The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-04
for the cheap and profltable growth of the

for the cheap and profitable growth OF the
rubber tree.
OF all the substances offered as substi-
tutes for rubber not one has proved en-
tirely satisfactory. although quite num-
Der have been used as adulterants with
out apparently deterioriating the lasting
qualities of the pure article. Such a sub
stance is ''rhea" rubber, which is said TO
have the appearances, odor and general
properties of crude rubber and TO be sus-
ceptible of preparation at fraction OF the
cost necessary to produce pure rubber-13
or IA cents per pound. This ''rhea" gum is
obtained from the ramie plant, is a by
product from the preparation of the fiber
for market. and was formerly discarded as
useless Mixed with the cheaper grades,
'.rhea" rubber has been marketed the
raw material, being soft, ductile and
elastic. and has been said to stand vul-
canization nearly as well as the pure ar
ticle. 1t has been successfully worked up
into rubber goods and into boots and shoes,
and so closely does 1t resemble the pure
article that even experts failed to detect its
presence in the manufactured goods. Enor-
nous crops of ramie are produced annually.
the plants being cut several times year
for ten years or more before a new planting
is required yields as high as seventy tons
an acre being common.
An English concern has produced from
castor or linseed oils a substance hay-
ing many of the properties of ruber No
previously unused gum is used in its man.
ufacture, it being essentially compound
basic substance. and has been
named ''velvril." It's basis, as stated
above, is castor or iinseed oil, although
owing to the variable quality of the latter,
the former Is more often used But one
other ingredient is used-a nitro-cellulose
varying the proportions OF the ingredients
and consistency may be obtained. from
that of cellulose vulcanite to a soft,
elastic substance like the softest India
rubber. About two parts of the oil and
one of nitro-cellulose results in a mixture
closely resembling Para rubber In thin
pieces 1t is of an amber color but for
special purposes it can be made nearly col
oriess. Although the resiliency of ''vey
ril' Is hot as great as that of pure rub
Der 1t has been used freely in the manu-
tires.
A Mexican company has also entered
into the manufacture of rubber substi-
tute. 1t is composition consisting pr.-
marily of the gummy matter obtained
from a shrub technically designated as
Synantheroeas Mexicana, and colloquially
Termed 'yule "copalin or ''joguhite.'
The company has obtained patent on the
substance, the specifications stating that
the gummy matter is obtained by using
benzine, gasoline or other hydrocarbons:
that 1t may be vulcanized perfectly; IS
better than most India and Para rubber
on the market, being free from mechanical
impurities, and needing preliminary
cracking, grinding and washing; IL is
cheap, easily obtained and saves machin-
cry in manufacture This gummy matter
is obtained from the bark OF the plant i'm
large quantltleS-as high as 40 per cent. by
weight.
quite recently a concern was incor-
porated in this country for the manufac-
ture of a rubber substitute from corn. The
resulting product has been called corn
rubber, and while the details of its manu-
facture are a secret, the finished material
Is said TO closely resemble pure rubber
not alone in appearance, but in quality.
me shortcoming of nearly every pro-
posed substitute for rubber, says the Cycle
age, seems 10 be its lack of sufficient re-
slliency and elasticity to warrant its en-
pioyment for such purposes as pneumatic
tlre-making. Pure rubber has never been
equaled for elasticity in combination with
us other qualities, and upon this point rests
are not required commercially to possess
the res1liency and life of high-grade brands
and In which cheaply-made compositions
or rubber, gum and other substances are
USED, no process now under consideration
can anect to any great extent the produc-
ton OF bicycle and automobile tires.