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DIFFICULTIES TO ENCOUNTER. 123 



he desired. Without them it was certain that nothing could 

 be done to restore the confidence of the pubhc, in the vicinity of 

 Boston, or to induce them to estabhsh the business for a long 

 time to come, and it would have been useless to visit any other 

 part of the country for this purpose, even if he had had the means, 

 without specimens large enough to test the utility of the invention. 



There was, therefore, no alternative but to continue his efforts 

 to obtain specimens that would satisfy other minds, before he 

 could hope to effect a change in his circumstances by a change 

 of place ; and it seemed absolutely necessary that these speci- 

 mens should be such as might be tested by actual service. Like 

 iron or steel, the quality of gum-elastic could not then, and can- 

 not even now, be known by the appearance of its surface. 



Those which had already been made were of small size, and 

 . were in appearance like samples of the common India rubber. 

 The confident assurances which the inventor expressed, were also 

 such as had been made in relation to other supposed improve- 

 ments during a period of several years, but which had resulted 

 only in disappointment. It was, therefore, unreasonable to ex- 

 pect those with whom he was conversant, to attach much im- 

 portance to his views of the case, although they might give him 

 credit for sincerity. The great difficulty now was to bring the 

 minds of others to appreciate the subject as he did himself. 

 The most, therefore, that could be hoped for in the community 

 where he then resided, was to get the improvement so far 

 advanced, as to be able to present it in foreign countries, or in 

 some other section of his own country.* 



* The prosperous condition of the manufacture of the native gum in other countries, was a great 

 encouragement to proceed, and stimulated his efforts to obtain specimens where lie then was. 



It had been the design of the inventor, previous to tlie disappointment which attended the acid 

 gas process, to introduce that process into Europe as soon as practicable : and arrangements for 

 this purpose were in progress, when proposals highly advantageous were made to him by the ex- 

 tensive manufacturing house of Messrs. Rattier & Guibal, Paris, for the introduction of that im- 

 provement into France. 



These proposals were made through Mr. Wm B. Draper, of New York, who had for a long 

 time resided, as a merchant, in Paris, and through him the reply was made in 1840, that the 

 writer had discovered the heating or vulcanizing process, which would probably supersede the 

 acid gas improvement, and would delay his visit to Paris. 



Ten years subsequent have been devoted by the inventor to perfecting the vulcanizing procese, 

 and various improvements growing out of it, having it in view to introduce them into Europe 

 when perfected. 



