The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-24
A MOST INTERESTING EXHIBITION.

A MOST INTERESTING EXHIBITION.
We paid visit this morning to the establishment
fthe agent for Goodyear's patent metallic guu-elas-
tic manufactures, on the south side of Pennsylvania
avenue opposite Fulers hotel, Cup sairs,) and
not more surprised at the ingenuity exhibited
in the application Of gum cao,tchouc India rubber,
to very many useful purposes to which it has never
heretofore been applied, than gratifed at the sue
which has crowned the industrial efforts of the
inventor. He has produced India rubber goods
possessing the useful qualities Of the articles they
are intended to supersede, made of other material,
while they combine advantages us to the cost, du.
rability, and application, which, ough sought af
ter by Of science and practical experience, for
years in Europe, have remained unattained until
Yankee ingenuity and patient investigation were
brought to bear on them. Our readers will under
stand that Goodyear's patent differs essentially
from any other plan of preparing the gum caout-
chouc which is patented in this country or in Eu-
rope.
We have satisfied ourselves, not only from care
full inspection Of specimens Experimental upon, but
from the letters of distinguished chemists, that Mr.
Goodyear has succeeded in preparing his gum ca
$50 degrees Fahrenheit will melt or mure it, SO that
it will remain flexible in the coolest weather, even
in contact with ce so that, in durability, it sur
passes leather, and is perfectly mpervious to water
so that, in combination with fabrics of cotton or
other material, it can be made of any desired
thickness and strength, tcthom elasticity; 80 that
it resists the action Of the most powerful chem
zeal agents, such as aquafortis, sulphuric acid,
as well as all essential and common oils, be-
ing merely little charred when subjected to
long immersion in concentrated suphuric acid;
SO that tits not liable to be injured by rats, moths,
or other vermin; that it viii take Japan varnsh
and equals in beauty, and perhaps excels in dura-
bility, patent leather, as it is not liable to become
hard and to crack and so that it is more Invested of
all sulphurous, or any other unpleasant ordor;
which, by-the-by was heretofore serious objection
to Mr.. Goodyear's patent.
This fabric is well adapted to great variety of
uses in the army, navy, post office, and other
branches Of governmental service; especially for mail
bags, tents, knapsacks, haversacks, tarpaulings,
belts, gun-cases sailors shoes, hats, coats, capes,
powder-tanks, cartridges, powder-bags, water-bot.
ties, sailors clothesbags shipbread bags, passing
boxes, (for powder,) fre-buckets, &C., &c. speci-
mems of which are exhibited by the attentive gentle
men attached to the agency. We were shown, for
instance, a mailbag which had been dragged be-
hind an omnibus over Pennsylvania avenue, on one
of its sides, often enough TO make the distance
passed over equal to eight miles, and on the
other equal to forty miles. Strange to say,
the greatest evidence of wear and tear it ex-
hbits is in the destruction Of the chain and staples;
which are cut through, while the India rubber bag
itself looks quite fit for service as an ordinary
leather mail bag that has been six months in use.
Among other articles attracting our attention, were
their powder tanks Casually made Of copper) and
powder bags, which it is said will admit ships
magazine to be flooded without injury to their con-
tents We examined powder that had been under
water in one of these bags for thirty-three days,
and yet was as dry as when first submerged The
damp condition Of powder brought into port by our
vessels of war at the end Of three years cruise
has always caused much trouble in the service; and
many frutess attempts have heretofore been made
to remedy it. These tanks and bags promise to
answer the purpose admirably. Their gun-covers,
too, bid fair to save the governmental considerable
sum; for, between rust and constant rubbing, many
guns are destroyed annually, which have never been
twenty times discharged. Their composition shoes,
designed for use on shipboards, ore made with solcs
prepared so to do away with the difficulty here
tofore experienced from slipping on the wet decks.
These have been highly commended by all naval
officers who have inspected them Their various
specimens of prepared cloth, from the heavy oiled
floor cloth to the highest and most delicate silk fab
nc are indeed wonderful and suitable for most pur-
poses to which linen, cotton, hemp, wool, or silk
cloths have been heretofore applied. Among these
we noticed particularly specimen intended TO SUI
persede the ships tsrpauin in which navy clothing
is usually packed and which, though requiring fire.
quent repainting generally fails to preserve its con-
tents from injury by dampness, moths, &c. Their
tent cloths, travelling trunks, portmanteaus, &c,
are also most admirable We have derived so much
true pleasure from an examination of these interest.
ing specimens of American chemical and mechani-
cal skill and genius, that we recommend every one
to pay them a visit
NAVY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CLERK.
1 l.. Al !,