Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-11
EDISON PRODUCES
RUBBERFROM WEED
Inventor Discovers Substi-
tute, Assuring U. S. of Sup
ply During Emergency.
BY, CARTER FIELD.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORT MYERS, Fla, February IL
Thomas A. Edison's latest contribution
to mankind, rubber substitute which
would save the United States from
world rubber monopoly such as Herbert
Hoover smashed in time of peace Or
from Germany's problem during the
war in the event that normal overseas
sources of rubber should be cut off, will
be described to Mr.. Hoover today by
the celebrated inventor and scientist on
his eighty-second birthday anniversary.
This substitute is not variation of
the rubber tree. He long ago found
that nothing could be done along that
line. He has found a weed, after eX-
perimenting with nearly $4,000 vari-
cites, which will produce latex, or
fluid. from which workable substi-
tute for rubber can be extracted. This
weed can be moved like wheat, it was
asserted by Mr.. Edisons leutenants
yesterday, and is perennial, so that IT
does not have to be planted anew each
year.
Seeks to Perfect Separator.
The only missing link in the chain
is that so far the inventor has not
perfected the right kind of machine
for taking the rubber substitute from
the latex of the plant. He has expert
mented a great deal on this, hoping
for an apparatus which would pick out
the rubber substitute from the rosin
and other component parts OF the latex
The machine, he hoped, would be equal
in efficiency and simplicity to the mix
separator which takes the cream from
the milk. and pours it out OF one 1au-
Get while the skinned milk pours
from another. :,
He expects to solve this propiem IN
the near future, with the aid OF his as
he to set up a working plant.
give pounds day production" Is
his own idea of this plant. The point
is that Mr.. Edison has been annoyed at
reports that he is working to produce
something which will supplant ofle rub
her tree in the world production system.
That is not his desire at all. He be-
lipves that the rubber tree fills an eco
nonic need in the world scheme OF Things
and that the farmers OF the United
States can produce plenty OF otner
things in normal times without resortlng
to some substitute for rubber.
Hoover Keenly Interested.
What has been concerning Mr. Edi-
son is to work out substitute for this
commodity SO that no eventuality such
as the attempt Of the British rubber
! monopoly few years back could i'm
pose a hardship on American motorists
and other users of rubber, and also
| that if in the event of war this country
should be cut off from overseas imports,
| it would not be driven to such poor SUBJ
stitutes for rubber as Germany was
compelled to use during the World War
| In short, Mr.. Edison's latest inven-
| ton is akin to insurance, rather than
an attempt to revolutionize world trade
channels.
| Mr.. Hoover's interest in this problem
| is unusually keen because of his
| fight as Secretary of Commerce against
| the British rubber monopoly.
Mr.. Hoover arranged the buying OF
rubber for the American tire manufac-
turers, and finally succeeded in fore.
ing the British to abandon their plar
and permit the price of crude rubber tt
be determined by the world trade con.
ditionS.
Interested in what Mr. Hoover hac
done in this direction, but fearing thai
in the future it might not be handled sc
successfully, Mr.. Edison at once turned
his attention to the rubber situation.