Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-15
T TVTUNtII VUI' JU' T0ffs
NEW USE OF INDIA RUBBER.

About three years ago we published an ac-
count OF this interesting substance, detailing its
history, the manner in which it was obtained
from the various trees that yield it, and the uses
TO which it was then applied.
At that time its chief and almost only use vas
in the manufacture Of Mackintosh's water proof
cloth, the fabrication of some surgical appara.
tus in which elasticity and pIiability were the
objects desired, the rubbing out of black lead
pencil marks from paper, and few other min.
ute and uni'nportant applications.
Now, however, this substance is employed in
some highly important branches of our inanufac.
lures, and has become valuable agent in the
an, u'ri .,',,.,---i',., ;'.s I-.
field the rapid advanre Of science may open up
for the appliance of materials hitherto consider
ed as next 10 useless.
From lis peculiar elasticity, its impermeabity
to air and water, its being soluble only in naph.
! tina. and from It's great durability, it has been
successfully employed in the fabrication of va.
rous cloths, besides that OF Mackn'osh for air
cushions, safety belts and jackets lyamenis
and bandages Tor gloves, stockings. bracelets,
and other articles of dress for boots, shoppers
for bottles, and numerous other PURPOSES
With these appliances most of our readers may
be familiar; but few may know, or might ex.
pect, that it would be employed as a pavcnen,
for stables, 'obbes, public halls and the Ike
! that II is now being used in the construction OF
life boats and that il is also proposed TO it
extensively 10 the fitting up of our men Of war
/ The Elastic Pavement Company have lately
erected machinery for the preparation Of the ma.
terial for these important purposes, and can pro.
duce it, it seems, at a price sufficiently mode
rate to admit of its general adoption.
As a pavement for stables, the cacu'cl,ouc
preparation is said 10 be unequaled, preventing
al, l,I,x 10 a.
Quent noxluus exhalations requiring little lit
ter; and preventing the knees and other part.
of the horse from injuries which are apt to be
received in stone paved stables. BY little pre-
caution, the ammonia, which now eXIiaies to til,
injury of the horses health, may be collected
and sold for manure, at from two to three pounds
per horse per annun. The stables of the com
missoners of Wo0lwich dockyard have beef
paved with this mat erial for upward Of two years
and are allowed to be superior in point of clean
, Illness. freedom from smell, and heahiness, t.
what they were previous TO the laying down O
the elastic pavements.
Il has also been laid down in the Admiralit
, court yard, and the carriage entrance court {,
Windsor Castle, where it has given much sa,
isacton. "Wilh respect to its Applicant l.
marine purposes" Gays the Railway Gazette
"a ft.boat is now being constructed on tn
PcNIsess leet leHSln q
keel and twelve breadth of beam,) which wit
the exception of the keel and some IRON brace,
will be entirely formed of India rubber and cor
y planking. She will weigh but one ton and
hall, an ordinary life boat weighing three tons
i and it is the opinion of all naval men and engin
s GERS who have seen her. that it will he alnus
, impossible to sink her under ordinary circum
stances, and that, when driven on rock by tn
action of the waves, she will rebound like
ball, without fracture. 1t is also proposed to us
0 the caoutchouc preparation for an inner linin
! between the guns in war vessels, to prevent Tn
! effect of spnters--for hammock netting an
buwarks, TO save the crew from canister, crap,
o &C., and for other useful though less obvlou
purposes"
: Such are the numerous purposes to whc
II human ingenuity can apply single, and to
, appearance an insignificant SUBSTANCE the e.,
!, uded sap of a tree /: showing that science n,
y only supplies our more obvious wants, b,
# creates others, and calls into use hitherto nel
e lecled materials to supply them. Nothing
e nature is useless if we cannot now see i
!, value. let us rest assured that the time vi
Is come for its profitable applications Chamber
- journal.
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