Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-05-19
INDIA RUBBER.

In Mr.. Webster's recent speech at Tren
ton in the Case Of Goodyear rs Day, the
India Rubber case. the following notice is
taken Of the introduction of India Rubber,
and its manufacture. in this country -
'The history Of that natural product has
not been much known till lately 1t is a
gum procured from an equatorial tree, found
in greater or less quantities, in Brazil, aud
called by botanists Ficus Elasticus The
natural history of the tree is not uninteress-
ing. 1t is said to be in some Gifts specimens the
largest tree growing on the face Of the earth.
There are instances, in which it is described
as being nearly hundred feet in circumfer-
ence. 1t runs up forty, fifty or sixty feet,
without branches, then ascends to hundred
or hundred and Fifty feet, and is crowned
or tufted With rich foliage. The leaves are
thick and long. six or seven inches in length.
The Indians procure the gum by incission in
the tree. after the manner in which sap is
obtained from the maple in the Northern and
Middle States. When the gum exudes from
the tree, i. is Of milk color, and Of the con-
sistency Of honey. Unless it be speedily
therefore when the Indians have obtained it
in the morning they apply it the same day,
layer otter layer. or forms Of clay or lasts
Then they dry it in the smoke of a fire made
Of peculiar nut thus not only drying it,
but imparting to it the dark color which it
has, when we receive it here in the shape of
balls. bottles or shoes 1t would appear that
it was first introduced into Europe by
semitic French travellers, 10 the year 1876.
In France they analysed it, but without any
profitable result DIR. Priestly says that
about the year 1871 he saw a specimen Of
gum at stationer's where it was used to
erase pencil marks. From that use it deri-
we'd the common and erroneous name Of India
rubber. 1t was first known in this eoun-
try about the year 1890
In 1923 FIVE hundred pairs Of shoes were
imported into this country, and sold at Bos-
ton. At somewhat later date it became
the subject of scientific investigation. and DIR.
Comstock. Of Hartford (Ct) obtained, in
1928 or 1929, patent for dissolving in tur-
pentine. so as to make it plastic, and adapt
| it for being spread on cloth. Dir. Howe at
tempted to manufacture India rubber in n.
York in 1929.
The considerable manufacture of it COM
menced within the recollection Of some Of us
in New England, in Massachusetts, and
Rhode Island think it was in the year
1882 the Roxbury factory commenced its
operations. TWAS incorporated in 1888.
Among people seeking every avenue fol
successful enterprise, the apparent prosperity
Of this company was sufficient encouragement
to embark in its manufacture. Accordingly
numerous manufactures were in operation
in 1884 '35 and 1886. But these all failed
with but one exception. In 1887 and 1895
the business of manufacturing India rubber
was abandoned, except by Gov Jackson and
DR.. Hartshorne. Of Providence. who carried
on businesses under patents which had beer
obtained by Mr.. Goodyear. until bis in
vention of the vulcanizing process superced
ed his previous intentions. and drove them Of
their successors out of the business, whereup
on they adopted the new invention, and pur-
chased license from Goodyear.