The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-11-02

M cpal part OF the immediat
| A supply of rubber is derive,
! Il VA. from species Of the Heye,
tree, but considerable guam
titles are secured from the Castilloa
Cera and Ficus elastica trees. A nun
Der or other trees and vines yield rub
Der and several of them are under ex
perimental observation with promis,
OF successful outcome of their cultiya
ton. The production of rubber during
the year 1911 was about $4,000 tons
more than half of this quantity came
from South and Central America
ABOUT one-third from Africa, and al
nost all the remainder from Asia The
Aslatic output now includes 5000 OF
more tons of plantation" rubber. The
valley OF the Amazon is by far the
greatest source of rubber supply. The
shipments from Brazil are equal to
fully one-third of the worlds supply
and for the first quarter Of 1912 we're
valued at s27,5OO,OOo.
The cost of producing rubber is
ABOUT 20 cents pound, and this ap-
pies equally to the wild and planta-
ZION product. In the case of the for
mer, labor is very cheap and there is
no investment in land nor plantation
10 carry. but transportation is expen-
sive, In the plantation regions day la
Dor Is more costly, but, as the trees
are grouped, man can gather a
greater quantity in a given time than
he could in the forest Shipment from
the plantation is easy and economical
but the process Of production involves
the expenditure of more time and
money than are devoteN to the prep
aration of wild rubber for the market.
Forests Full of Reptiles.
In the tropical forests trees do not
grow In numerous stands of one spe-
cles as they do in the temperate zone.
In Brazil the Hevea trees are found
principally along river bottom lands
and scattered through dense forests
OF hundreds of varieties of different
including vines and hanging
parasites that render passage difficult.
From February to June these dis.
tricts are uninhabitable, and in fact
owing to the heavy rains
and extensive floods. During the
other six months the land Is damn. the
temperature ranges around 90 degrees
during the day and never falls as low
as 10 degrees at night, while intense
humidity is constant. The forest
teens with venomous reptiles and poi.
sonous insects. The solitary hut of
The rubber gatherer stands In this re-
pellant environment He Is an Indian
probably transported to this distant
spot from his native province of
ceara. The chances of his ever see
ng home and kindred again are re.
mote. He is virtually slave. In
lew years release will come to him
death accelerated by disease
md the excessive use of alcohol
Meanwhile, escape from his present
condition is practically impossible He
VIII not be taken on board any of the
liver steamers. which are the only
means of transportation to the coast
he Is stranger and an alien to the
indians OF the surrounding country
Who will either kill him or return him
o his employers for the sake of n 70.
ward, In case he should take refuge
lmong them. His life is literally n
nonotonous round, for each morning |
lie sets out upon the pathway which |
lis feet have formed to make the cir
uit of the rubber trees within the |
ract that has been assigned to him
The station to which he is attached 10
'robably ten or twelve miles distant
It intervals Of few days a messen.
er from 1t visits him, bringing his
God supply and carrying away his nre-
AIRED rubber. Once or twice during
he six months he may be permitted
take brief holiday at the station
'hich will afford him an opportunity
secure medical attention and to get
runk at the same time. Occasionally
rubber gatherer of the better sort
fakes a permanent home with his
amiiy In a clearing and secures 81
air degree Of comfort.
The latex Of the rubber tree Ia
iscid liquid. composed of water and
n elastic substance known as caout- I
houc. This is secured by making
longitudinal incisions near the base Of
le tree and extending upward for |
everal feet. what is called the herring
one system of tapping being most in
'vor. Small cups, attached TO rho
zee trunk by clay plasters. catch the
ow. Each tree yields about half q
Int OF latex in four days and about
IN pounds in q season. i,