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Show GERMAN RUBBER TRADE HIT War Has Had a Disastrous Effect on That Industry of the Kaiser's Empirel The war has had its effect on the rubber trade in Germany. The manu-, facture of rubber sporting goods, toys, articles of luxury and the like has been almost entirely curtailed. Had a demand de-mand existed, the lack of the necessary neces-sary raw materials, even in substitute finalities, would not have beetr forthcoming. forth-coming. Business is very slack in sanitary san-itary and surgical goods, because the essential, line crude rubber can only be had for military purposes, and skilled labor, which is very important lu this line, is very scarce. The enormous consumption of solid and pneumatic tires by the German army has given the manufacturers all they can handle. Business decreased appreciably, however, towards the close of the ltHo. The cycle tire industry in-dustry has not been favored by war conditions. Only reclaimed rubber has been available for making casings and only very limited quantities of crude rubber have been allowed for inner tubes. The restrictions on the use of cotton fabrics has practically stopped the making of cycle tires for other than military purposes. Popular Science Monthly. |