Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
WORLD RUBBER ACREAGE NOW
100000 ACRES, CHEMISTS HEAR
Only Comparatively Small Portion Is
Productive, Holt of Commerce Bureau
Reports to American Society.

The total acreage now planted to
rubber throughout the world Is APP
proximately 100000 acres, T. G. Holt
Of the United States Bureau Of For
eign and Domestic Commerce says In
a report to the American Chemical
Society.
IF this area" Mr.. Holt points out.
"were stretched in an even band
around the earth's surface at the Equa-
tor, 1t would be nearly half a mile
wide. This figure perhaps emphasizes
I'm order to bring the industry back
into compact unit it might be said
that the total world production Of rub
Der last year, 100000 tons, If made
into a single rubber ball, would be less
than 600 feet through the middle.
But 1t is more impressive to say
that during last year less than 70 per
cent OF the planted area was old enough
to be tapped, and that If the same
average production per acre should OBJ
tain six years hence as in 1929, the
production Of the present planted area,
If it were all tapped, would amount 70
average per acre yield of plantations
in every country has been increasing in
recent years.
U. b. Use Gains.
Consumption Of rubber in the
United States increased from about
$4,000 tons in 1927 to 440, 900 tons in
1928 and to 100000 in 1929. World
consumption increased from less than
100000 tons in 1927 to about 100000
tons in 1929.
"A cross section of American opinion
as obtained from trade contacts re-
fhA wal oF
duction capacity of plantations will be
higher than in 1929. But present lower
prices may cause some inefficient pro-
ducers to go out of business or some
voluntary restriction scheme may be
organized and carried out which might
cause some decline in the years output.
An increase in foreign rubber con-
sumption over 1929 is perhaps to be
anticipated. United Safes consumption
for the first half of this year is certain
TO fall considerably behind the first
half Of 1929, but the last half of the
year, 1t Is hoped, will show q reverse
situation.
The world has been passing through
a six-year period Of enforced scarcity
Of rubber. During this period every
effort was made to adjust consumption
to restricted production by increasing
the use OF rubber substitutes by stimu-
IaLlng prooucClon OF Wild rubber and
marginal producers of rubber, by hold
ing up the development Of new uses
Of rubber. by keeping tire sizes as small
as comported with safety in automo-
bile operation, by working on low
stocks Of rubber, etc.
Adjusting to Surplus.
cat the present time and during the
past year the world has been trying to
adjust itself to surplus of rubber. Re-
claimed rubber has to a slight extent
been replaced by crude rubber in rubber
compounds. Present prices are effec-
tually limiting the output of wild rubber.
Manufacturers of automobiles are
now demanding larger tires that will
give the utmost in passenger comfort
and durability. Low prices for rubber
favor the development of new uses, and
we can depend on inventive genius to
make these more important as time
passes.
Low prices also encourage the carry
ing of larger stocks Of rubber and also
Of finished goods by both the manufac-
turers and dealers, and the attainment
OF reasonable stability of prices might
still further encourage this tendency.
Rubber Is young industry, and its APP