The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-15
NEWS NOTES
FOR

At the last meetinsg OF the Central
Traffic Association a unanimous agree
ment was reached TO the efect that when
shipments of bicycles. or parts thereof,
agricultural implements. stove furniture,
machinery, etc, are returned to the man
ufacturer or dealer. the road shall not
only decline TO advance any chages
thereon. but shall insist on prepayment
OF all freight and charges. unless a writ
ten order by the manufactures or dealer
for the return of such shipments Is pc
sented TO the forwarding clerk or agent.
This action Is the result OF an abuse OF
the privilege heretofore allowed the pur-
chaser TO return goods at the manufac-
turer's expense II upon examination. they
were not satisfactory. Many buyers have
sent back goods when they had no right
TO do so and In such cases the maker has
thrown them back on the road with the
unpaid freight bill. In self defense the
above rule has been made and circulars
announcing the decision ave been set
out. The rule goes into effect at once.
An accidental discovery maze by a
member OF the staff OF chemists employed
by the Glucose Sugar Refining Co., OF
Chicago, has just been perfected into a
method of obtaining a substitute for rub
Der from corn.
The product Is n vulcaniZed oil, ex-
tracted from the material hitherto re-
garded as waste in the manufacture OF
glucose. Subjected 20 further treatment,
It IS finally finished as a substance look
ing for all the world like crude rubber.
II has the color, texture, smell, and pecu-
liar elasticity of that article. Officials OF
the glucose company say 1t will add 30
to 40 per cent. to the supply Of that ar
44.sa N- ALaFmw-.FaA oil ragHftgffn fmnn-
tons as q substitute for that proportion.
In every kind Of finished rubber a GER
tain kind of filling is used. There is a
double reason for this, one to strengthen
and stifen the article and the other TO
economic the use OF rubber. The "hll-
ing used amounts frequently to as much
as So per cent. OF the whole. Different
materials are used for this purpose, none
of them partaking of the nature of rub
Der. So closely does the glucose com
pany's new product resemble that article,
the officials say, there will be no dill
Guilty in using IS per cent. Of II as a
filler. In other words, a rubber bicycle
tire, they say, may be made OF % per
cent. Of rubber and 70 per cent. OF the
substitute made from corn. The tire, II is
further asserted. will lose nothing in re-
silence or durability.
A sample OF the new by-product, IN
the form of a large. irregular chunk. was
exhibited at the company's office last Fri
day. Ii is to be put on the market imme-
dat ly as a regular product or the com
pan but the officers say they Will make
no attempt beyond this TO go into the
rubber business. Circulars lave been pre-
pared 20 send TO the rubber trade all over
the world announcing the new discovery
and quoting its price. Half a dozen
chemists who were shown pieces OF the
substance pronounced II wonderfully like
rubber. but they were adverse TO giving
an opinion until after making an analyti-
cal examination.
Exporters OF calcium carbide have been
denied drawback benefits which were
claimed on account Of using Imported
lime in the compound. The treasury de-
partment holds that the lime does not
appear" in the carbide, being fused with
the coke and not ascertainable as TO
quantity without recourse 10 the records
OF manufacture.
The latest proposition for the manu-
facture of bicycle tires is TO treat the
fabric or fiber with parafn and silicate
to render IL imperviOus 10 water, then roll
Il INTO sheets and crimp II 10 make It
resilient. after which it Is rolled up 10
form the tube.
A German paper has recently published
an article pointing out the splendid ser
vice performed by the cyclist corps at
the great manoeuyers Of the German
army last autumn. The corps consisted
Of 1000 men. who acted as carriers Of dis
patches and orders. who did scout and
patrol duty. and acted with the cavalry
i'm occupying and holding exposed spots,
bridges. ETC.. until endorsements az
rived one Sunday cyclists were dis
patched in all directions with orders TO
advance: il was toward night and had
been raining all day. The orders 20 adj
vance were received at their various des-
tlnations i'm good time. although most OF
the messengers had been doing so miles
every day all the week over the worst OF
roads.