The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-26
would be willing to accept even the hops
OF them.
Interesting Facts Concerning the
south American Industry.

south American Industry.
New York Evening Post.
When it SHOWS in New York the natives
who work in the rubber forests thousand
miles up the Amazon river soon expect
more wages in rum. Snow is the greatest
influencing factor in the rubber trade, and
when the populous districts of America
have a heavy fall. as in the past winter.
there is great rejoicing down in tropics
where rubber comes from.
Contrary to the first impression, perhaps.
that rubbers are commonly worn more on
account of rain, 1t is the fact that a snow
fall Immediately creates a demand upon the
retailers more important and lasting. A
rain seldom continues for days, as one
snow does and snow makes wet walking
from the moment it falls until it melts
away. Retail stocks became exhausted
early this year and shoe dealers had the
confidence to place large orders on the
strength of the early promise of the sea-
son.
MANAGES, in the State of Amazonia, 100
miles up the river, has, through the invest
ments of American capitalists in the rubber
trade, become a fourishing modern city OF
some 10000 inhabitants. chiefly engaged in
this industry. The city is lighted by electri-
city, has street cars. and, in the midst or
jungle OF luxuriant tropic growth, IL Is con-
nected with the outside world by telegraph
to the mouth of the river and thence by
cable. Consequently any important event In
rubber speculation, or condition which
governs the trade, is soon learned there,
great extent by labor agitators, expect
larger allowance of liquor in their pay, or
more wages to buy it.
The rubber which comes from the upper
Brazil district has threatened to become ex-
hausted because of the great demand made
upon this highest grade known by the re-
quirernents for insulation in electric service.
For this reason scientists have explored all
parts of the world for species of trees and
plants that might supply high-grade rub
Der to take its place. Over leo varieties
have been discovered, some of them in the
jungles of Africa up the Congo, but only
about twenty-five are OF practical value.
The Amazon district in South America has
long supplied the markets of the world until
within the past few years its rubber for
ests have been laid low and in many sec
lions will scarcely be replaced Ini ms
necessitated penetrating further and
further to wilds of the upper river.
Since the persons engaged in this indus
try became convinced that their interest
lay in preserving the forests under their
control rather than in rashly destroying
them and then moving farther on a sys-
tematic plan has been followed. where prac-
teal, to tap the rubber tree as the maple
tree is tapped about this time of the year
here instead of cutting the tree down and
taking the rubber sap from it to the last
drop. In the latter method there is a larger
this practice that the productive ancient
forests of Brazil have rapidly succumbed
to the ak In the vicinity of Manaos the
the maple groves of New England always
have been, and for the best OF reasons.
The future Of the rubber trade and of such
cities as Manaos depends upon the preser-
walton of these forests.
The sap is collected and brought to the
kettles, where it is boiled down to GER
tain fineness Then the product in its
crude form is rolled into balls of about one
and one-half to three feet in diameter
when it is placed in storehouses to follow
much the same course in its journey to-
ward the market and manufacturer as any
product which need not be Immediately
U.S. ed. Spectators hold it for the best
| prices that they can demand, and often,
where the winter has been unreasonable IN
| the colder portions of the civilized world,
they have to carry their rubber from one
to two or three years. A great deal OF
| houses in New York, and the banks loan
money on it with regard to the uncertainty
of demand and supply Sometimes they get
caught on large amount. as was the case
| last year, owing to the embarrassment or
| the company referred to above.
Besides the demand for rubber, which Is
| increasing all the time through the require
| ments of electricity, there is an increasing
| use of it for automobile and carriage tires.
| The bicycle has fallen from its maximum
mand for rubber-tired vehicles of all de-
| scriptions has more than made up for this.
| Rubber "shoes," as they are called in the
trade. are used in proportion as the winter
season is wet or dry. When the great rush
to the Alaskan gold fields began in 1899 and
| 1900 an immediate demand for rubber shoes
| of all kinds and rubber boots was antici-
| pated by shrewd dealers. One SPECTATOR.
| who had an eye 10 business, knew of a
| large lot of rubber boots and shoes which
| had been in storage here in New York for
several years, a drug on the market. He
| also knew that the owners would be glad to
| get rid of them at almost any price. Going
| to a banker who had confidence in his judg-
| ment the man borrowed enough to get the
whole stock, shipped it to Seattle. Spokane,
and Tacoma, Wash. and to Portland, Ore.
| where miners were getting their outfits,
| and sold every pair at a large profit. The
| demand for rubber hose for garden or home
use has increased also in proportion as the
| country has prospered the past seven years.
/ People who never had homes and lawns
1 now water the grass where potatoes or
! weeds grew before. Municipalities are con-
| stantly replenisbing their fire department
| hose and have of late been more extrava-
| CANT in this expense. Ocean cables require
| a good amount of the finest rubber also.
| About the only line in which rubber Is used
which has not called more heavily of late
| upon the supply of the product has been
| that of rubber coats. The old-fashioned
| rubber coat has almost gone out, except
/ for firemen and in certain lines of labor
such as street car employees, policemen, etc.
| In the great trade the macintosh or most
| ly cloth coat has taken the old rubber
|