Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-29
PRICE OF RUBBER SCARS
Increased Demand for Auto Tires
Shoots Cost to Fancy Point.
BRITISH SPECTATORS ARE BUSY
No Danger of supply Being Ex-
hnusted, an Expert Declare
Opens Up Busihess In
the Tropics.

The world is standing agast watching the
high flight Of crude rubber prices and won
dcring whether the limit has been reached.
Since the day when Charles Goodyear first
discovered the art Of naturalization, the rub
Der milk OF the tropical forest has played
a part OF increasing Importance in sup
plying articles Of necessity to the COM
tort of mankind.
For fifty years the price OF crude rub
Der has averaged considerably less than
81 per pound two years ago it stood at
Is cents per pound, and today 1t is above
$3--a level that takes it out of many
field 1t has heretofore occupied.
Are the causes artificial or natural that
have produced the present situation, and is
the world to be deprived of the great boon
of cheap rubber? These are the questions
that the people are asking themselves and
that led f. a. Seiberllng. president of
the Goodyear Tire and Rubber comany of
Akron, o., on a tour of investigation
through South America that took two
months time and more than 1000 miles
OF travel in the fever laden district of the
Amazon river. Mr.. Soldering being-so far
as known-the first American rubber man
ufacturer to make this perlous trip, his
views. which follow, are of great interest:
The high prices prevailing for crude
rubber are fairly attributed to two prl-
mary causes: First, the abnormal draft
upon the worlds supply in providing tires
for automobiles second the wild specula-
ton In rubber and rubber shares In Eng
land, which has taken on the aspect OF a
south Sea bubble in a mad scramble OF
people of all classes to get rick quick OH
rubber. London Is the financial center OF
the worlds rubber market, and the craze
now running its course there is having
tremendous sentimental influence toward
lifting prices This will correct itself in
the collapse which, in due time, is GER
tain to come, and will carry with 1t its
trail of disaster and ruin to the rubber
gamblers in the manner always attending
the busting OF financial bubbles.
stories are being circulated to the effect
that the rubber supply is being rapidly
exhausted and that the world is facing d
famine, but a careful view of the situa-
ton justifies an opposite opinion.
The last year more than 1000 tons OF
crude rubber, having value approximating
$500, 900, O0O were produced, of which 10000
tons came out Of the Amazon river. This
was wholly WIN EuDDVls bANhtiSN oiiiiSSN
entirely from a belt extending along the
Amazon and its tributaries and running
less than three miles into the Interior The
vast forest beyond these borders is sub
stantially untouched, but with the building
Of the railroad around the falls of the
Madeira, which will be completed in 1911,
and with the building of roads through the
forests connecting up rivers the introduce
ton OF the automobile and the gasoline
boat, vast districts heretofore inaccessible
will be brought within reach OF the rubber
gatherer, and while the gain in production
,Acn year has been approximately but 10
mt over the previous year there Is
.~s,iUn that this percentage will in
l..~.- largely from this time forward
'l,ut very important factor toward re-
h,,las the existing situation is found in the
p.dniation rubber In the East Indies. which
is low coming into the market in large
quantities, each years production being
substantially double that OF the preceding
year. Whereas we had less than 1900 tons
in 1909, We shall receive approximately 5000
tons in 1910. and well up to 1900 tons In
1911, and within five years quantity larger
than Is now furnished by the Amazon,
which IS a remarkable result, considering
the fact that three years ago the produc-
ton OF the entire East Indian district
represented but few hundred tons,
That product of nature which exists in
abundance, and which the world needs, Il
Will find a way to obtain Wild rubber
trees in almost limitless quantities exist in
Brazil, awaiting the touch of human energy
TO yield up their latex, and the world will
undoubtedly find means 10 obtain It's re-
quired supply.
The ruling classes in Brazil are an In
telligent people, and though they have been
slow to realize the advantage OF planting
rubber, they are now following the lead OF
the East Indians. and within a few years
the Amazon valley will be furnishing plan
tstion rubber far in excess of the wild
rubber now coming down the river.
As an indication OF the immensely of its
opportunities, one island In the mouth OF
the Amazon riyer-Isie Marajo. which is
larger than the state of Maine-is capable
OF furnishing plantation rubber in quantity
more than the entire world is now consum-
ing The government is enacting legislation
ha nj Of