Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
New Uses for Rubber
May Save Industry
BY HARDEN coLFAx.

While the worlds rubber output has
| for some years been one OF the out
standing illustrations Of overproduction,
with ali the ills that follow In its train,
those who know about the rubber situa-
| ton from the standpoint Of both pro-
duction and consumption are now
claiming that new uses seem about to
provide q practical stimulant to world
business.
Rubber manufacturing Is a compare
lively young industry. It has. however.
made tremendous strides In the perfec-
ton Of technical methods. The develop
ment of new uses, moreover, Is going on
partment Of Commerce, through Its
rubber division, has collected the opin-
ions Of competent trade observers all
over the world with regard to the uses
Of rubber and now announces that 1t
has found out some interesting things.
y ***
The actual production Of rubber has
not declined very greatly, although the
ratio Of actual to potential production
has fallen of. The use of reclaimed
rubber, recent figures indicate, has de-
clined more than the use OF crude rub
Der and manufacturers Of rubber art1-
Giles have shown q tendency to increase
the rubber content Of these articles:
This means increased consumption OF
the new product. j..
Manufactures in widely separated
parts Of the world have been suggesting,
and putting into practice in many cases,
variety Of ideas for new uses for rub
Der. These suggestions have ranged all
the way from rubber roadways to rub
Der cofdns, and have included urns,
vases, bridge pavings, and fioorings.
Several new and novel devices have
made their appearance on the market
in this country and England, emphasiz-
ing the color note. These have included
"slickers," hot-water bags, fountain
pens and many other articles made en-
tirely or chiefly Of rubber.
~ %*
One Of the latest and 0noSt novel
suggestions, according to the rubber
division Of the Department of Com
merce. Is that liquid rubber later might
md considerable sale II made gener-
ally available to the public. The
thought Is that heretofore the general
public has never had any direct knowl-
edge Of rubber In its natural form.
Rubber roAdways. bridge pavings,
flooring and wallboard are construc-
tional opportunities for the utilization
Of rubber that have been the subject Of
much experimentation. Finally many
| observers regard possibilities in the field
of construction and engineering with
great optimism.
Since the general business depression
has been on such new devices and sug-
| gestions for rubber have been receiving
the closest attention. A French tire
manufacturing company has recently
announced that IL has developed O rail
car with pneumatic tires. Rubber tires
have furnished the chief outlet of rub
Der for the world for the past 30 years.
Trade leaders are pointing out that all
most incalculable benefits to the indus
| try would result II this experiment
should prove successful. II IA the result
of more than two years research in the
difflcult problem Of adopting pneumatic
| tires to rail vehicles.
| 1t is said that the new cars are much
| lighter than the regular railroad steel
coaches, without sacrificing anything of
strength and resistance to long service.
The Michelin motor rail car, rs now
presented to the public, Is claimed to
represent q practical solution OF the
problem involved In the application Of
pneumatic tires TO rail Transportation.
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