The sun., 1916-01-30

In the copper industry IL has been
copper saved from exploded shells and
cartridges Of the belligerents would
greatly affect the market after the war
Perhaps II has never occurred TO the lay
man what IL would mean to the rubber
market, not after the war, but while the
war lasts and crude rubber is limited
as to supply. II all tile waste rubbers
throughout the United states were saved.
What is known as scrap rubber is be-
coming more valuable every day as ports
Of supply for crude rubber are closed
and the price scars. scrap rubber Is
now being reclaimed by the rubber mei,
from shoe stores. and II the customer
would take the pains to follow the course
that pair of rubbsrs he leaves i'll the
store when h. buys a new pair takes
he would trace them first to some place
OF storage, where they would have the
compspy Of hundreds Of other pairs un-
til they accumulated to hundred or
more pounds. when the shoe dealer would
sell them for from 81 to $3.50. From
this IL will be seen that every year there
are hundreds of dollars worth OF old
rubbers wasted IN the United States, un-
re,s and junk heaps.
When at one time. not so very long
ago. crude rubber reached the high
water mark of SO a pound. an enormous
quantity OF rubber scrap was found TO
be available, principally old motor tires.
but all kinds and bits Of rubber. surh
az Svershoes. garden hose, rubber toys.
&c., which under an improved reclaim
ing process could I've reduced to raw
nd M
proved a big factor IN reducing the price
Of the crude rubber.
Now that lust such another crisis
faces the United States. though from
An entirely different cause, 1t Will prob
ably be found that there is stu con
siderable rubber III the reserve scrar
fund. and this with little moro care
can be increased. To-day white rubber
may be reclaimed from white scrap. an
tmony stocks may be reclaimed, &c
all only needing careful sorting.
II is believed prevalently that tires
will advance still more with an increase
OF Is per cent in mechanical rubber
goods. When tires had To- be produced
by hand they were naturally high ~
price, but machinery. gradually replaclni
the hand work. cheapened the cost anc
largely increased production with keer
competition. which repeatedly reducet
the price TO dlSirlDuttrs ana uedltTS
All this was justified by conditions. JUS
as higher prices are now justified y,
conditions.
The india Rubber world for DeAem
Der gives some guesses. which the edito
claims are OF more than academic in
cerest as to what some of these condi
tions were at the time First Latex Crep
took a sudden rise from 6" to So cents
He places them In this order:
The Suez Canal IL closed. or about t.
he closed. DETECTING or holding up rub
ber cargoes for some weeks.
Several Of the great tin and ruhhe
carriers have been torpedoed and sum
In the Mediterranean.
The British Government has suddenl
connandeered iiv. to ten thousand ton
Of rubber.
British firms having German af'lia
tions have placed large orders for ruh
ber, thus incidentally suggesting "a
carly peace,
\ longer delay in the clearing of th
Panama Canal than was expected
Serious conditions IN Ceylon and ia
Malay States because OF native W
risings.
The presence Of big rubber buyers
the Far East who are placing large cot
ders for future delivery.
The fact that the big manufacture