Evening star., 1923-04-01
BOON TO SOUTH AMERICA
SEEN IN RUBBER CRISIS
Revival of "a Native Industry Which
Withered Under Competition Is Posi-
ble-Placed Before Committee.

rubber industry in South America
and inviting American capital to do
IT believe that the real answer to the
question will be found in systematic
planting and cultivation of rubber
plantations. This would be done by
Transforming the forest-where the
tree grows best-from rank
growth of underhrush and trees Of
no economic Importance into valu-
able forest of rubber trees. To OBJ
tain this without the huge cost of
burning the wood and uprooting the
trees Is one problem TO be solved, but
| there are experts who have offered
various solutions which might bo
given trial.
Could Produce Cheaply.
Owners of large rubber properties
in Brazil and Bolivia have been
quoted to the effect that with rea-
sonable financial assistance rubber
can be produced in South America
today for around six cents pound
At the same time it is argued that
rubber can never be produced in the
East Indies for as low as thirteen
cents a pound, and that with the de-
velopment of their own source of
would be free from artificial rigging
of the rubber market by those who
row control 1t in the East Indies. 1t
is further pointed out that the Brit
900 to cultivate the rubber planta-
tions In the east, and have already
reaped a rich harvest The Ameri-
can public, il is stated. can afford
to invest half this sum in South
American soil ard reap richer har-
vest.
II is generally admitted that the
gathering of wild rubber in the for
ests. as it was done in the past. can
never prove practicable. In Brazil,
Bolivia, Peru. Ecuador. Colombia and
VeneZuela-the Amazon region and
its tributary areas-the forests are
reached after long trips by river
steamers from Para. at the mouth OF
the river, or tiresome journeys over
land. In the past, expeditions after
rubber have suffered as high as 80
per cent of their forces from disease,
have been cut off from civilization for
six months at a time. encountered
hostile tribes and in many cases were
unable 70 secure food or fruits of
any sort But in the days when South
American rubber was bringing its
! highest prices even these disad-
vantages failed to deter the rubbe-
gatherers. who reaped rich profits
once they obtained what they wer"
after.
Would Necessitate Modern Methods.
What those in favor of developing
rubber in South America argue IS
that, with a suitable investment Of
capital and the right sort OF com
pany management, equipped to fight
disease and provide the necessary
comforts of life. the rubber industry
in South America can be put on a
basis which will bring returns With
ordinary hygienic precautions. men
can live in the rubber areas in com
fort and safety. The Amazon and its
tributaries provide suitable transpor-
tation by river steamers for thou
sands of miles to the city of Para.
where modern methods of shipping
and handling cargoeS are available.
From Para rubber can be delivered
in New York in ten days, and in lit
tie more in Liverpool. Havre. Ant
werp or Hamburg. Many of the rub
Der forests in Brazil and in Bolivia
contain numerous wild trees suitable
for cabinet making. while sugar cane.
rice, cotton, tobacco, cocoa, coffee,
bananas and other tropical fruits may
| be produced by the same labor forces
employed in the exploitation Of the
rubber forests
The laws in the various republics
are inviting and allow large conces-
sions. Rubber lands can be purchased
outright in some districts for as low
as 30 cents an acre.
Where Rubber Comes From.
Para rubber, the finest grade Of
rubber is obtained from the hevea
| tree. the rubber tree par excellence.
| 1t grows along the Amazon and in
the tributary areas of Peru, Bolivia.
Ecuador. Colombia and Venezuela
| The trees do not grow in clumps, but
are found scattered through the for
| ests along the rivers, the rubber belts
seldom extending inland more than
! ten or twelve miles. Manihot, or the
manicoba tree, produces the ceara
rubber of commerce and is found in
| high, stony and arid regions This
| tree grows in Brazil, Bolivia and
| Peru and regions south OF the Anna
zon. An inferior grade Of rubber IS
extracted from the caucho tree.
which must be cut down to obtain
| the sap. This tree is also found in
Brazil, Bolivia. Peru and elsewhere
| south of the equator, but its prin-
| cipal range is in Central America
and southern Mexico. Other trees.
shrubs and vines yield rubber, the
most interesting, for America at
| least, being the guayule, which is
| shrub containing in it's branches q
! pure rubber that can be used for.
every purpose to which the lytex Of
| hevea is applied. Guayule is a ma
| tive OF Mexico and grows on the ele-
waited plateaus Of the northern states
| of the republic