The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24
INDIA RUBBER INDUSTRY.
Department OF Agriculture TaktnG
steps 20 Encourage Growth
of the Trees.


Special Dispatch 10 the Observation-Disclosures
WASHINGTON Sept. 22--More than
500 10000 worth Of India rubber has been
imported into the United States during
the past four years, and more than 500
o1o,nn worth IA the last two years.
decade ago the annual irfportations OF
India rubber amounted 10 about $4,000, 900;
now they exceed sso0o.ooe and are stead
fly increasing. Practically all OF the Inn
portations OF rubber come In crude form
for use of manufacturers. who are con-
stantiy extending its application TO va
rious new lines OF industry.
Northern Brazil, Southern Mexico, the
West indies, Central Asricn. India. the
Straits Settlements and the Dutch East
Indies supply this increasingly important
feature OF our fmportstions. Probably no
single article has made more rapid
growth IN its relations 70 manufactures
ana consequently commerce In the past
few wears than rubber. A. a consequences
attention 10 now being given 70 the cui-
tivation and systematic production Of the
various plants and trees from which II
can be produced.
The above statement IL suggested by the
receipt by the treasury bureau OF statis-
tics OF a publication detailing the sya-
sematsc EFFORTS being made fos the cult.
walton Of india rubber trees and plants IN
the British colonies. especially those Of
Central and South Africa. This. coupled
With the well known fact that our own
denar,ment OF agriculture has already be-
gun experiments and Inquiries In this line
In the island territories OF tho United
states adds greatly 20 the !n6~est In
th.s question and to the possibility that
the ts0co.ooo year which we are now
sending cut % the country for this prod
net may be expended under the American
nag and among American producers.
The fact that Southern Mexico ard Gem
trni America are natural producers OF In
siia rubber in considerable and Increasing
quantities. and that large quantities. are
produced in and exported from the Is
lands and mainland Immediately adjacent
20 the philippines suggests great possibii-
flies in this lire both IN Cuba, Puerto Rico
and In the Hawaiian and Philippine Is
lands
posed. the product % a Angle tree, hut
on the contrary. IL produced from VA
fiett ~ trees and plants. Some % these
flourish only In n moist soil and stno-
sphere. white others thrive on stony soii.
uruvtdad they receive ample though In
,ermittenf rainfall: though IN All cases
q tropical Or suhiropieal ciirnats ~ rsaui-
ate Most 81 the india rubber Of South
and Central America ard india !. from
,Fe~s hut IN tho islands q the indian
archipelago the supply % rubber II chiefly
from gigantic ereeper which n I've
ysaYs' rrowth attains isnsth ~ 40 feet
ana from twenty q thirty inches circum-
ference. nnd which yields annually from
affv 10 slNiy rounds ~ eaoutchouo
lava EnmssTa. Penang sln&apore and
Froueh fuao-china are already larRs pro-
s0cp-. of crude india rubber. OF caeuf-
rhos,c. ard ia production IN the West
tnf{es he's isSfn sufficiert "a Indicate fhe
enifrs prarffcAhtiify If 10 teirs made m
important industry IN cuba and PUERTO
Riao. ~ well a. ~ the Hawaiian ara
phHfurinr ara Samoan islands
Tre following table shows the value ~
she irnrnytafions - crude India rubber aaf
r5ffta rerehR .m'a tire Tinted states IN
eash Aseai year from isaa 70 100