The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-28
UTAHNS IN MEXICO
CULTIVATING RUBBER

Provo, March 27-Ben1nmin Clun.
resident manager In Mexico OF the
UtahMeXican Rubber company, is hero
for a months visit with his family.
and to attend to some business al
fairs. He talks interestingly OF his
experiences in Mexico. Mr.. Cluff has
now resided on the company's planta'
tion in the state OF Tobasco in the
southeastern part OF the republic for
six years, taking charge or the de-
yelopment work, The plantation now
gives every promise OF nearing the
stage when 1t will yield big returns
to the stockholders. The company
owns 10000 acres. The land is espe-
cially adapted to rubber tree culture
and banana raising and these are the
industries engaged in so far. The
cultivation of the banana plant is only
recent The great demand for this
fruit and the adaptability OF the coun'
try 10 Its production has caused the
company to set out 2l.000 plants this
year They will produce In a year
from now, as It takes only from four
teen to eighteen months from planting
before the fruit can be gathered. IL
is gathered twice a month all the
year around Only one bunch grows
on each stem, or reed, OF the plant.
When that is cut the stem produces
no more fruit.
1t Is, however, us a rubber producer
that the company expects to make its
big money. 1t has 5000 acres in rub
Der trees. The six.year-old trees
the first years plantlng-are now
ready to tap. There are ABOUT 10
600 OF them. and the worK OF extract
ing the sap will begin as soon as Mr..
Cluff returns His company will at
first tap the trees twice a year. Some
experts advocate tapping four times 1
year. some twice a year and others
once year. After the sap Is eX-
tracted from the tree It Is poured
into tanks and mixed with the acid
juice OF native plant. which causes
1t TO coagulatc. The coagulated rub
Der sinks TO the bottom, and is taken
out and dried II is then hard
white substance. and In this form is
shipped to the manufacturing centerS
TO DO made Into various nrtfcles. The
foregoing Is the old way or prepar-
ing rubber for market. but machinery
has been invented since tho Amerf-
cans went into the crude rubber In
duStry. These machines cause coagu-
lation by a centrifugal process
Natives In Tabasco. Dir. Clufr states,
are a pretty good class OF people. do
Gle and good workers. as measured
by inhabitants OF tropical countries.
The whites that are there all have
some position directing the natives.
A reason for the belief tnat there is
little danger from revolutions In MeXi-
co Is the great amount OF American
capital invested The better informed
Me2icaus look upon this as almost u
sure preventive They do not believe
the United States government would
permit the property OF Americans In
Mexico TO be jcopardized. The Diaz
government too. rules with strong
hend. but is very favorable to Ameri
cPns
Mr.. Cluf states that there are NJ
teen Utahns on the Utah-MeNico Rub.
Der company's plantation, and all are
well and getting accustomed to the
climate, which Is very pleasant eX-
cept In the months OF April and May
when it Is very hot. During the sum
NOR months IL is not as hot as in
Utah. being tempered by the frequent
ralns. Mr Cluff made q record trip
home. coming lD nine days. BY way
OF Galveston and Pueblo.