EDISON, PROPHET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 10 December 1927, Page 7

EDISON, PROPHET

RUBBER RESEARCHES. TO PREPARE FOR EUROPEAN WAR. New York, Nov. 2. Thomas A- Edison is conducting his research into the field of rubber production as a war preparedness measure, he has revealed in an interview to be published in a scientific magazine. His objective is the discovery of a plant which will produce rubber quickly in America in event of war with Europe. The inventor made it clear that he is not interested in rubber as a commercial product, but only for war emergency purposes. “Don’t make any mistake about that war,” he said. “It will come. We may run along for a good many years without it, but sooner or later the nations of Europe will combine against the United States. The first thing they will do will be to cut off our rubber supply.” Edison also disclosed that, with the co-operation of Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, the tyre magnate, he is making researches in all parts ot the world in addition to personally working on the problem at his West Orange, N.J., home. “What we umst find is something that will give an adequate supply ot rubber at a price around two dollars a pound,” he said, “That would be a nigh price in peace time, but in time of war there would not even be an end to joy riding with rubber at two dollars a pound.”