130 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



are a class of articles for which no objection can be raised to 

 the use of gum-elastic. Among these are pistol holsters, sword 

 sheaths, cartridge boxes, &c. some of which are hereafter 

 described. 



MUSKET COVERS. 



Musket covers are manufactured of the plated gum-elastic 

 fabrics, and are secured in the usual way by buckle and strap, or 

 by tying, see plate xii., fig. 1. When fastened by the whalebone 

 slide, as represented by fig. 2, and inflated by the self-acting 

 valve tube, they are not only sufficiently buoyant to float the 

 gun or rifle, but will also answer in a good degree as a life-pre- 

 server to the sportsman or soldier, in crossing a river. This 

 article, when used together with the canteen, made with the 

 valve, as represented plate , fig. , is quite sufficient to buoy 

 up a man in the water. 



WAGON FLOATS. 



These are the invention of an officer* of the United States' 

 army. 



The India rubber cylinders are used in pairs with apparatus, 

 represented in plate , by which loaded wagons are easily 

 floated across rivers. 



The cylinders may also be used for rafts, and for making 

 floating bridges, when placed at suitable distances from each 

 other, and anchored. 



A complete set of these have been furnished to the United 

 States government, for the army. 



For a more particular description of the use of these floats, 

 the reader is referred to Col. Stanton's Specification of Patent, 

 United States' Patent Office. See plate , fig. . 



* Col. Henry Staunton. 



