Evening star., 1925-07-12
UNITED STATES SEEKING
FRESH RUBBER SOURCES
100 Per Cent Increase in Prices Necessi-,
tates Finding of New Supply to Make
Industry Independent.

fields which have been investigated
by this Governments agents il is be-
lieved that Central America and
southern Mexico offer great promise
The possibilities in the Philippines
also have not been overlooked and
Haiti is one of the smaller American
republics where favorable soil and
climatic conditions have been found
The labor problem is one which has
to be taken into careful consideration
in studying this question. From this
point of view, the East Indies has an
advantage, for in no other part OF the
world, it is stated, can such cheap Ia
Dor be obtained. There are other fac :
tors, however. which enter into the
calculation from a business stand
point, the principal one of these being
the original cost of getting the rubber
plantation set out. Here is where
Central America seems to have GER
tain advantages which are not pos
seSsed to an equal extent, as far as +.
known, elsewhere. Ordinarily the land ,
has to be cleared to start a rubber
PLANTATION, and this is frequently an
expensive operation. This initial ex-
pense can be avoided, it is believed on
large tracts of land in Central
America.
Banana Land May Grow Rubber
What proves to be bane in one
direction may prove to be a blessing
in another, and this may be the case
with thousands of acres of banana
lands in Central America, which have
to be abandoned after a few years be,
cause of disease which gets in and
attacks the trees on which the edible
grows. These lands, already cleared
OF forest growth, can be turned into
excellent rubber plantations, it is said.
and in a few years il is believed they
could be made TO furnish a large part
of the rubber which is used in the
United States. Considerable territory
in southern Mexico also is well
adapted, both climatically and in soil
requirement, il is stated, to rubber
growing.
No one section of the globe, how
ever, which can be utilized in making
the United States economically inde-
pendent of foreign control in securing
its rubber supply is being considered q
to the exclusion of others. The far
stretching line of trees from which
this country may secure its future
rubber may extend all the way from
Africa to the Philippines and from
South America to Mexico and Haiti.
Already a start has been made in
Africa by American interests, and the
Ffrestone Tire and Rubber COMPANY
has a concession from the Iiberfan
suitable for rubber growing A neu-
cleus Of something like l 400 acres is .
already planted, and 1t is reported thai
there is much activity in plans for.
developing this territory Roads are
being built and houses constructed for.
the workmen. It is stated that the" !"
agreement, made few months ago.
with the American company is ey-
pected TO have far-reaching effect on
general economic conditions in Ii.
IBERIA.
The Importance Of this problem to
the United States is shown by the fac
that S13 100000 900 are invested in in.
dustrtes in this country which are de
pendent directly or indirectly on rub
Der. These are rubber manufacturing
automotive and oil. 1t is necessary to
keep large supplies coming. and the
aim of this Government is to keen
them coming at prices which will not
be an economic burden to the people
of the United States
Copyright 1921