The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-10

Synthetic production is well I'M
derway, but tests of equipment in
battle and ON bad roads show that
it cannot be used for heavy duty
unless mixed with anywhere from
10 to 40 per cent Of natural rubber.
Due to conservation of rubber
stocks in the United States through
rationing and careful apportioning
Of supplies to Britain, Russia and
other Allies, there Is still some on
hand in this country. But the Se-
mands are great, and the stockpile
is diminishing daily.
Imports of crude rubber from the
jungles of Latin America in the two
years since Pearl Harbor have been
somewhat under early estimates.
BY the middle of 1914, however, it
Is anticipated that Latin American
production will start an upward
curve on the charts.
With existing natural rubber re-
serves, built up before 1871, being
rapidly depleted, the United States
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mentS with which it has made rub
Der agreements are bending every
effort to get as much out of the jun
giles as possible before midsummer.
simultaneously, scientific work to
improve synthetic rubber is con-
tinuing, with hope that certain Of
its present disadvantages may be
overcome.
The first semester of 1914 will be
nip and tuck, according to officials
and rubber experts. For this reason
every additional ounce of Latin
American rubber will be sought.
And officials in charge of the pro-
gram believe that this rubber can
be extracted and transported at a
cost which will not be astronomical
They figure that the balance sheets
will show crude rubber costs Uncle
Sam around 81 TO SLIP a pound.
After the smoke of the contro-
versy between Vice President Henry
A. Wallace, who headed the Board
OF Economic Warfare, and SecYe-
tary of Commerce Jesse Jones, as
chairman of the board of the RFC,
cleared, control of the rubber pro-
gram in Latin America was placed
under control Of the Rubber Devel-
opment Corporation. The BEW'S
grandiose Amazon plan" was
ditched, and a more realistic one
adopted.
President of the RDC is Douglas
II. Allen. business man with many
years OF experience with tropical
commodities. AS head of the otis
Astoria Corp. and the Otis Import
ing Co. Of New York, importers Of
mahogany and other timbers, Allen
is reputed to have earned a large
income He is working on the rub.
Der program without compensation.
During World War I Allen was a
special assistant TO Secretary of
War Newton Baker. He was an aide
TO Col. Henry L. StimSon In Mica
ragua and in the Philippines. Since
then he has been In business in New
York, New Orleans and Latin
America and has made many trips
w way ~A4A"6OAA Juh4B1cS'
Recently a group of United
states newspapermen visited three
very different natural rubber areas
Haiti, Brazil and Bolivia. In Haiti
the latex is extracted from srypto-
stegia--a remarkable plant which.
until the rubber emergency, had
been grown principally for its
pretty blue flower, much like the
morning glory. In Brazil the pro-
gram involves dealings with the
government and many corporations
and individuals; 1t involves arrang-
ing ocean and river transporta ton:
importation of food and supplies.
the granting of credits, etc. In Boil
via everything Is simpler as three
Old established houses control the
entire rubber business there. Fu-
ture articles win deal with various
aspects OF the situation in these
countries