70 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



The same remarks, so far as relates to invention, are applicable 

 to some other fabrics and articles which are entirely new, the 

 claim to which is designated in the index by the initials of the 

 inventor. The recent introduction into the manufacture of 

 gum-elastic, of the fibrous fabrics named in this volume — " tis- 

 sue," "vellum," and "the plated and porous fabrics" — the writer 

 considers next in importance to the discoveiT of vulcanization ; 

 and although they are yet hardly known, they will be found to 

 be the means, more than any other fabrics, of substituting gum- 

 elastic for leather. 



As regards the commencement of the manufacture of India 

 rubber, the writer does not claim to be the first who engaged in 

 it, even in the United States. With regard to the origin and 

 the progress of the manufacture in this and other countries, the 

 important facts, so far as he has been able to obtain them, are 

 given under the heads of foreign and domestic manufacture, 

 and in other parts of this work. It is due to say that numerous 

 individuals among his associates and licensees, have done much 

 to facilitate ths development of the various branches of the 

 business that have passed into their hands. 



Without assuming any thing more than what is strictly true, 

 the author may say, what will be corroborated by all who have 

 any knowledge of his course, that, as relates to his labors pre- 

 vious to the discovery of the vulcanizing process, so in regard 

 to the subsequent improvements, applications, and fabrics, he 

 has, with little reference to personal comfort or pecuniary ad- 

 vantage, applied himself constantly to the development of the 

 subject for the period of fourteen years, without being diverted 

 from the fixed purpose to complete the system of inventions, as 

 presented in this work, avoiding the temptations that often pre- 

 sented themselves, in the profits which might be derived from 

 prosecuting the manufacture of many of the articles, and has 

 made invention and the improvement of gum-elastic his busi- 

 ness and profession. With what success, an opinion may be 

 formed from the descriptions presented by this work, also from 

 the specimens which are produced, and the few that are bound 



