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drying of rubber electrically is claimed to be both practical and eco- 
nomical, 40 kilowatts being sufficient to dry 3,000 pounds of rubber 
per day to an extent which reduces the total drying time from 18 to 
LO days. 
As the public-utility companies extend their transmission lines 
rubber estates will probably turn more and more to the use of elec- 
tric power. The prospect of such extensions, however, may have the 
affect of reducing the tendency to install private generating equip- 
ment except on sites where water power is convenient. 
TEA INDUSTRY 
Although one of the largest power companies operating in Java, 
G. E. B. E. O,, is generating current in the Preanger district, which 
is the center of the tea industry, the majority of the tea estates are 
generating their own power. This is chiefly due to the fact that at 
present hydroelectric and Diesel installations on the estates are pro- 
ducing current cheaper than it could be bought from the G. E. B. E. O. 
The location of the tea estates, which are in the mountainous districts 
of west Java, enables them to utilize the many waterfalls in the 
Preanger district and generate their own hydroelectric power. Some 
estates have no water power available, and are using Diesel motors 
to generate current for lighting and power purposes. The majority 
of the estates have plants with a capacity of from 150 to 200 kilovolt- 
amperes, 
Electric current is used chiefly by the tea industry to operate the 
various machines such as tea rollers, ball breakers, driers, and 
sifters, connected with the preparation of tea in the factories. For- 
merly the majority of the machines were operated by one large motor 
which was connected to a shaft running the length of the factory. 
During the last few years, however, there has been a tendency to use 
individual motors for each machine. In some of the larger tea fac- 
tories between 30 and 40 small motors, from 2 to 25 horsepower 
capacity, are operating the machines. 
The majority of tea factories are equipped with from 10 to 15 fans 
of from 4 to 6 feet in diameter, of which about 50 per cent are elec- 
trically driven. The “wilting” rooms of the tea factories are usually 
equipped with from 6 to 8 of these fans for ventilating purposes, 
and the remainder are put in the sorting rooms, where the native 
workers use them for blowing away the tea dust. These fans or 
blowers are as a rule direct coupled and are operated by motors of 
from 2 to 15 horsepower. 
Two tea factories have recently installed locally manufactured 
electrical equipment for drying the tea. Although the results have 
been favorable, the practice is not considered economically sound, 
since the use of oil or wood burners for this process is cheaper. 
Electric current is also employed for lighting purposes on the tea 
estates. It is now the policy of the estates to equip the native 
workers’ quarters with electric lights in order to make them more 
satisfied with their surroundings. 
There is room for considerable extension of the use of electricity in 
the tea industry, but it is retarded at the present time by low prices 
for tea, which have the effect of reducing the number of new estates 
opened up, as well as cutting down expenditures for new equipment.