Made in the era of corporate colonialism, this historic film from the 1940s tells the story of the Firestone Natural Rubber Company, a subsidiary of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the company operates the largest contiguous rubber plantation in the world in Liberia, which first opened in 1926. During the 1920s, the United States access to rubber was restricted by the European colonial powers (Britain and the Netherlands), which held a monopoly in rubber production. Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, considered rubber a vital resource due to its usage for car tires and began working with American rubber companies in order to find a rubber source that was controlled by US interests. Part of a Department of Commerce’s subsidized worldwide search for a place for rubber plantations, rubber magnate Harvey Samuel Firestone sent experts to Liberia in December 1923.
In 1926, the Liberian government granted Firestone a 99-year lease for a million acres (to be chosen by the company wherever in Liberia) at a price of 6 cents per acre, Firestone thus created the world’s largest rubber plantation. Firestone also provided a $5 million loan at a 7% interest rate to the government to pay the foreign debts it had and to build a harbour needed by Firestone.The loan was given in exchange for complete authority over the government’s revenues until the loan was paid. The loans to the company were finally paid in 1952.
At mark 0:47, Liberian technicians are seen, at mark 1:00 is the school. Today in Liberia the jungle is giving way to rubber trees as seen at mark 1:55, where a rubber plantation is seen. Rubber planting is a formidable undertaking. It begins with the clearing of forest, then jungle. At mark2:23 is a team of axe men chopping down trees in the jungle and at mark3:00 are big trees clashing down unto the ground. At mark 4:00, the Liberians locals are seen clearing their lands. At mark 4:30, burning is another way of clearing their lands. This they plan systematically in order to avoid an accident as seen at mark 4:50.
The seeds for growing rubber trees are seen at 6:20. Within a few months the seeds have grown as seen at mark 6:30. After this is the bud grafting as seen at mark 6:45. The processes involving grafting is seen at mark 7:00. After a successful bud grafting have been made the young tree produced is seen at mark 8:40 and is called clono-rubber. This tree is ready for planting. At mark 9:00, the men are aligning and setting foothold marks on the land. The land is a rich loam clay soil called laterite as seen at mark 9:40.
At mark 13:00 is the rubber tree marked for tapping.. Tapping requires more manpower as seen at mark 14:00. The latex is gathered at a station as seen at mark 20:30, where the gallons are weighed and collected. At mark 21:00 is the Firestone processing factory, the biggest in the world At mark 25:05, are bales of rubber which are then transported. The shipping routines are seen at mark26:10. The river serves Liberia as commercial highways.
Harvey firestone is seen at mark 28:20. At mark 29:25 is the plantation’s laboratory, and the schools and clinics which Firestone has provided. At mark 32:30 is their hospital. Research on tropical medicines are seen at mark 33:20. At mark 34:05, is an American department store. At mark 36:50 is a golf course. At mark 37:27 is Monrovia. Many of its building are seen at mark 37:50; legislative hall at mark 38:05. At mark 38:20, the Liberian president is seen delivering his address.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
