The Ypsilanti daily press., 1944-12-15
Observations
Cryptostegia Rubber
Plan Killed Because
of Climate, Soil
Ly HELEN EssARY

The story of S6,3O0,0OO loss TO
the United States in starting a rub
Der plantation in Haiti was dis
closed in a recent report by the
Rubber Development Corporation.
TIE story involves the yinelike,
rubber-yielding plant, cryptostegia.
and plans TO plant 100000 acres OF
Il in Haiti back in 1912.
The object, OF course, was to find
some source for the desperately
needed crude rubber from which
the Japs had cut us off, and while
cryptostegla never had been cult
waited commercially before and lit
tie was known of its characteris-
tics, the gamble was decided upon.
SO approximately 10000 OF the
proposed 100000 acres OF Haitian
jungle actually got cleared and
some $4,000 acres OF paintings were
set out. But neither the cryptos-
tegia nor nature would cooperate
with Uncle Sam.
First. the plants demanded con-
siderably more exacting soil and
moisture conditions aud required
much longer 10 mature than had
been expected.
Secondly. a serious drought re-
tarded growth so much that it be
came apparent that little or no
rubber could be obtained from the
plants in l944-45-and only a small
amount in 1916. Furthermore, 1t
was evident that about seven mil
lion more dollars would be needed
TO carry on through 1916.
So the 100000 acres never were
planted ard the whole idea was
given up, except for cultivation at
one experimental station where
thinSe were we'll under way. The
scheme will not total loss.
however. From this one station.
for all whether cryptostegia could
for all whether cryptestegia could
ever, under any circumstances, be
an economically feasible source OF
rubber.
THE TARIFF, LONG BURIED
as a political issue, is being busted
on and groomed as a red-hot issue
when the war in Europe ends. In
the opinion OF veteran congression-
al observers It will come back TO
life as a majc- battle ground for
both political parties.
The ancient argument that pros
perity will result from lowering
tariff rates is being advanced. This
time 1t is offered as an aid TO the
rehabilitation OF Europe after We
Day. Briefly, the argument is that
the United States should buy a lot
of foreign.made goods after the war
so foreigners may establish credits
here to buy American-made goods.
On the other side is the tradition
al Republican argument that a
lowering OF tariff walls would re-
suit in flooding the United States
with foreign-made articles and re-
suit in a price war in which Ameri-
can firms could not compete sue
cessfully-that the Arms would
be forced to close their doors and
that workmen would be forced out
of jobs.
Some observers see the tariff
issue as an aid TO the COP in its
efforts to get back into power in
Washington. Since the advent OF
FDR the tariff issue has been side
tracked by empowering the presi-
dent to make reciprocal trade
agreements with foreign countries.
1t is no secret that the Republi-
cans in Congress have had enough
power TO repea. the reciprocal tariff
system, hut in the interest OF not
shocking our Allies a gentlemen's
agreement was reached TO extend
the act.
Administrator leaders plainly
are fearful that once the urgency
OF war solidarity is passed. there
will be a drive in Congress to toss
out the act and hike rates.
To date this skirmishing has
been behind the scenes. but It may
set the nation by its ear soon.
F rther, a real scrap over immi-
grafton looms for after We Day.
A large segment Of Congress would
like to stop immigration after the
war to save Jobs for people already
in the country.