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MILITARY AND NAVAL ARTICLES. 231 



question ; especially is this the case in those countries where the 

 navies and the armies are large. The nature of the substance 

 makes it peculiarly adapted to those countries where there is the 

 widest lield for its appropriate use. Influenced by these consid- 

 erations, the movements of the inventor have been governed in 

 reference to preparing for its introduction into those countries. 



The applications of a material like this, in all its combinations, 

 to the various articles required for the use of the different de- 

 partments of government, is an object that might well demand 

 the efforts of a lifetime. It is, however, believed that the design 

 of the writer to do this has been so nearly accomplished, that 

 there is no sufficient reason for delaying longer a statement of 

 his views ; and also that the series of improvements in vul- 

 canized gum-elastic is so far completed, that his purposes can 

 be satisfactorily explained, and that what remains to be done 

 can be accomplished with much less hindrance than has hereto- 

 fore attended his efforts. The writer is fully aware that reason- 

 able objections may be made to the extension of government 

 patronage, and especially that of a republican government, to 

 particular branches of industry ; and that it is deemed impolitic 

 for governments to manufacture those articles which can be 

 made by private individuals. The objections, however, apply 

 more particularly to those articles which are used in common, 

 both by the government and the people. But it may be said 

 that it has been found expedient for governments themselves to 

 make those articles which are needed only for government pur- 

 poses ; not only such as ships and fire-arms, but also cordage 

 and other equipments, made at their public docks and ship- 

 yards. Upon like grounds it may be urged, that many of the 

 navy, maritime and military articles now made, and proposed 

 to be made of this substance, are of a class demanded specially 

 for government uses, and therefore deserving their attention. 



If it is admitted that the substance is adapted to a small part 

 only of the equipments, and other articles enumerated under the 

 heads of maritime, naval, and military articles, and also that it is 

 adapted to ships' sails, mail-bags, life-boats, and the general pur- 



