The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-02
RICHES IN RUBBER IN MEXICO.
FORTUNES BEING MADE OFT or a
ONCE DESPISED SHRUB.

On sight ON Tract Held at No Gents an
Aere-The Guayule shrub and re nubs
Der Observation-Disclosures Interested.
MONTEREY. Mexico. Sept. The excite
ment which followed the discovery Of oil
in Texas a few years ago has its parallel In
the craze which exists throughout this part
Of northern Mexico over tbs discovery THAI
the guayule shrub contains vaIuabls nilAhes
properties.
The utilization Of the shrub il no longer
an experiment. More than $4,000 o has
o invested In the erection OF guayuls
rubber factories in this region In the Lass
eighteen months and the investment Of
several more millions in the industry IL in
proSp0cs.
The gUayule shrub covers many million
acres Of land upon the plateau Of northern
Mexico and its habitat extends into south
west Z for q distance Of $50 miles. Tbs
shrub grows to a height Of about four feet.
IL has been heretofore considered .
nuisance TO the landowner, as it interfered
with cattle grazing. II grows upon land
worthless for agricultural purposes. This
land had very little value before the dis
Sovery was made that the guayule shrub
was worth something.
Much Of the and could AVE been pur-
chased for 50 cents an acre two years ago.
To-day each acre Of the land is producing
at least two tons OF guayule, which is selling
for al high as 800 Mexican currency or
80 American money q ton. The revenue
from n acre Of the land is therefore equivs-
lent to 500 American money. Many ranch
mon who were land poor are now rich.
The despised shrub has become an object
Of the greatest attention. Much care 10
taken in cutting the growth so that the
shrub may reproduce itself from its ROOTS.
It Is said that II will bear cutting every two
years.
Many landowners made contracts with
guayule rubber manufacturers for the sale
Of the shrub at from $50 to $50 a ton. This
was several months ago, in the early days
Of the excitement. Few sales are now being
made for less than $50 Mexican money a ton.
Francisco Madero OF Parras, Mexico, il
the owner Of 100000 acres OF guayule
producing land. He IL said to be the largest
individual and owner in northern Mexico.
He estimates that his land will producs
at the first cutting not less than 5000 900
mi Of guayule.
At $50 gold a ton the shrub would bring
him $3.50 ,0O0, 900. In the opinion Of experts
WuO u1N0 kUnc ONOT nuCA Oh J0NH LAuO ~
will yield at least two tons Of the shrub to
the acre. That being true, it's value is
500, OOo, 900.
Madero is a rich mar outside Of his landed
holdings. He is at the head Of a syndicate
which is being organized to fight the Con-
tinental Rubber Company. which is a New
York corporation having a capital stock
Of 100000 o organised for the purpose,
il is said, OF monopolising the gusyule
rubber industry OF Mexico and Texas.
The representatives Of this company
have purchased the right to use the guayule
shrub growing upon several millions OF
acres Of land In this country. A few days
g this company paid Eugenio Ortiz.
owner OF . large guayule bearing ranch in
the State OF Nuevo Leon, $500 900 for the
product from this land for q period Of eight
years.
The fact that this large sum was paid in
advance shows tho eagSTness with which
tho company Is carrying out it's plans.
More than four hundred laborers will be
employed in cutting the shrub and in order
TO utilize the native material to the best
advantage tho company has already let
the contract for the erection OF q rubber
manufacturing plant. on the ranch, the
proposed cost OF which il about $4,000.
Ortiz says that the company offered him
81 900, 600 for his ranch, but he refused to
accept it.
SehoE MRdero has been in the guayule
rubber business for eighteen months, being
among the very first 20 establish a guayulc
rubber factory. He now owns and operates
two rubber factories on the Rosario haci-
enda, near Parras.
These two factories each produce twenty
five tons Of rubber q day. 1t cost about
$500 900 to build them.
He proposes to erect a twenty ton rubber
factory at San Tiburcio, State Of Zacatecas.
which will COST about 100000. He is also
erecting one ten ton plant at Cuatro Cienegss
and another ten ton plant at Los Delicias,
State Of Coahuila, and still another at San
Pedro These plants when all completed
and In operation will AVE a daily outputs
Of rubber amounting TO 100 tons.
Senior Madero is also associated with
several companies which have large fac
tories in operation. It is an amalgamation
Of all these independent interests that il
to make a fight against the Continental
Rubber Company.
The product of the guayule shrub il not
tho equal Of Para rubber, but it is valuable
for many uses, particularly in the manu-
OF automobile tires. The manu-
Of these tires has caused an enOr-
nous increase in the demand for rubber.
One ton Of the guayule shrub will pro-
duoe about $50 pounds OF rubber. When
the manufacture OF rubber from this new
source was first begun the product sold
for 20 cents gold a pound, one tons ex-
traction bringing SITS gold. This price
has not been maintained, however, but the
independent manufacturer say that il will
be reached again soon.
The Continental Rubber Company has
factories in operation at Torreon,
Ocampo and Saltillo, tho present monthly
production Of the three factories being
$4,000 pounds OF rubber.
A number Of Americans have mads
out Of guayule lands since the
boom started. Soon after the discovery
made that the shrub was valuable
]. H. Scndole OF San Antonio, Tex, pur-
chased a ranch Of 10000 acres Of land
between Torreon and SaltillO for
% 900.
He recently closed a contract with one
81 the rubber companies for the sale OF