48 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC, 



persons are compelled to sleep on the ground, whether in jour- 

 neying or in encampment, especially when they are thus ex- 

 posed to wet weather, or upon marshy soil, an article which 

 excludes all dampness must be a great comfort, and a great 

 security to health, i 



TENTS. 



Are made of plated cloths or corded and barred fabrics, and 

 of various patterns, some of which are represented in plate 

 An objection has formerly been made against India rubber goods 

 for tents, on account of their closeness, excluding the light, and 

 on account of their being black, they wpre considered hotter 

 in sunshine than canvas. But with the improvement lately 

 made in lighting and ventilating gum-elastic tents, as repre- 

 sented in plate , fig. , together with the fact that they are now 

 made white and have the appearance of canvas, it is suggested 

 that these fabrics will be found to answer this purpose better 

 than the cotton and linen canvas heretofore used for tents. 

 Among the different patterns represented in the plates that may 

 be noticed, are fig. , made of ventilated goods. Fig. , which 

 is pitched with a pole that is jointed, and may be readily taken in 

 parts for transportation. The utiUty of India rubber tents has 

 thus far been questioned, partly on account of the first cost, and 

 partly on account of the objections stated. By the introduction 

 of the fibrous fabrics, the first objection will be removed, and it 

 is thought that the latter one will be so by the improved varied 

 construction of the articles. 



