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Show Rubber Collectors Organize on Orinoco The valley of the Orinoco, third largest river system in South America, Amer-ica, is stirring with activity reminiscent rem-iniscent of the "rubber rush" days of 25 years ago, when latex sold in Cuidad Bolivar at $2 a pound. Venezuelan press reports, however, how-ever, paint a different picture of the new rubber boom on the Orinoco. Instead of the feverish, undirected, speculative scramble of the first boom, the new rubber-gathering campaign will be under scientific direction di-rection of the Venezuelan authorities in co-operation with the United States Rubber Reserve company. It is being undertaken in accordance accord-ance with Venezuela's agreement for sale of its exportable rubber surplus to the United States. Venezuela, which has a tire factory, will retain up to 800 tons of rubber annually for domestic use. This agreement means Venezuela would have to increase production substantially to have a surplus for export. Peak annual Venezuelan rubber production in the last 20 years was about 250 tons. The Rubber reserve, according to Venezuelan press reports, will establish estab-lish field headquarters at Puerto Ayacucho. This is nearly a thousand thou-sand miles up the Orinoco and is at the head of navigation on this river for stern-wheel steamers drawing up to four feet of water. |