The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-11-09
DEMAND FOR RUBBER
TO MEET 1T EUROPE Is RAN
SACKED FOR CAST-OFF RUB
Der MANUFACTURES TO
BE MADE OVER.

India rubber. valued at more than
$50, 900, 900, was imported into the
United States last year. In 1890 the
quantity was only 33 900, 900 pounds
in 1880, 10000, 900; in 1870, 9,0O0,-
600, and in 1869. the earliest date Of
which it was separately shown in the
import statements, was only 2,125,
SCI pounds.
Over 500, 000 900 worth Of manu-.
features from India rubber are now
turned out from the factories OF the
country every year, and about half
of this total is in the form Of boots
and shoes.
So great is the demand for India
rubber for use in manufacturing that
not only has the Importation grown
from 2,000,o 900 pounds in 1852 TO
over so, 900, 900 annually ut the pres
ent period, but in addition to this the
forests Of the East Indies are called
upon for several million pounds an
nually Of a new substitute for gutta-
percha, known ss "guttaj oolatong. "
while ct the sans time the highways
and byways Of Europe and other coun-
tries are ransacked for castoff rubber
manufactures from which the rubber
is reclaimed" and reused in oonneo-
ton with the new rubber from the for
ests Of Brazil, Africa and the East In
dies
Figures Just compiled by the depart.
men Of commerce and labor through
its bureau Of statistics show the i'm
portatious Of three classes Of material
utilized as India rubber In recent
years.
They show that during the past few
years the importations of crude rubber
have ranged from $4,000, 600 to 55.-
900, 900 pounds, Of guttaJoolatong
from 8, 900. 900 to $1,000, 900. and Of
"old scrap rubber, fit only for remanu-
from ten to twenty odd mil
lion pounds per annum and Of gutta-
pei cha half million pounds.
The industry Of importing and ire
India rubber for reuse in
man ufacturing is . comparatively new
one, and while it utilities large guam
titles Of wornout rubber boots and
shoes and other articles Of this charac.
ter from the scrap heaps Of the United
it has only extended to other
parts Of the world in recent years.
In 1898, for example, the total Inn
portation Of "old and scrap India rub-
Der fit only for remanufacture" was
less than . million pounds. In 1896
it was over three millions. in 1898
more than nine millions, in 1900 niue
teen millions, in 1909 twenty two mil
lions and in 1908 24.659, 394 pounds,
valued ut $i.516,137.
Gutsa- joolstong is another compare
lively new material, which may be
utilised as a substitute for OF in con-
junction with India rubber.
1t Is product of the East Indies,
chiefly the Island of Bornso, located
not far from our Philippines, and in
the form in which it is imported 10
described as "whitish in color, look
ing something like marshmal'ow can
dy, smelling strongly of petroleum.
and oxidizing on exposure to the air,
becoming hard" The same description
says: "It rs not q substitute for gutta
percha or India rubber, bat is used
chiefly as . filler IN manufactures Of
India rubber gum and Ruttapercha-"
The importation of this newly devel-
oped aid in the manufacture of India
rubber has increased from $500, 900
pounds in 1899 to $4,000. 900 pounds
in I903-New York Times.