No. 199.J 165 



The proprietors of this work are Messrs. Archibald Mclntyre, of 

 Albany ; 1). S. Gregory, of Jersey City ; Archibald Robertson, of 

 Philadelphia ; and the heirs of D. Henderson, whose names we record 

 with pleasure, conceiving them to be eminently entitled to honor for 

 prosecuting this enterprise to a successful result. 



Thus, under the patronage of the gentlemen above named, and the 

 perseverance of enlightened skill, we have the assurance of being 

 able to supply our own demands for one of the most important arti- 

 cles known in the arts, and the prospect that at no distant day we 

 may supply a large portion of the demand abroad. We conceive 

 the manufacture of this article to be placed beyond the influence of 

 tariffs, or that vascillating legislation which has been so ruinous to 

 almost every mechanical or manufacturing enterprise in our country. 



GUTTA PERCHA. 



A very large display of articles made of this material, was ex- 

 hibited at our late Fair, from the American Gutta Percha Company, 

 under the direction of Mr. S. T. Armstrong. When we consider that 

 it is only about eight years since the properties of this singular sub- 

 stance began to be investigated, it is truly surprising to witness the 

 great variety of extremely useful purposes to which it has already 

 been applied ; some of which are of great value. Caoutchouc, or 

 India Rubber, as it is familiarly called, has been known for centuries ; 

 nevertheless, it is within thirty years that this gum has been applied, 

 in any considerable extent, to purposes of utility, and even now, it is 

 very doubtful whether all the uses to which it is applied will be very 

 durable ; although immense skill, labor and capital have been em- 

 ployed upon it. There is certainly reasonable ground for a belief 

 that, should a moiety of the skill which has been directed to India 

 Rubber, be applied to Gutta Percha, the latter will attain a perma- 

 nent standing for purposes of great utility. 



The tree which produces the gum in question, gi'ows in great luxu- 

 riance and abundance on the islands of Singapore. Borneo, and along 



