The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1858-09-04
GOOdyear's India Rubber Pat
enf.

Commissioner Holt, in the course
of an argument which is marked by
more eloquence and broadness of
opinion than are usually found in Off
cfal papers, in favor of extending the
abovetpatert, gives, concerning Good
years struggles and inventions, some
particulars of great interest. It app
pears from these that Goodyear has
devoted about eighteen years Of. his
life to the development of the infinite
capabilities of India Rubber. mostly
with a view to the discovery Of what
is popularity known as the yulcanizing
preccss-that is, the process of hard-
ening rubber BY means ofsulphur and
heat, so that it will not be .injuriously
affected ia its manufactured form by
: the changes of temperature. The
Commissioner of Patents says:
''From the first moment that the concep-
tion entered his mind until his complete sue
cess-embracing period of from sixteen to
eighteen years--he applied himself unceas-
ingly and enthusiastically to its perfection,
and to its introduction into use, in every form
that his fruitful genius could devise So in
tensely were his faculties concentrated upon
1t that he seems to have been incapable of
thought or of action upon any other subject
He carried continually about his person
piece of India rubber, and into the ears of all
who would listen he poured necessarily the
story of his experiments, and the glowing
language of his prophecies. He was, accord
ing to the witnesses, completely absorbed by
it, both by day and night, pursuing it with
untiring energy, and with almost superhu-
man perseverance. Not only were the pow
ers of his mind and body thus ardently devo-
ted to the invention and its introduction into
use, but every dollar he possessed or could
> command through the resources of mis- Gre lit,
or the influences Of friendship, was uncalcu-
latingly cast into that seething caldron of ex-
pertinent which was allowed to know no re-
pose. The very bed on which his wife slept,
and the linen that covered his table, were
seized and sold to pay his board and we see
him, with his stricken household, following
in the funeral of his child on foot, because he
had no means with which to hire q carriage
His family had to endure privations almost
surprising belief, being frequently without
an article of food in their house, or fuel in
the coolest weather; and indeed it is sale
that they could not have lived through the
winter of 1889 but for the kind offices of a
few charitable friends.
They are represented as gathering sticks il
the woods, and on the edges of the highways
with which to cook their meals. and digging
the potatoes of their little garden before they
were half grown, while one of his hungry
children, in spirit worthy of his father, il
heard expressing his thanks that this much
had been spared to them. We after find hin
arrested, and incarcerated in the debtor
prison; but even amid its gloom his vision o
the future never grew dim-his faith in hi
ultimate triumph never faltered."
Throughout all these severe trials
sand embarrassments, which are par
aHeled by the experience of the
worlds great benefaetors in all times
Goodyear met with no encouragement
from the public and but little from
his best friends, being regarded, eve,
by them at times, as visionary if ne
insane. But he kept right on, with
bravery that could not be appalled,
making one advance after another
until the discovery of the process
which formed the climax of his inyen
'tions. This came suddenly, even &C
'cidentally, as most results come whicl
have long been painfully and earnest
1y sought.
''ln one of those animated conversations 8
habitual to him, in reference to his expert
ments, piece of India rubber combined witt
sulphur, which he held in his hand as tn
text of all his discourses, was by yiolen
gesture thrown into burning stove nea
which he was standing. When taken out, af
ter being subjected to high degree of heat
he saw--what, it may be safely affirmed
would have escaped the notice of all others
that complete transformation had takel
place, and that an entirely new product
since so felicitously termed elastic metal
was the consequence. When subjected t,
further tests, the thrilling conviction burs
upon him that success had at length crowned
his efforts, and that the mystery he had s,
long wooed now stood unveiled before him.
His history in this respect is altogether par
allel with that of the greatest inventors ant
discoverers who have preceded him. Th,
lamp had swung for centuries in the cathe
orai OF Pl6a, but, OIL the thronglng multitude
who worshipped there, none had needed tn,
lessons which it taught. 1t was reserved fol
the profound and observant intellect of youns
Calico to extract from its oscillations til,
true laws Of the pendulum. which led to tn,
creation If an infallible measure of time
The theory of universal gravitation loses no
thing Of its grandeur or value because sug
.gested BY the falling of an apple from tht
tree. In all lands, by teeming millions, thi.
phenomenon had been observed, but to none
had it impaired instruction-to mono had il
spoken Of that wonderful secret which lurked
beneath its simple features. At length it.
still small voice. fell upon the delicate and
sappreeiative ear of one whom it startled int
inquiry. The light thus afforded, to whom
.allhad BEEN blind, was indeed dim and twink.
hing; but, following its guidance as one who
traces back the dawn. the great Newton soor
plunged into the full-orbed srlendors of q