producers have voted to spend $300,000 a year for @ period of three years to advertise the idee tat “nothing can take the place of leather". The only reason that cen be offered for the increasing popularity of the rubber heel is that, for the service a heel is called on to give, the rubber heel is more satisfactory., Soles in which rubber is the chief constituent are also coming into wide popularity. "Uskide", a material for soles maie by the United States Rubber Company, is rapidly establishing itself in popular favor, chiefly because it will outwear any leather sole, and makes an exceptionally good looking shoe bottoming. es ied Ras EAR We 6 RAR y ee ae Ee i es “a THE POSITION OF WILD RUBBER In the early days, matlvfacturers were dependent on the small quantities of rubber brought principally from Pera and other Amazon River ports but also from Africa and Central America by traders and ship captains who obtained it in exchange for cotton goods, hardware, Ares! and other merchandise. Enterprising firms, however, rapidly saw a greater opportunity POT EO Ito through’ orgéaniz gat ion and these began to initiate and finance regularly organized expeditions into the interior. Tne practice, both in South america and in africa, was very much the same and many of these early merchants amassed large fortunes While they had the field to themselves. Gradually, owing to competition, profits became more uncertain aud not infrequeritly Ba im who bought in South America and on the West Coast of frica, were obliged to sell their rubber at a loss on its ar- een in the United States or Europe. The whole history of rubber has indicated a tendency to a wide swing =from a feast to a famine and back again. In the early days when wild rubber was the sole source of supyrly and the total tonnage comparatively small, this movement naturally led to the organization of secret vools to regulate buying and corners to Speculatively control selling prices. Now that plantation pro- duction has overshadowed wild rubber in the ratio of about 93% to 7%, other plans for regniation have been devised, but this time not so much in the interest of Speculation as to protect the economic position, both.for producer and consumer. On November 1, 1922, the so-called Stevenson Restriction Plan, to which re- ference will be meade later, came into force. such wild rubber as still comes on tne market is handled very much as it was 50 years ago, but it has sunk into a posi- tion of relative unimportance (ana need hardly be considered from a practical standpoint}, Receivers at the primary ports continue to sell their product to New York and European import- ers who, in turn, send their representatives with offerings to manufacturers, These offerings include not only the old stand- ard Up-Hiver and Island grades of Fine Para; “which arrive in the same form and are coaguleted by the same crude methods that have been in vogue from the beginning, but also innumeranle off- grade rubbers, the intrinsic values of which are knowm only to dealers and manufacturers who are by no means in unanimous agree-~ ment as to their relative merits. Before the era of plantations great experience was an absolute essential to success; today, with the virtual disappearance of wild rubbers, the whole tuerket has become, generally speaking, standardized on established lines of plantation grades, so that there is no lonzer the same neces- Sity for a buyer to be an expert judge of qualities. Rubber Association rules and arbitrators are available for his protection in all the markets of the world. ivy , Dae by ay wat i A. i ite : , LA | i yet) NS 1 he ‘ tna ? q 1 MEN Ds bo, begs ay hiyok i a : Vrtil U gral 1 : ekg y : a! Ty mM en ix; My Ar NT aes 4 ; , wih hh Bee te la ASH] hy ; Regt’. TS A ‘ * A Nee ma) rye ? i i a ; ma, \ r f 1 ae he Oe CA a , . i \ , i vn Ja eae MMS ah fr oan eR LO Hk iv A vet ROR aa VERE en W : } a at fish UP ers ae te i ; _s i} ”) il y y inh. | i , ¢ ey sus!) ie kas LACH Sean . ae fC Tay TRY ‘ th ae: bik era | ‘ Hats Lae ‘ NS r’ y Pa a LOR ARR SAF RIT SARC RGR Sa SIR SE UB ay a ’ J i) ' J j iE te ie he Abad one Net Ore ok er PMR MT MHRUMRNY ati en orc \a i 7 ( 4 at ‘ Be . “ i > } ’ var » OLR | NAG ALOU | tf Bitie if ! an rane \ iv > 4 7 ‘ , bind he ds), a a Bek PAY ieee +), TMA saat ES v7 ca Spe Bal ahaa ave eR a Be et / , inte PS PEE ve if wee ei / ,4™ y at eh, Fo. MP aay a oad th ; UN ve hae 1 we9 Ay uJ j a een 2 “6 AY MP ie ” 8 hy a) i «: ie | i oy ripe ; i, ry at Vet Meta a), (\ (ea A \hy Vitae orien ria 1 Pan” ito { $ >) bata al Beas 08) ey eer Key yA) ( + 2 } i ) hale ae ; tery y aN ] / 4 o ’ | x ’ , ) THE RUBBER ii RKETS _ In 1905, although American manufacturers consumed only 467) of the world's rubber (which was then all wild) es against 75% today, there was no such predominant world marxet as has since developed in London. This is because approximately 80% of the world's rubber is now British controlied through financial in- terests in plantations. Prior to 1905 New York and London were of about equal importance as markets through which virtuaily all of the outout of the imazon passed. New York was the center for Mexicans and Centrals; Antwerp, for the Belgian Congo grades; Lisbon, for the rubber coming from tne Portuguese Colonies; while Bordeaux received most of the output of French Equatorial Africa, and Hamburg that from German Africa. With the development of the Plantations, it is no longer necessary for the important firms in New York and London to maintain direct touch with these Continental cities, although many still have tneir correspondents through whom such wild rubber as is still svaileble finds its way to the ultimate consumer. Before reaching the manufacturer, rubber usually passes through various hands-in London, the importer, the broker, and tne dealer; in New York, the importer, the dealer, and the broker. The London market differs from the New York market be- cause a large proportion of rubber vroduced is shipped to the head offices of piantation companies which are domiciled there. These companies, or their agents, usually turn this rubber over to a broker for sale at a price Pixed by the owner. The broker receives 1% on the value of 211 transactions consummated by him as his commission, in return for which he guarantees buyer or Seller and attends to all of the handling, delivery, and .¢ol- lections. In London, when rubber is not shipped direct to the plantation company, it is brought in by independent importers who, likewise, utilize the services of the brokers on the same terms, The broker (prevented by association rules from aj; roach- ing the manufacturer direct) sells to the dealer and "outsiders" or Speculators, who, although middlemen, fulfil a useful purpose, because while consumers are not regular buyers in the dailj market, they are. The Lovidon and New York dealer is the 1i.an who largely creates the market, for he is always in a position to relieve the importer who prefers to sell his consignments up- on arrival. In New York the terms "importer" and "dealer" are usually synonymous, The broker, if utilized, sells direct to the manufacturer, receiving a commission of 1/4 of 1% for his Services which do not include guaranteeing any credit risk.’ In handling transactions between dealers, the broker's commission is reduced to 1/8 of 1%. Until the beginning of the war in 1914, all importations of rubber into England, with the exception of Para grades, were sold by the brokers at public auctions which occurred fortnightly. ies oF Yoho soo oes Vag shia) ae D4 val WIT (if: R Pets ee EG ph ROCA Be : BaD ee Wee i Roya ay Hh ae o, E a ‘ aCe. ae Su AUR ete eae x SER Gs ee CET i Sittin: Wy vin abe bt, eee ea Brit. LG | eC) ‘ MA > j y id y Raider > 3 ie 5 Ue . teh * is Res PE Sia Sty x Cae ges oe *~ ‘ ie et coe ee pen ly ely : 5 een ; $ 41M) LS he D: ‘ A ‘ ) A > “e) + “ - 4 fe : aL dw. ahd Gina Uris ne Fs ’ pei ae tak BN 9 Fete ky eben athe Pure tei a wine. tw iy \ be . ~ & bane : MMe! bio = ' j tL ops “ i tard r 4 a ih Seta ee ae ead ) eee S \ \ ¥ Rae ni Mee ne" i ? # * , 2 SH ROM MEN ORRIN (if vi tet, . yo Ms Sas WN Oar t SUR ON Oe 8 piynits uy ay Sageusstog . Ad. wee. LE re ere y $F GAT Tae Ce Sm ae iy ae oe CHa REL ier: haa ba See rie lev, \ i “Oy , ; 's wa ey : ‘ ei , ‘as ‘ a os eu an mt ay? rity * Sie en ro: SHO |G Ow hae pat a bint ote r ‘( y A Ne ¥ i ee eG Wh, OT Sh Pe y AOL SOR H ap feeun, 0 ae P ti cm mee oP SA er SIP aoe Coo HE ae i Ah r] ee ie A de 7 POM, ta ae i. Pa ae PETE I Ss Se bKeS 74 me, aa? e fer , i ceri’ " Pele, ‘ vaN sinh {ete " 5 " i vb yy Be ey 4 ae eh gt ae Rog See in PRe he Pe HRW Etta mit wnt nt wai vty ane . br + wey): ‘ Lt a Daa ‘Vo See ae oe 3) este hed 3 Ai rh gc Wh" Le’ ane a Bi bi Me J r iy MA Mea.’ CAR Le Be Ol? ee iD co * 26a hk ates “ee 4 , ¥ ” ra) be 4 ry 2 ie | 4 aye ” é ey So . ' . ros, FAM Ya yr ae ag " saat tlt iN =} aa ee iw i qr ‘ ‘ im x * L A vat "rt ‘ iy win ie; 4 ‘ ef) ‘ , ree I” u +) 4 Baty a ia A Pn he yi ROBIE 4. ERP BO ae BY ty hy if mackie i +h ‘ j we 4 rh f sh sy ‘ 1 ¥ é ‘ ae % yan us PON, Oh eed 1 Gaby fees ak ‘g) ory! i rae " , a> oe or AY | : ge a 0 14 > oi - Si: RE As + k vecamlok rake eRe Ket ik emine ts * 0 ty itis vif ia iy a tt 74 | eS DO Say okt i Oh Meet Sm ee ee THE RUBBER MARKETS (CONT'D) These public sales were esteblished for other commodities before the importation of rubber became of any volume, and were a guarantee bo the foreign shipoer that his consignee at London obtained the best mariet prices of the day. The procedure in handling, sampling, grading, and cataloging the offerings to be presented at auction was the same then as it is today. The auctions gradually grew, owing to increased imports of planta- PLOre rive MUM tne oar ivauparh OF 1914: 4t took four or five days of public sales to deai with the catalogs. MThen, there was practically no trading in fresh arrivals between the auc- tions. It became anparent about this time that, although it might De desirable to offer wild’ rubber iin public: auction, be- cause of the various buyers having different ideas in regard to the value, it was not at all necessary to catalog and sell by public auction standard grades of plantation rubber which were recognized by name as regular in quality. Following the outbreak of war there were soveral months of business stagnation during which scereely any bids were made in public auctions and this hastened the conclusion. In the early part of 1914 the fortnightly London auctions totaled from 1,200 to 1,500 tons and this quantity consisted of several hundred different lots, averaging probably not more than half a ton each. After the discontinuance of the public sales, trad~- ing became much more free-- broxers were able to sell parcels at any time to any buyer without waiting a fortnight to submit lots in the public auction. This proved a welcome latitude of action and it is now improbable that plantation suctions will ever be resumed in London. ‘Today all rubber, upon arrival, is required to be placed in a licensed warehouse where a corps of expert samplers and graders examine and sample the various par- cels. These samples are inspected in the different brokers’ salesrooms, end dealers and manufacturers alike buy on descrip- tion -- Standard Quality lst Latex Crepe or Smoked Sheet. ‘The description is the same in London, Singapore, ana New Yor, although the standards vary slightly, London being the most rigid. The agents of estates, with headquarters in London, or the importers, now take the place cf the o1d wild rubber merchant o trader of yesterday and they control and instruct the brokers a what price and when to sell their consignments; othervite the procedure is precisely the same as existed in the old days. cians The development of the now important markets in the East 1s Langely a result of the-wsa"whén it was difficult to obtain ship- ping accommodations to England an@ .merica. at that time several large American consumers began to buy their supplies in the primary markets of Singapore and Colomoo, and it was not long be- fore these centers had also inauzurated a weekly auction on the Same basis that used to be in vogue in London. These suctions still take place and serve a very useful purpose and will probably ~ a0 pnt a6. 8 noth | Hsien re ie py bee Ree gum : eA ool P ae. saint a ait | i ae Nei yt: et we PigkOo dk) Pk eee nr hadiate Oe 8 adhirogi t Aiigee ae aoe: Soo: ee PD Sera, Aint ete CARA LAI OR ott gs Rae) a *) wenn pe RS ine arabe O LUTE NTH, | ee A ae Se iol thal i ee mg) hab pad abs A ee als 33 | 8 a on, bitoes eh Bees, 3 HO RES (th raiuty OE PE ay Ra Bien Ea ot Cae cas exo Moti 7 (meas a oS Ao SSR he! ey bee rt ae | ret wh AVR | mn {| A RANE sve iy filet Ae au ‘om Me a ey’ CRASS GRA a iy, ee | aa eae Yea es Res WM Be ekg ia ai) eae : SAW gets oh ZIP bes 4% We pet Rye Me sti sit ere Mt i i, ty aoa ah toby CMD. Loy yp nt fi ‘an RU Pi exageh 3 oi’ Bata ae pay > oa ah, cavinte to | eae ae ‘ aa an OR. Se eM Vr MEN, mh ah 1 SR pel v %) pitt) kes at Ss heh Rain: 2 380 Ve aes cag Ay An a 0h eer Heo, Ce hb Pye ; sips Be i ener . fais ene ira cas nM ey Mp fy hie a vt a | ei he ate, a wee at) i fo ane oe Dek! TRE Ue iN \ cat epee “ My atti . ‘ 5h WA P Ht rs) ‘ coe Mia Leer 4 ag yeigst “Leth pba “weet oy | ano coi. oGaurt ore Aro. i ji Up Mes ‘tas 1G Napa? oA A pit ea eis = i iG 1 : "ea | f Ee a | ee hart on th ad ames Nita Tt hd hie “es, th iets cor sit : hal i oie ¥ vs me ae eid iO Sh St thy I \ f th Hi ioe e ie THE RUBBER MARXETS (CONT'D) be continued. They may almost be termed necessary because, be- sides European estate rubover, there is a large amount of native rubber to be Sold,.alsc certain European-controlled estates preter to sell their rutbs:,sor pert.of it, ex store in the East rather than to pay the cost of shipping to Europe or imerica,. Today the iarge American companies maintain buying offices in Singapore and Cotombo, whire all of the important dealers, both British and American, are represented there, either through their own organizations or by agents. Aside from the rvbdber passing through these Bastern auctions, much business is also transacted there privately. It is not economically sound for rubber coming to the United States physically to vass through London, wherever the sale may be negotiated. There is the added freight and the expense of rehandling, to say nothing of additionel fees-and commissions to agents. London is naturally. anxious to meintain its supremacy as the world rubber market, and to overcome some of the »rectical obstacles it is now common for sales to'ye made in London, calling for direct shipment of the rubber c.i.f. Singapore or Colombo to New York. This rubber is bought on description in London and the quality is gueranteed by the London broker. ; Until plantation rubber overshadowedall other grades, there were monthly public auctions in sntwerp, Bordeaux, and Amsterdam, consisting chiefly of wild rubbers, the most important being the Antwerp sales of Congo grades. ‘he auctions in these cities were not conducted as in London, Singapore, and Colombo. Catalogs were issued by the various brokers to likely buyers, as elsewhere, containing a description and valuation of the parcels to be of- fered, but any prospective buyer was obliged to send in sealed bids for his requirements to be opened on the day of the auction. This was in marked contrast to the British Systen of open bid- ding. The Continental auctions were styled "Inscription Sales” and perhaps in a sense benefited the importers by insuring that anyone requiring a specific lot would put in the very highest bid possible, but they were never popular with the large con- sumers,. ee ee ae & La Te = DTA Pie. he Pee Lae “ot iy Wee ' i ) ‘ ' A> f ‘ad < , he ~~ : 7 ‘ a \ a of rw oe : od _moneiet tee ahi hla iphy Yo Fewome ween en, Oke “patinde fa See nen enEgO-sN ity Cd: ‘eTOGR: bei 4 ea Ree vt eR wey Bese GR SEROTEL e VaN hee ies | Sa ee BRO ET VR eee pee ages Ca [ERS yen alaed, Sue nou nh casi by we Ce Cee) ARE NY etd 9) pared Ka ttpborniy has Be Miia 2) xoddive ont et gid" i nee bo 7 Ue er tie I: na tangnang apes egensient soi er he : Sirsa ri oo vf Ryser bes seosibcbio “iol wats gti Abd wey . ee oe ai : ie) ae . F yA! r ae a4 ‘ 7 N ex a Ly tis wet eT fi Toh, ty Ye nit win b | Y ; j ‘s ; ae ee ee | + ‘ab hy wt, oF me Cy of y be pia . i " eal Per ay 5a ( y Kh y ie eer ‘ ri re a aS ag’ he 4 ” — a acs SO ‘ ax ewe Gy Ppt Oy en 4 ¥ hee os * ae Bute", J ‘T y i ‘4 3) i eer - ta Lap ny my ity pts |? ee Meare : } ? : v1 fi ’ % i iy ‘ One a re ut eee Be} oa ne M 3 ‘ 7 = by ye, iene: doh hs: sai + ee ‘eh i et 4 “4 ie py My Nyt i rine * > ‘ » iy - F a , 4 , ; uw \ ; é i ( ry § gos { a pet! “ FY q af UP ae rs oh bt J 7 re ot) * dtp 1 Pane Rg Fat. te r Dig i M q 1 4 ee i‘ Pa ae DS } sah ee ty Sa’ ea ob 4 Da ‘ wr A a rn, Deets TEN a0 hae BAL Sp A ‘ ‘ 4 f My , ag sy i min eS AF * I Fi My oe | m3) he ae ‘ 4 hd i pei ba, la ty ts af y . } bear Pf j ' ( Ant Thode Whe Bonahe t r . . - w 8. * ‘2 n * on ~ fea UY £ i.e + ee Oe Qe a Wag ae a » bh oe ang ty rar , Vd ede hay A ae Tiss ie ia “ ee eta pea ‘ ; fet ae ¢ ae ae |e, pw ia Yes. f iy? yo , ‘ a Oe airs umd 2h Oe , i a 4 “Py eo “1 5 4 he ¢ | de? ps . ‘ho ehe a " 4 ie i ioue r haley f } " $ . Ps) e "vy ee, j oe § ae PJ ili dv ie ‘" ot s) Sepiety be 5 ine x uy! ae IA! hide why 3 r { wi ‘<% u JAS fyi Be ie 3 hme . iy iy 2 - ” a ie SOA a 4 " . , \ ; p , , < \ gies Me My z { a ae ‘¥ ' i _ = . : nee we P y ih J ‘e CO ee v hee eA h aa ‘eral j a I » a in oe ) * nied : i ae Hy, bd ? “ d " py - ~ ey f f } s “ k Th ie Me Pee er a pigs of? edge Cy # a ’ he i toss} pig D ieee Pete ay Be i * “ i in, bs a ai) M in 3 y bi ANG ees abd) ep BOM i Wh. ® ; ‘% ( ae a ee ; 1) a Bes Jo ae D ye See if ost 7) Do Safe ‘eiky end ry ’ Bp C ayers f ane ell 8 Wes } ie iy hohe, a th, e304 to 1 re ichidh » Le att: y if) eR or hy) 4 phe 1 years of planting and, considering the risks of tropical.agricul- Sure, it is algo feir to add 6s sro fit of 15% on the investinent -- no smaller return would tempt investors. If all this is consider- ed, a price of 65 cents & oound in America or Europe is not ex- orbitant, at least uritil such time as budding, seed séiection, or other scientific planting methods have substantially increased the present average yield per acre, which may now be taken at 350 pounds on areas seven years old. myth the market ruling below this level, experience has shown that new capital camot be read-. ily attracted. While the Stevenson Plan may be condemed as interfering with the economic laws of supply and demand, the fact remains that the alternative of doing nothing might well be far more serious. Tf, as is quite likely, a shortage of rubber develops in the next few years, it will be primarily due to the hiatus created as a result of stopping planting during the period of iow prices and not to any present restriction. There is little doubt but that as condi- tions warrant, oressure exerted by British planters will force a return to normal production at the earliest possible moment, for it is indeed galling to them to see earnings curtailed while plantations in the Dutch possessions continue to operate at maxi- mum capacity with corresponding profits. It was agreed by joint committees, aovointed by the Rubber Association of America,Inc., and the Rubber Growers' Association of London, which met in January, 1923, that normal world's stocks or rubber should properly be considered as approximately eight months of the world's annual consumption. Stocks on December 321, 1925, amounted to about 270,000 tons. Consumption in 1923 was estimated at 420,C00 tons. On this basis stocks at the end of the year were 10,000 tons below the figure agreed upon as normel, which condition should indicate a probable orice level warranting the release of additional amounts of rubber at present controlled by restriction. Of late one has heard much of the well-advertised slogan "America Should Produce Its Own Rubber." This makes a strone sentimental appeal, but unless epplied in a practical way, any attemy to realize such an ideal may prove dangerous and lead to heavy fruancial losses on the part of those who ere not thoroughly dbnformed ¥egarding the difficulties of accomplishment, The United States Department of Commerce is at preset engpege inmaking a complete survey of the whole crude rubber situation, with the object of determining the oracticability of growing rub- ber economically in the Philipvines, South and Central America and Mexico, as well as investiguting actual costs of production in the countries on which the worla is now dependent, This report will also show the maximum suvplies available from »resent planted areas and, taken in conjunction with an investigation as to the probable increase in world's consumption during the next seven years, now being undertaken by the Rubber Association of America, Inc., should furnish a very valuable index as to what the future holds in store. * Line isi. hes 1 a LCR: mer mild ey) Py aa Wh ote ith as | yt a peta 2 si (i ale bach Be, Sonne om, ' Syugiae hey Nh ick NNR teat Le agli RANT: ey “2h ‘paar RRR aces, el eer i eg 1 AMA FB pee inte ie Bits gd Naa pir kena to Tk Aas a Ba ie itd ‘hap: i) nk: ON » eed: . y eect CRIN. Aree See Aas bad or me 1 ti 1 eee a ey tM) Ley. a aed Cee and Hdd’ ate 4 by wa nae te we. Ms" hoe ape” . RC OLD tame " ee Bed ea ink ia » od thi tal i} hi ’ | c | ue i ' hin ily OT: y ) unt Lie} an y 7 ee UAe opt Sieh acl? i ie Bi, me mio * ‘ee cS | “he S000 18} want Atha) Meth Sit: 23? “ibe are. ee me ibe Ce radtt eh Ok Bi ry af a at «i by 4K) ae hy hi ; oy : eo 0) lle : eae ed a eq Ha abet: Ati a haba * ava * ie " ree ‘une apis % ie Ra es ! ‘ha ey beet: th bt Rid. yethye me wy Ole pull ie ¥ et be reat. hn % By eit at ABP ‘vf tawe } ‘aaa: fi y Bie ae anni BHR enaauil bi) hi a res ® | “wart ae sun speek ae Shi On bai CS a ay es ji oe i Ree 5 eat a Nae aie Ae ie ne, Bk bottac, ae Niet, "ees 4 Peay dedald vA 1 vot . Loo yng vane sid 1M) iw OT Ry Ny ven pameeae int "nig a is ee | towonte acc ines ‘aiid ta 1) hl Pils aus ikresin cl 49) Smee ode bien arin: herb Phish aarey © b bie f { Se, i ant ie Wh Se a kahonk i) Hf De 8 ie: Cs rey Wee Pe a Manan Lit: Ke: hs ehgite 4 p/ ee oe asl ant The areas suitable for growing rubber, particularly Hevea or Finé Para on which the industry depends, are limited geographically and it is inconceivable that this tree can ever be grown within the confines or the United States, This being the case, the American industry must rely upon its own tropical possessions or foreign countries. Up to the present, labor and land laws, together with the uneertain political future, have prevented cavital from flowing into the Philippines, Shortage of low-priced labor and govern- mental insecurity have likewise discouraged investment in Latin America. British and Dutch colonies are well administered and property rights there are secure, taxation is not unduly oppressive and consequently,there does not appear to be any sound reason why America is not safe in allowing the plantation industry to con- tinue to develop along logical economic lines as it has done in the past. -14— eae ae ACWO tot Baste: ah read nt at rg, pie ": . . | Phi ag seine LO She: fe Oe), ae ba agen - ig ab Snob aah WEAT BEES RUBBER LOOKS LIKE Crude rubber differs so ‘much in appearance from manufactured rubber that only those familiar with it would be likely to recog- nize it as rubber, During the war, when the Allies were taking such stringent precautions to prevent rubber from reaching Germeny, the secret service men had to receive special instructions so that they would know rubber when they saw it. The fine grades of crude rubber are the smoked sheets and pale crepe from the great rubber plantations of the Fer Hast, and Para, the rubber obtained from trees that grow wild in the jungle of the Amazon, Crude rubber comes to the manufacturers to-day in much better shape and condition than when the industry was young. Then many of the inferior grades were slimy, foul-looking messes that were anything but pleasant to handle. Modern methods have produced many changes and the rubber comes in today, especially in the finer grades, looking almost good enough to eat, Para rubber makes its way to the markets in the form of "biscuits", large balls weighing about sixty pounds each. They are a rich brown in color. It is necessary before this rubber is used in manufacture to give it a thorough cleansing to remove impurities. Into the production of crude rubber on the plantations of the Har Bast, on the other hand, have gone the ingenuity and resource- fulness of the scientific minds of the white race with the result that the rubber coming from the plantations is very largely free of impurities and carefully packed, ach plantation has its own views as to the best form of preparing the rubber for market, but it comes chiefly in three forms, smoked sheet, thin pale crepe and thick pale crepe. As its name implies, smoked sheet has re- ceived a smoke treatment but the crepes are unsmoked. Crepe takes its name from its resemblance to paper creoe, The thick pale crepe looks so much like tripe that if some of it were displayed in a butcher's window a housewife would iikely Sah fon Te couple of pounds of that nice looking trive in the window." It is made up in sheets about one-half inch thick and has a lemon tint. Thin crepe is made in sheets about as thick as heavy flannel and looks like flannel, the lemon color being more pronounced, smoked sheet might easily pass for the black molasses candy that was so popular with the boys and giris of fifty years ago. It is about a quarter inch thick and has a deep brown color, verg- ing on black, Its shiny surface is usually stamped with some simple design, such as squsres or diamonds, each plantation follow- ing its own fancy. It smells decidely like pane sae, ern eet, 3 bernie | a if mere: ad \ ‘mee \oire y ot >: oe (e . * Pr A ’ } 7 an Wet ; ies es! Wy hes .) ays 4 4 f atts ‘gheeda: bea ile ue sha wisi : Pitas jd MAD) Me hei ie nee hinge nade aE Senn’ 5 elt nh bity WOsR Fok ciotd | ae wiley in a pi ra is i" te Hh aE: Cont nk cn ote 19d yee i SOUL Ree OM a) Pate ont: righ oan Seas gou Ber ees Beer ee Kale 6 SGT bo Ms pr ave ona sen, sO H mrey at, Reore EY ibe £ seh iatompae VehGh Ma (SenGD peas u's | “Sits Be i Nig dike, Ot So ll sisal Npaost s i j i vas ‘se tata ty Sekt te weg v2 r i . et 3 suena eet Mi eo ’ e oy “_ 4) A OO RD So: NAC ek: phi A Ee Cee AE Ke Law. ate Sel Ae kad eit. 2 reat Sant ees ey CBT ‘eT Tees oak et q t Phe « © 6 v0 . £9 4 re te OMT ) . AV OMG | OF: giaspetes £0: 1G ah ae ae suid Be ‘ohne ndtiment Ett! a 9 oo se ia Leo. RG. okt on tg of weomwenet bite 1 LoHomih oF coe rad Raa, rae ett ue Dyes Bl ae Kee peas) 1 ie oO abn okt bese ne ck enrt Mhonie ats at ae ident Pi ata tates cere BE aid mide toe to a oa: erent wr bara ae yin npr ot ued ite 7 ony miele peanuts 40 eek py oh. oot or a bet ui ye ony Sesto AH NO outa | RR ES HR So yee ng Mee acts ad t ri ay AME NRO.) eotone ee dan eam ere) tee sre a tein | eae a Hiay, 88 18 iat i it a ‘auine ‘ty te aie oor is oe sign wee ti hilvew orange yi wohug Gs. te Maas ge bloae G | spobeee: ‘hock * tied ato. t ade Se Ap ode) ‘poe tie) ae fa orton ) peker fade somes A9 ji vals ~ x The United States Rubber Cosmony, has gone a step beyond other plantetion owners who overate no factories, and introduces processes into the preparation of its cruce rubber which especial- ly fit the rubver for manufacture into the goods into which it is to be made. On this company's plantation every step in the handling of rubber from the moment it leaves the tree as latex is taken with a view to the particular kind of goods into which the rubber is to be manufactured. toy ees are pie Bes ee ee ae A Caan x a3 , vs) ee vn ied: EMM { > es hie teety ry a a ey os aye as i ey wv _REVOLUTIONARY NEW PROCESSES _ Because of certain advantages which it will be hard to over- come, Engiand may remain the largest producer of crude rubber for a long time to come, but America is emphasizing daily her promi- nence in the field of ruboer mé&nufacture. The most recent development in the field of rubber manu- facture ~ the announcement by the United States Rubber Company of two remarkable new processes of manufacture - gives new proof of America's leadership. The:new developments are: Sprayed rubber, for use in the manufacture of all rubber products, and Web Cord, a fundamental improvement in the art of cord tire meking, Sprayed rubber iS produced by a revolutionary new method which eliminates that great bughear of rubber manufacture, deck of uniformity. Hitherto each rubber grower has trans- formed his liquid rubber into blocks and Sheets by a process of coagulation which called for pouring acids into the licuid PUuUNder Or My arVvine wit in: smoke. Needless to say rubber when it reached the factories from the great number of individual plantations was anything but uniform in quality, and there was of necessity a good deal of haphazard work about turning it into useful articles. Sprayed rubber is absolutely wmiform and pure; and pos- Sesses all the strength of the virgin rubber. Scientific tests show it to have a tensile strength never before equalled by any commercial rubber. Web Cord is the name of a wonderful new cord fabric for tires in which each individual cord has been immersed in rubber latex until it is literally impregnated. Every motorist knows by now that the length of life of his tires depends largely upon the thoroughness with which each cord in the carcass is impregnated and surrounded by rubber, the object of this be- ing to reduce friction, In making Web Cord, the cords are given a latex bath. Cotton absorbs rubber in this new liguid) form: cuickiy,: so tnat by the time the bath is completed each cord and every thread in each cord has been saturated with liqvid rubber. ms ty pe J } a) ~ ry 1 - " ‘ a ee) Aan er iS mi lie ee ay , ‘i f wd ie tires: a10t ae mah ee si i feat ins ade tf u er ‘ "Nb i i. ¥ ) Le Tatras i 59 * «bioe way a ar Be 4M . r ogy . ih ray rh aie y oud ae t RS eae rte way hee ened rattan a hae ihe , - " » AR tie Be Be tt ee’ ied aH Re ee yi ‘wha iN ve : nt ‘aan 0 sort hae tain By hs pty me ak fej fat % Cab ane SARS EARL ORE 5 int yin T y Ge 8 Ra yy bat y PA in: th f y es 7 ; iy oy ts ‘sr ae ay yi Ts. ae Ne 4 f | > a a ak cok ee es 0 Oo Saain| Sh nt anit ; » i if hee Fe : « Sa ie mit fay SEE ROAM LAN, fi Sh ee iy wien relanee Bie tee ~s b a Nios 4 ney 1 hoe: eae ae ) esi et i eo 4 Hy i oe | y; . Ah) ae M Yee P wiz rns We ie Me 9 iat; f at ay: hei aie 5 EXPORTS OF CRUDE RUBBER PROM PRODUCING COUNSRTES hs Country (Estimated) 192 ee Ma are ia iig lh. | altvd) heen oe gu LES, OOO 212,694 i EUS gia 2 ee AU RDN 107 San ae ee 375,000 47. 367 ndia * ° . e . ® ° s e e e s e « e e a 6, 000 4, 654 ee Eee MENA g RaWR ye ale Olé. faite! ote at ra 4,000 SMe © i Ne Oe a MR Ae he NCA Cg yw)! lali@! (gl elt) lage se ig OU 2, 634 yee re OS Teele gig ake ise wi Ridin. 1, Wy OOD 102, 383 PEG Ne 40 Sa ci CEM VS a APSA ont a ne Lea RS a 4,500 4,104 ec TR BG Meat ANE Tn i ee eee 22, 000 22,696 i men OL ECM We re Mule aga ber iy leet igi Nel: ala) atom 6, 000 9,000* Total 585,000 409,482 ABSORPTION OF CRUDE RUBBER BY CONSUMING COUNTRIES Country 1923 _(Sstimated,) 1922 RUBEN ey Epon amtr g Jcg 0) gh) gt Met's ey /\'@ Ow ube ae ie S0G ,,000 296, 266 Ro eR Mg We Wight alia al alos (tele, Leas 24, 500 92) 6Gd: sree Aue MEE eeu Nn Mur tg ha tN ely lal bel Get tngttin £3, 000 Paes) oy LTMe gS Wd TER RUE 28! VAS WW (0 PTR oy AR A nN A 25, 000 eta te 1 oe i Sn CAM VUS arb ascot re the luw Nitwel Maite 6, 500 6,431 Germany, Austria FONT RN a rete eee aN oh 30, 000 32. B51* ENT A Pen mMG Gi tia plage Shik Ng beanie 11.000 16, 581A Peri POG a see AUN $4) el ese we) ens wiiha ua 2.000 Se rye ameateee Noein) adps 0) 8 lan vy lho ict 3,000 3,000* Ee De METI Craninl e's Ib, es anes he wl dalle 2,000 1, 7094 He One AN ug tg oe ch et eh os ve 3, 000 2, 500* TO tal s . ° a 6 7 ® e s * s ° ° ® 420, OCO foe a ee ee ee re ee tt ne ne re es rn re ee cn re te te te et ee *Partially estimated Tneluding Gutta-percha fNot shown sinee inclusion of scrayn with crude would show excessive exports. ma Fe JAN, SAAR . x Ay BREEN * Pa eeu e ie al i ry wees a Tae) ; ° iw J ; ; i Ono. eth tnt | AUT yc ea eo fs heath by pe eth CA 7 p i oy al win OO, yen et seat, ae Rest Tas tp ) Re Rin ies Mi ak M xh y, 7 \ CaN Ay ‘ thal AM ahi Ln ny : ‘ the ; fi ‘4 ie oe fries cere rahi stmt i in ai funy mie ri ih sgt i‘ t ie fone ae Sia alanine hea dara deen ws cumin wie ts, Ng si share ‘ pa VAN ‘soiling hie ta ; Pa : mi ' " ay) ee UU) eat 1" er GAL i ign oo ayy i} { 1m Miah nh Sa i ; iad ie val ok "4 a : Ya iyi! (is ae rh as pa, 7, py he uit f it a ih ' Hib HERG ani aia ee | het hs Pr iy y aie Nak ae as aa ait ane seco i not: H ‘i ‘) WORLD'S BRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF CRUDE RUBBER 1946-1922 z eS —————————————————————————————————————— ru p> = ae oO = teas LESG 1850 1869 1870 1880 1290 1900 | 1901 Dee allay | 1903 i 1904 | 1905 1840 | | 1906 | ere 1908 | | 3909 eee Le heelo it Seagal idol ha. ead Pa Mase he | 1916 elo L7 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 : 1921 Eee | | 2,618 6,484 8,525 16,102 26,271 29.750 728,040 30,540 30,097 32,869 34,147 36,644 37, 384 38,748 43,544 1673 48,767 43,450 39,643 42, 924 Sa] 218 42,455 28, 232 41,147 27 976 20,171 26,696 ' -19- Year | AMAZON t LEeu Wid E WILD 53,886 54, 845 52 "BSD 56 029 62,077 PLANTATION — GR | \ i 62,000. 73. 348 64, 662 48,091 54.870 54,485 54 946 35 028 52,676 44,131 25 ea Gis SL, "696 en ae rt er i ee a EE NN 4 9) s oe: 43 145 O10 1-000 TP, 8Co DOW 8,200 17,487 ro Meno on» 69, 103, 500 144, 663 198,979 159,724 317 132 372,702 297, 630 377 186 fone ¥ VO ) OU 516) 54,850 52,340 55.950 Gee 62,145 66,210 69.000 65,400 69,600 77 500 84, 880 105, 285 114,651 118,087 168,170 199,146 uo) 925 194, LO 369, 808 Se 833 ioe 301 409 ABE * 4 a 4 aes htm thon nar = a cere ean: ' af oo fen 7 te Po Rn ah @ of: he * *h me Sa A F's a A TaRe & + ety) 7 ¢ ' ig a 2h a OD “fi pen : ‘ . : a is a . ; a 4 4 y 1 ar q _ ee em time a ~ = casein’ ate oe ee, we . Pi ess > a ea ¥y “a % ait j aah 7 ni J ae Py we. es ap i= : 7s) i. v < 4 “a e ss % or Bt) i+ * 4 [oe i ‘ a . ' { 3 $i i Ci F : rx { 4 a ss ws ay ‘ ‘Cn ae 3 ¥ i: ' , wi eee a ‘ os. 0 5 “4 tent Ping ¥ Mg he? 4. es eee ar oe > dae wat J OG.’ we gay ea CIO BA = ‘< ae f ite iF i ¢ e L ae ag 7 | Ag im Le) ee eo =? ; cg Lig’ so 3 ts . pile ieee oats Tad. ety i ei te ‘. “ : f i é t oe ‘ NA mY , a} ; 7 vo <1 7 Fy Saal oy A ot Sy ee ‘ de: Oe CE ey a * v " ip . _ Cad 2 , a i > f 2 Nes i, +: gah . a fie mk % 4 - > . wh. : , ’ i re. - g - tee es 7) So + ew — re + 75 +o yale eee Pian ne Ran aia LF aa dont than os ie ered tn © omen ye ’ 2 - 4 ' 2% « Dane THE UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY The United States. Rubber Company is the largest rubber company in the worid. The sales of the Company place it easily at the head of the rubber manufacturing industry. The seles were $256,150,130.00 in 1920, and $186,261,581.00 in 1923, The United States Rubber Company was organized Mareh 29, £892. It operates fifty-two factories in the United Stetes and Canada, its general offices are at 1790 Broadway, New York City. The Company's products include virtually every kind of article that is made of rubber, One of the most important undertakings of the Company has been its entrance into the plantation field in the Far hast, It owms in Sumatra the largest single plantation in the world, and also owns e number of other smcller plantations in Sumatre and the Melay peninsula. In addition, it is under contract to purchese the entire crude rubber production of several other plantations, The Compéeny conducts its sales in foreign countries through the United States Rubber Export Comneny, Ltd. Branches of the Export Company are loceted in most of the larger foreign countries, and foreign offices are maintsined in a number of other countries, Distributors represent the Company in all the large cities of the world where no branches are established. Among the chief products of the Company are automobil motoreycle and bicycle tires, belting, clothing, dental sup- plies, druggist and hospital supplies, insulated wire and cable, footwear, hose of ail Kinds, mettine moulded soods, travelling bags, packings, sheetings, golf balls, tepe, toys and tubing. —-20- wg ~/