The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-06

from graduated cork mixed with oil.
There has been great deal of the rough
bark Of the cork tree imported lately. 1t Is
called
VIRGIN CORK,
and looks very much like the bark OF an oak
tree. II Is quite cheap, and Is used for
decorative purposes In gardens and con-
servatories. Florists also use Il to some
extent in their fancy designs. Rustic de-
vices made from virgin cork may be seen In
several Of the handsome grounds along the
Hudson river and on Long island. In
England 1t Is extensively used In the public
parks and in the formation Of picturesque
grottoes In private estates. A gentle
man who visited Portugal and Spain
as buyer for New York cork. firm,
last year, says that In that coun-
try the cork-bark Is used by the peasantry
for cradles and chairs, beds and sofas, and
even to make houses Of. He saw scores Of
little row-boats on the small rivers i'm Por-
tugal which the eork-cutters had hastily
fashioned out OF virgin cork. Some OF
these boats were large enough and strong
enough to hold six or seven persons. So
cheap Is the virgin cork, even in this coun-
try, that enough can be purchased to taste
fully ornament whole garden for $40 to
SIS. Perhaps one Of the most extraordi-
nary uses to which cork has been put Is the
manufacture Of gas from it..
A bright and scrviceable illuminating
gas has been made from cork in England,
and 1t is now being successfully used In
different parts Of that country. 1t is made
on the same principle as cOal-gas, only cork
chips are burned instead OF coal. "I tell
you" said gentleman who Is well versed
- IA. A..Ix Il h.. nj
thing IL the New York gas-makers would
throw few cork chips with their coal.
The quality OF the gas would be wonder
fully improved"
"Would it not increase the expense?"
was the inquiry.
eyes; but imagine that the people who
have grown tired Of using poor gas would
be willing to pay little extra for gas OF
good quality"
Thirty years ago, it is said by old dealers,
there was not one tenth as much cork used
in the United States as there is to-day, and
the rate of increase is not only steady but
rapid. The only falling Off in the demand
from any source is on the part Of the
NEGRO MINsTRELs-
n profession that for many years Loyalty at
tested the efficacy Of burned cork. The
decreasing demand from this source, how
ever, is only owing to the decreasing num-
bers of the burned-cork artists. The great
est quantity of cork is. OF course, used for
making bottle-cOrks. These ate made in O
hundred different sizes, and are sold by the
gross, the prices depending on the size and
quality OF the goods. An enormous guam
tity OF cork is also used for life-saving
purposes. There are score or more OF
appliances for preventing people from
drowning, all of which consist princ-
pally of cork. The United States Govern
ment provides regulation cork lifc-preser-
vers at all OF the life-saving stations, and
every passenger-carrying vessel is literally
supplied with them. There is the " ever
float " jacket, the cork belts, the cork ring,
the swimming corks, life-buOys, and many
more similar appliances. "Cork is always
the same in all climates, and will stand any
amount OF rough usage" is the reason
given by an excellent authority on
the saving Of life at sea why YES
sells should carry as many cork arti-
cles as possible. Mattresses are now made
Of cured cork, and their lightness
and cleanliness has caused several steam
ship lines to give them trial in their state
rooms. Pillows are also made in the same
way. Cork-seats are put in chairs, and
manufacturer in this city is devising cork
sofa, which he says will be "iust the thing
to lie down upon ona hot day. The cork life
prescrvers are made ut comparatively
small expense, as they require only the
coarsest kind OF cork, which, although OF
poor quality. is Just as buoyant rs any
other kind. There is in the trade con-
slant demand for cork buoys for fishing
nets, floats for lines, and decoy-ducks. A
lot OF 1000 decoy-ducks, made OF cork,
was shipped to New England from here
only few days ago.
Artists Use great many small slabs OF
fine cork. Some are made into plaques, and
others are cleverly carved. Some OF the
carved pieces when put in gilded frames
resemble dalk marble carving or plaster
work. They are sold at very good prices.
Sheets of cork are frequently put behind
pictures that hang upon walls to keep the
dalnpness from affecting the canvas. Cork
Is also used Il great deal
IN MAKING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS
and geOgnostic models. The jewellers buy
the finest quality Of cork procurable for
various purposes. In doing fine work,
such as repairing watches, they usually
turc, and no danger OF any of the pieces
being bruised or scratched. For cigarette
mouth-pieces cork is being successfully
used. 1t is also used i'm the manufacture
of number Of small fancy articles, such
as wall-baskets and brackets, mantel orna-
ments, &c. The covers of pocket-books
are made from cork, and the same
serviceable material is applied in making
the sand-paper blocks that are used for
polishing ceilings. The backs Of blotting-
pads are also made of cork. and of late years
fruit-boXes and baskets have been made
with cork bottoms. Granulated cork has
long been in extensive demand for packing
purposes. 1t is used in making refrige-
rators, and the fruit-packing trade con-
sumes enormous quantities OF it. The
readers Of the Times have probably
often observed that Malaga grapes,
as well as other imported fruits, come
packed in cork-dust. Druggists use
a great deal of it in packing small bottles
Of pelfumery, medicines, DC. Machinists
often find cork of inestimable value to them,
as it produces no friction. When steam
pipes are extended through open spaces, as
from one building to another, Il wrapper OF
cork is put around them to keep them dry
and TO prevent their freezing in the winter.
Rheumatic people are usually earnest be-
levers in the preventive qualities of cork,
and they are the ones who are loudest in their
praises OF cork-soled boots and shoes. Cork
mats and cork window-shades are rapidly
growing in popularity. One Of the uses to
which cork is often put is to prevent or sub
due noise In machinery OF co heavy doors.
The elevated railroad companies in this
city, when suits for damages were first in
stituted against them on account of the
noise made by their trains, tried to put
cork between the slecpers and the rails.
The experiment, it is said, was n par
flal success, but when the suits for
damages on account OF the noise