The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1911-01-21
The Rubber
Industry
Assurance That the Rubber Industry
Is to be a Success.

As all well-informed people are
aware, there has been much pertur-
lation in recent years regarding the
presumed diminution and possible
exhaustion of the raw rubber supply.
The increasing demand for this pro-
duct, its growing importance in the
mechanical arts and the gradually
ascending quotations for the crude
gum in European and American
markets seemed to justify the gen.
eral unpasiness. In view of the fact
that the rubber plantations of Ha-
waii are to ha>ea a meeting in Homo
lulu Monday, the following may he
Of interest:
Henry G. Pearson, a recognized
authority on rubber, contributed an
article to the Saturday Evening Post
recently in which he took the ground
that the production OF Para rubber
the Brazilian artlcle-would, un-
der probably greatly improved con-
ditions, be largely increased instead
of diminished. At present the bus
mess of collecting and merchandiz-
ing the raw rubber in that quarter
is too costly in every particular;
nevertheless, it is suited to existing
conditions. The Para rubber supply
is steady flow toward the markets.
The Amazonian basin, the home Of
the great Brazilian rubber tree, is
an immense territory, sparsely popu-
lated, only partly explored. 1t has
been claimed that the ignorant and
reckless natives cut down thousands
OF rubber trees annually. Mr.. Pear
son explains that the trees they cut
down are those that die after tap
ping. They are different from the
Para type. When cut down the
stump promptly sends up shoots,
and in seven years there are several
trees instead of one. When tapped
the new, like the old tree, is des-
troyed; but cut it down, drain the
latex, or fluid rubber, and it -four
ishes again. The process is going
on throughout the Amazon valley;
hence, the argument that there is
no cause for thinking that there can
be rubber famine in that quarter,
even If the trees that yield sap an
nually in small but regular quanti-
ties should show any signs of fail
ing.
The writer referred to recounts
the fact that rubber, in one shape
or another, grows wild in Mexico,
Central America, South America
south to Argentina, Africa from
Cape Colony up to the Sahara, in a
part of Australia. in Java, Sumatra
Borneo, India, the Malay states and
the Philippines. 1t would appear
however, that wild rubber is gather.
ed nowhere yet in really systema
tic manner. The other great fact
of Importance in this connection il
that the wild rubber is there for TIN
gathering.
But it is question whether in th,
future it will pay to- penetrate thu
almost hopeless iungles in search o
this commodity, the reason being
that rubber planting in the far cas-
not only promises to be but is ac
tually a success.
Again, while there have been fail
ures and frauds il the rubber plan
tation business, the fact remain
that many plantations in other part
of the world. promise to be success
full. Para rubber will hold the lead
but Mr.. Pearson is free to admi
that Castilloa rubber trees yield we'll
and he adds: Honest, well-manag
ed rubber plantations are wonder
fully profitable, and they will con
tinue and increase. The lesson +
be drawn from all this is simply tina
there has been 10 real occasion fo
alarm with regard to the future ex
haustion of the rubber supply
Rather do the indications point t
an ever increasing yield.