Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-05-25
A GUN ARABIC FAMINE.
The Sticky Material Advancing in Price-To
BE Swept from Trade If the Mehdi's Re.
belIiOu Succpeda

affected the trade in gum arabic.
Prices have already more than doubled.
and since the supply of this article is
drawn wholly from the country in the
mehdis possession, a continuance of
the trouble for n much longer period
will result in gum arabic famine.
Previous to the bonn mbardment of Alex
andria by the British fleet the supply
of the gum wSs abundant and prices
were exceptionally low, ranging from
9 to 10 cents q pound for ordinary sorts
gum arabic-that is, the gum as
gathered without subsequent prepara-
ton for market. After the lombard
ment the prices advanced to II and Is
cents q pound, the native dealers be-
licving that the war then beginning
would interrupt the shipment of gum
from the interior. Subsequently Ell
Mehdi out off communication between
the SOudan and the seaboard and, his
followers having possession of the en-
tire gum country, the shipments
ceased. The transportation, which is
by alternate camel and water routeN,
is surrounded by many difficulties,
and under the most favorable circum-
stances from eight to ten months is re-
quired to move the gum from Kordo-
fan to Cairo and Alexandria. Since
the false prophets arrival in the
vicinity of Khartoum practically no
gum arabic has found its way from the
Soudanese territory to the usual mar.
kets, and the price has still further ad-
vanced to % and 80 cents per pound.
: 1t is u curious fact that gum arabic
is to-day selling cheaper in New York
and this city than in any other part of
the world, not excepting even Carlo
and Alexandria. This is in part due
to the fact that many large consumers
in this country, owing to the advance
in price, have adopted substitutes
where possible. The importation of
gum senegal from Senegambia, on the
west coast of Africa, has been greatly
stimulated by the high price of gum
arabic in nature and quality, and
makes an efficient substitute. But for
this importation from Senegambia and,
the bringing into use of substitutes of
various inferior gums the price of
sorts arabic would now be not less than
80. cents a pound. The supply of
senegal is limited, however, and its
price is rapidly advancing.
The stock of gum arabic in the ware
houses of the world is exceedingly
small, and should the war continue
wear longer it will be exhausted.
Even should the war end at once it
would be two years before fresh sup
ply could reach the markets of the
world. 1t is estimated that only about
20 per cent of the crop of 1888 was
gathered. and nothing is known of the
crop of 1884, which was probably not
gathered at all. What portion OF this
Years crop may be saved will depend
on the termination of the rebellion
and the peaceful settlement of the
country. Native dealers in gum in
Carlo and Alexandria are so confident
of higher prices that they refuse to
sell, and have practically withdrawn
from the market:
The gum is used extensively in the
manufacture of fine confectionery and
for sizing colors in textile goods. 1t
is used in large quantities on the gov
ernment envelopes, which are manu-
featured by a New England firm.
Probabl larger quantity of the gum
is consumed at this mandatory thar
at any other single establishment il
the country. The adhesive substance
OH pOSIuRc otuHpS 10 ucAIiAhO, NHlOi
gives more plable surface thar
could be produced by gum arabic.
The unit of commerce for gun
arabic is bale containing five hun
dred pounds. Europe consumes abou
twelve thousand bales annually, an'
America half as much. The busines
in this country is practically in tn
hands of two houses, one in New lorl
- ~ nf fhirt