Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21


Not only has the expedition confirmed the
belief that the. forests Of Mindanao. the
Jolo archipelago and parts of other Islands
abound in gutta percha trees and rubber
vines, but the government laboratory OF
Manila has demonstrated from samples
brought in by the forestry inspectors that
these Philippine products are equal TO the
best Sumatra and Borneo gutta percha, and
perhaps not inferior to the high grades OF
Para rubber.
Discoveries Of Importance.
AS the native gutta percha forests Of
other parts Of the far east are fast disap-
pearing before the ruthless harvesters OF
these highly priced products, who cut down
trees and hack vines to pieces instead or
tapping them to procure sap, the scientific
discoveries regarding Philippine gutta
percha forests assume significant tmpor-
lance.
1t has long been held by dealers and 9TH
ers that the gutta percha zone of the far
east was confined to the lower part OF the
Malay peninsula, to portions of Sumatra
and Borneo and to the small neighbor1ng
islands Of the RHO archipelago. Chinese
merchants, craftily obtaining large quanti-
have found It to their interest to spread
this belief Of the limited area in which
gutta percha trees can be found.
Since the American occupation Of the
trade was being carried on Of more or less
significant Importance in Philippine gutta
percha and rubber, but up to last year,
when the forestry offices were established
in the southern Philippines, not an ounce
Of gutta percha as such had passed through
the customs house. Nevertheless, nearly
half million pounds of this valuable product
had passed through the customs, having
been listed under the non-committal name
of "cOpaP' and "Other Philippine gums"
The government officials then issued an or
der requiring all persons engaged in col
Letting rubber and gutta percha to take
out licenses, but only six Of these permits
were applied for.
A Big Secret Trade.
=, was evident that gutta percha and rub
Der, If they existed to any extent on the
Islands, were finding their way out through
channels over which the customs officials
were maintaining no jurisdiction. Now it
has been discovered by the United States
scientific explorers that large Chinese firms
in Singapore and Borneo are conducting an
immense secret trade with the Philippines
in the matter of gutta percha and rubber,
thousands of pounds being smuggled out of
the archipelago to Sandakan, Borneo, and
there skillfully adulterated with coloring
matter and sold as Borneo and Sumatra
products.
In many parts Of the Philippine Islands
whole tribes of natives are engaged in gath
ering rubber and gutta percha for these
Chinese smugglers. The system is thor
Oughly organized.
The worst thing about this industry is
not that the customs houses are cheated
out OF the export revenue that should be
levied, but that the pagan tribes of south
ern Mindanao and other sections are de-
stroying these valuable forests. With no
thought for the future they cut down trees
and vines to get the sap, or milk as it is
called.
The scientists in these expeditions found
hot ho not
nese employers evidently had impressed
upon them the necessity Of secrecy in their
work. In some Of the villages some of the
native agents admitted that they made
their living by gathering rubber, but would
not admit that they had traded also in gut
ta-percha. In some of the coast towns it
was discovered that these Filipnos had
rubber and gutta-percha secreted under the
noors OF their cottages. 1t was tied to
strings and kept floating in the sea water.
This not only kept 1t effectually out of
sight, but served also to make the products
harder and prevent loss of weight until 1t
could be disposed Of to the Chinese snug
glers.
Large Trails of Gutta Percha Trees.
1t was evident to the members of the ex-
petition that the natives would not furnish
information in regard to the location Of the
best rubber and gutta-percha districts, but
fortunately and old dado at Buan, on the
Island of Tawi Tawi, displayed g. friendly
disposition to give the desired information.
In the ensuing hunt for gutta- percha trees
a great many that had been cut down and
destroyed were found. Deeper penetration
of forests. however, revealed large tracts
covered with standing gutta-percha trees.
The methods used by the natives to col
lect gutta-percha and rubber not only de-
stroy the trees and vines, but renders 1t
fhQr To
amount Of the products. Much of the sap is
lost through carelessness in collecting the
flow.
In southern Mindanao similar conditions
prevail. Dato Piang, who seems to have a
monopoly In that section, asserted that he
did not allW his men to cut down the trees
but investigation proved that the assur-
ances of the date were simply an effort to
escape the penalty which he feared might
be inflicted upon him.
From various districts SAMPLES Of putta
percha and rubber were brought to the
government laboratory at Manila. where It
was subjected to a careful scientific analy-
Sis. THESE tests disclosed the important
economical fact that the Philippine gutta-
percha will doubtless become as valuable
for cable insulation and other purposes as
the best butta percha obtainable, while the
rubber r, with proper coaguiation and drying.
1t is thought. will be equal to the best com
mercial rubber now on the market
While some Of the gutta-percha trees
found were new and hitherto unknown va
rieties, many Of them belong to the GEN
eral species, dichopsis .gutta, the tree which
has furnished the gutta-percha for most of
the submarine cables of the world Sam
pies Of these Philippine products were sub
mitted to the chief electrician and to the
cable engineer of the U. 8. cableship Burn
side, who pronounced the gutta-percha to
be of very superior quality, and inasmuch
as many cables will ultimately be laid be-
tween the Philippines and Japan and Asia
the presence of insulating material in the
archipelago is Of extreme Importance. That
the government at Washington may be
made fully aware of the necessity for taking
some action in controlling these priceless
forests samples of gutta-percha are now on
the way to this country. where they will he
subjected to most careful tests by eminent
scientists. In the meantime forest rangers
have been detailed to patrol the mountains
where the gutta-percha trees grow in great
est abundance, while customs officers will
keep q sharp lookout on the coasts where
Chinese crafts are engaged in the SNUG
Cling trade.