Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-01-26


Steam and caoutchouc were long time
looked upon as ul,matcs to the various
uses to which they could be applied
The possibility Of discovernga substitute
for either was hardly dreamed OF; bu, the
possibilities Of human experience can new +
er be guessed at il is just rs certain that
the next age will surpass the present in
the aids Of progress, that the present
surpasscs the past. In short progress is
Of necessity, infinite: like circle il can
have no end Steam has lost one hallits .
consequence by the invention of the Mag
netic telegraph, and the universal caontch-
QUO will be almost entirely superseded by
tie discovery Of a kindred clement ofhaP-
prcss. the Gut,a percha.
As the gItta percha is but just coming
into use, only one hal .fofits appliances can {
now be surrnissed. but it has already been
found superior to lndia-rubber IN the ma
ority Of purposes for which that material
has been used, while it is capable Of be-
ing employed in many cases where INDIA +
rubber was Insufficient Gutta Percha IS
the gum Of Il tree which grows on the IS
land Of Borneo, and the entire Nalavan
Peninsula aboundS III extensive forests 81
this most valuable production Of the trop-
les. The tree is very large ana bears some
resemblance to the lndla-rubbcr tree. Dut /
differs from it IN lis botanical characters
ties. The sap Of the tree eAides from us
decorated surface. but quickly becomes
hard OH being exposed to the air.
Il Is purified By being boiled u not va
ter. when it becomes soft and plastic be-
low the temperature Of fifty degrees, i IS
nearly as hard as wood it's extremely tough
tut becomes plastic when 1t IS cut INTO
tim strips: at u temperature belo" boi.ih9
water it becomes IS soft and yielding as
melted wax putty. and may be fio'l-
dcl INTO any form Of stretched out thinner
than the finest paper. " hen IL cooia IL
becomes hard and tough again and re-
tains its plastic shape without the slightest
change b. contraction or warping. Us
tcnancity i wonderful; thin slip sustain
cd weight Of fifty POUNDS the process
Of metiIg and colorng seems to have no
effect in jniufing lis qualities. 1t burns
freely and emit, an odour when lgnlted
similar TO that Of caoutchouc; II $ easily
dissolved IN the oil Of turpenfln", but with
difficulty in acth"r and other solvents Of
lndia-rubbcr.
The use Of This valuable material are
almost infinite: il combines all the valuable
properties OF the best tanned leather, with
the elasticity of Coa,i'chouc, and dura-
,iltv which neither ofthem possesses ana
for strappno machinery supplies want
that has long been seriously experienced
It will answer all the purposes to winch
leather i applied, and is Immensely SUPERB
or to that Of India-rubberfo for boots shoes.
Indeed the old phrase OF "nothing IKE
leather will be deprived of its s"nifi-
a 1n3t n
porcha, no thicker. than bank note paper
IS as nnpcrvious 70 water as glass: Tor UNI
hrcllas. ovcrcoats, roofs Of houses, bot
toms of ships, coverings Of boxes, and In
MI cases where protection from wet IS de-
sired, its use Will be invaluable 1t can
: D., formed into eass pipes and water pipes
/ Of any size. and any degree OF strength
that may be REQUIRED: and used for such
purposes viii never decompose or wear out;
and being Cuctilc and elastic il may be
applied III a thousand shapes ana ioi
: thousands; Of purposes where IRON or lead
. cannot now he used.
$ L., utilization uses arc endless; il will
+ supply the place oftin. wood. copper non
stone and even glass, for such purposes
as buckets, tubs vases, Go5lets, drinking
Guns. and all manner OF utensils whlcA
are not uSou over inc III DuI - So
!. for ornamental purposes are even more
varied. in England it has already been
$ used to IA very considerable extent III book
binding, and for that purpose alone II must
=, soon entirely suprcccde leather. OF
mouldings Of all kinds, from the cornlces
: of house. capitals Of pillars II archltec'
ture, - the most delicate and intricate tan
: cy work, such as snuff boxes, picture
g frames. knife handles. and the ornamen
tation ofrooms, carriages. fountains, snip
. cabins, steamboats,, and the lnnumeIabit
articles which are made 10 CRAFTY the eye
i il must supersedc all other materials
Air. acids, and the ordinary chemlcn
agencies have no effect upon II. 1t /:
$ harder than horn. softer than wax. more
tenacious than caou.chouc, more durable
than iron; nothing can inJure It but a no
\, fire, and even that does not destroy i; an1
" no ordinary rub can detace il. For too
,c cloths It will superscdc the use Of all othe
% materials. as it can be made Of eAtrem
,hinness. perfectly imprevious to air Q
, water. and OF greater durability than an
, other flexible material known. In It's har
/ state it can with difficulty be cut with
p knit, or a saw, but when il is soft il can b
moulded into the most delicate forms b
; the hand of a child. Great Is Gutta PEI
0 cha.-Ercnins Mirror.
yc,r Article for the Feet.