Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-16
.WiSHIsGf0y NEWS AND GOSSIP,

eutta Percha. Sons weeks since, We took
coca Ion to explain to the Stes'. readers the
feet tn I gutta perchs must soon come to sup
plant India rubber for nearly all useful pur-
p5sss for which the latter has come exten.
sively into use Of late yeas. We uttered this
opinion only after years Of experience in the
use of both. The following official exposition
of test recently made with articles aanufas.
tursd Of gutta perchs, sus taiDs our views then
expressed:
EatTaet 81 Yr0e>ediags Of Board of or
fesr> a. PhsiadeipAia, April IL, 1855:
The Board proceeded TO examine
the folio ing articles Of gutts psrcha fabrics
presented by the Vice President of the Moth
American 9ut,a Percha Company, viz:
knapsack on duok; havsrssck on duck; @ n
Teen on duck, water tank on duck, (41 gal.
i1ns;) mi itary shawl on duck; cap; CO. er,
and caps; tent panoho; pistol ca 20; vsl;ss; neck
stock; large sacks for transporting Supplies.
these fab Zee we're submitted to the follow.
ing tess: Heat Was applied to ihem at tenn
peraiuSe OF 100 deg Fahrenheit This did
not soften be surface CT the articles, or rem
der them adhesive in the least. The can; Gems
were then filed with spirits Of wine vinegar,
lard oil and wafer, all of which were submit
'Sd to the cegree 0f heat mentioned above,
aud the liquors KEEP, In the can;oens for wen
ty four hours They were not impaired by
tae high temperature applied to them, and
there was no peTceptibie action upon the
fabrics by either OF the liquids The results
OF the aforementioned experiments were go
Satisfactory to the Board tuas Il was deemed
important to ascertain what would be tho
eHec. Of long continued high heat upon the
fabrics. Arrangements we're accordingly
made by the Qusr;srmsster for applying this
heat, and the Board adjourned 10 meet again
on the Goth instant.
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, April 20. 1855
: The Board met pursuant to adjournment
Present all tho members.
An examination was then made Of several
articles which had been folded and rolled up
into compressed package, as also the can
teens containing the liquids before mon tionsd
all OF which had been subjected for q week to
continuous heat OF from loo to $50 deg Fab.
re heit in a close room
The articles contained in the package wese
found TO be not impaired by the action Of the
heat, and were apparently in the same state a.
bsfOre being submitted to the test.
There vas a slight taste impaired to the
spirits Of wine, bat no change could be per
ceised In the oil. vinegar, or water from the
action Of the 6utta Pe,cha upon ihom. Sew.
erai articles were also placed In an ice house
embedded in the ice. and after being kept tGsre
Tor several days, we're examined white In very
cold state, and found to be very pliable
Several articles were presented to the board
to lay which are enumera' cd in the list befo.e
mentioned They arc military cap, or BAT
OF new pattern. bride rein, and sword
scabbsra. all made Of Gu'ta Per.ha.
All the tests that the board had been able
during the limited time il has been in session
10 apply 10 tas fabrics presented, has been
perfectly satisfactory to all the members. and
they would rsc -mmend, for q practical service
trial upon the frortiers, tao AR icles hsreir
enumerated to be placed in :br hards Of the
troops II order TO ascertain whether they will
prove serviceaols il the feId
Sever al let ers from ofioe 3 OF the Army and
Navy have been presented to the Board, wh cb
give the re-ults OF their experience in the use
OF TIE Gut'a Percha, all of which are favorable
Copies OF these letters are here Il b enclosed
The Board would especially recommend fr
tao u'e x he enlisted men the military
shawl, knapsack. havorsack, clnteen, vaiiss.
stccS, cap and cover or hat, bri die rein, sad
die bags, and sword and bayone, scsbbards
The Board also recommend for he expedi.
ZION that has been ordered into the plains
under General Harvey, the large sacks for
the trAnspo talon Of -four. sugar, coffee med
lcai and ordnance stores or o,hs articles that
70 moisture or the weather; also, the tanks
for carrying water or other liquids, and the
Waler buckets FOR the use Of trains.
In the economy OF transportation, as In the
preservation Of the contents these articles Are
regarded by the Board as very superior to
the wooden barrels, TO-, or the ordinary
cloth grain sacks
The Board in conclusion would M animously
recommend to the consider alton OF IN. De
IA >f Al
pattern military hat presented by the Gut,a
feIcha Company. II is believed that this
nat, In addition to being water proof, is much
better adapted to frontier service than the
Gap at present in use 1t has q broad rim
which will protect the head from the rain
ana sun, and can be compressed into any
shape without injury, and il is regarded as
very service .ble
The Boa;d having 70 further businees be.
foro IT. adjourned s1ns die
Signed by J. Johnston, Lieut. Co, First
Cavalry; III Cr1sn.n Major and Quarter.
master; X. 3 Marcy. Captain Fifth Inf,ptry.
Improvement Of American Light. ousss.
We observe great activity Judging from the
numerous notices to mariners in the ssaboard
commercial papers) In the renovation Of our
Hight houses along the coast We note last
now those TO Chesapeake bay and tributaries.
Delaware bay and tributaries, Vineyard sound
and the Eastern coast generally New lieh.s
In Charleston hsrbor, viz ct Castle Pick.
ney, Fort Sumter and the Battery; lew
bsscons on Morris Island and Sulliyan's
Island are, We hear, near completion. The
introduction of the cota-dieptric or Fres.
mel apparatus into our old lights in the bays,
sounds and harbors, is working a great i'm.
proyement in the lights themselves, and at
the same tine reducing the annual consump
ton Of oil, wicks, and chimneys from seven
ten his TO nins-tenths of the former consump
tioL.
The Lost Ship Albany .-Understauding
that letters continue to be addressed to the
Navy Department, making applications for
ailOtments cut Of tho pay of persons who
formed part of the complement of officers and
menOf this Inflated ship, VIC have second
time 10 saw that NO mare mcnev IN N ia,a,iy h.