Evening star., 1925-01-25
POINTS TO RUBBER
SUPPLY IN TEXAS
Tire Manufacturer Advocates
Development of Field for
War Emergency.

South Texas. with the possible aid
of northern Mexico, could easily save
the crude rubber situation for the
United States in the event of war.
This conclusion is drawn by tire
manufacturers after a survey of rub
ber producing conditions throughout
the world. They contend that in
peacetime it will never be possible
to produce crude rubber in this coun-
try at a price that will compete with
foreign grown and owned rubber.
Climatic and labor conditions are
against us.
Most of the world rubber now
comes from Sumatra, Java, Ceylon
and other places along the Equator
in the same eastern region of the
earth,' says William ONei, presi-
dent of one of the large American
rubber companies. 1T is of the high
est grade known-para rubber. This
source of supply is large controlled
by the British and the Dutch, who
also control the price, partly by
legislation and partly through opera
tion Of the economic law of supply
and demand.
Shortage In 1890 Likely.
The possibility of a crude rubber
shortage by 1880, owing to the world
increasing demand tires leading in
the amount required each year, has
stirred unusual interest everywhere.
The world uses rubber for so many
purposes, and transportation is so
largely dependent upon it, that any
Curtailing of the supply would work
d real hardship.
"If war were to come the foreign
supply would be shut off entirely eX-
cept cor such shipping as our Navy
might be able to protect.
I'VE can and do produce in America
l.
emergencies if the supply of para
were curtailed or shut off. 1t would
not be cheap rubber, though of a
lower quality than the para that is
imported. 1t would probably cost
three times the present prices, but
America can have her own rubber in
war or peace, if she so desires.
Grows in Southern Texas.
'Guayule, pronounced wy-u-le, is
the name of the small tree or shrub
on which we could place our depend
ence. Guayule is peculiar to the arid
regions of southern Texas and north
ern Mexico. 1t differs from other
rubber producing plants in that it has
no latex Ca substance somewhat similar
to sap), and guayule rubber is chiefly
found in the cells of the bark, little
in the wood and none at all in the
new shoots or leaves. More than 20
years ago the export of guayule from
Mexico amounted to 100000 pounds
a month. Since then Texas has be-
come interested to a certain extent.
The industry should be encourag ged,
so that the rubber supply of the
United States can never be cut off, S
Germanys w@s during the World
War, for instance.
More Care Exercised.
'HThe old fashioned method of
gathering guayule meant looping off
or pulling up the entire plant, which
was thereoy destroyed. In late years
a little more care has been exercised;
the old parts of the shrub have been
cut and the new shoots left to de-
velop for future harvesting. But the
process has not been reduced to a
uniform system Of development. So
a national resource of much present
value, and of untold Importance in
emergency, is somewhat neglected.
NO Navy would be required to
guard the bringing of guayule from
Texas, or even Mexico, to factories
where crude rubber is used. 1t could
be made our staple rubber over any
period during which the foreign sup
ply might be stopped. 1t would cost
more, of course, but, nevertheless, we
would have real rubber during an
emergency.
Produced I'm Malay Islands.
Rubber, as stated before is now
mainly produced in the Malay Islands |
by the use of native labor which
thrives on a vegetarian diet and is
passing rich on a wage of 10 cents
q day. l have yet to find any place |
under the Stars and Stripes where
any considerable amount of labor is
available at a dime a day or anything
like it, even If we wanted to find it. !
\ native laborer on d rubber planta-
tion produces about 312 pounds of
lateX-milky rubber suspended in
water-a day. Malay plantations are
on jungle land. 1t is constant fight
to keep the plantations clean of
underground, and in six months, if
the battle were relaxed, the jungle
growth would completely submerge
the rubber trees and neglected plan
Iations would be a total loss.
"Guayule for emergencies might
cost a dollar or more per pound, as
against the present price of about 80
cents a pound for the finest grades
imported. The present price, Incl
dentally, is less by one-half than at
any time in rubber history except
during the world slump. Guayule
might be costly, but Texas has mil
lions of acres that produce il, and
Texas could save US in the event of
war"