Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-06
RUBBER INDUSTRY
MAKES GREAT GAIN
U. S. Interests Enter World
Market by Planning for
Raw Material.
By JOHN r. s1NCLAIR.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, September 6.-When
Great Britain found the British rub
Der planters were facing bankruptcy,
following the defiation Of 1921, she
passed the Stevenson act, restricting
output and prices. This was the act
that caused Herbert Hoover, then Sec
rotary Of Commerce, to take as vigor-
Gus action as he could to protect Amer
product from paying the exorbitant
prices asked by the British for the raw
product.
In spite of adverse criticism, however,
1t really did accomplish its main pur-
pose-that Of saving the British rubber
planters from bankruptcy. In fact, 1t
worked too well, for its rigid restrictions
really marked the decline Of the British
producers and the rise Of their Dutch
competitors.
Indirectly it helped the United States
manufacturers in two ways, first, 1t
placed emphasis upon the retaining Of
old rubber.
From only 10 per cent in 1922, the
reclaimed rubber used in the United
States rose to 81 per cent In 1927.
Dutch production rose 143 per cent, as
against IS per cent British increase
during the same time. No wonder the
act was repealed in 1928.
In the second place, American man
ufacturers realized the importance to
them of an restricted source Of supply.
Liberia and Henry Ford has gone into
South America.
The United States used about two
thirds OF the total world consumption.
In 1928, out Of a total of Az, 22O tons,
tires and sundries took 378, 692 tons, the
balance went into boots and shoes, rub
Der flooring and insulation.
It's big business, too. For the whole
sale value Of manufactured rubber in
the United States grew from 1854, 220,-
600 in 1922 to 81 ,195, 100000 in 1928.
No field has shown quite such pro-
found changes as the electrical field
since the scientific mind conferred on it
some 40 years ago. Every man, whether
he lives on farm or works in an ONCE,
Is receiving everlasting BENEFITS from
the achievements Of scientific men
those non-advertiSed souls, who work
hours in the night, to perfect an in
vention which will be Of real benefit
to mankind, but with no thought Of
personal glorification
Take the incandescent lamp, the
child Of Edison's brain. If the old
carbon lamp was still being used, Gen.
Carly, vice president of American Tele-
phone q Telegraph Co., estimates that
the electric light bills would have been
S2,256, 900 more during the last 20
years. Edison himself received but an
inhnitesimal fraction of the saving
which resulted.
1t was in 1881 that Scheele, the
Swedish scientist. made fundamental
discovery respecting tungstic acid. He
also discovered important chemical ele-
mentS, now well known, such as oxygen.
manganese, chlorine, barium. Think
OF industry trying to get along nov
without any Of these important elements.
without manganese the great steel in
dustry would be fatally crippled. It is
doubtful If 1t could exist.
What would mankind do TODAY with
out the discovery Of Prof. Oersted that
an electric current flowing through a
WIRE would move a magnet? Less than
100 years ago Faraday discovered that
one current of electricity would gener-
ate another one. Joseph Henry discov.
cred the laws of current Indication
NOW put all three together and we have
electric telegraph and telephone. With
out these discoveries there would be
neither DYNAMO nor motor. And the