^ 



LIFE-PRESERVER TRUNK. 363 



ance, the estimate would be better made at fifteen pounds for 

 each individual; consequently, a person travelling with a trunk 

 measuring three cubic feet, allowing thirty pounds weight for the 

 trunk, would take safely on shore one hundred and fifty pounds 

 weight of gold, or other valuable property. 



The proofs, with regard to the facts here stated, are ample, and 

 the arguments should be conclusive ; but the most important 

 theories may be well established, and yet remain practically 

 unknown, owing to the difficulty of making that which is clear 

 to the inventor, intelligible to practical operators, and to those 

 who execute the designs of inventors, so that they may safely 

 co-operate with him to produce the thing desired. It is be- 

 lieved, however, that such a difficulty will not long exist on this 

 subject, but that the specimens which have been made by the 

 writer so demonstrate the utility of the articles, that they will, 

 ere long, be brought into general use. 



LIFE-PRESERVER TRUNK. 



That represented by fig. 1, plate , is a cheap kind of 



water-proof trunk. The frame or box is made of wood in the 

 usual manner, and covered with gum-elastic vellum or vegetable 

 leather. A groove of about half an inch in width is cut in the 

 wood in the top edge of the trunk. This groove is filled with 

 a gum-elastic sponge cord. The hinge of the trunk is made of 

 gum-elastic stayed fabric, about two inches wide, extending the 

 whole length of the trunk. Elastic buckle straps, such as are 

 described on page , are used instead of leather. When 

 these are drawn tight, the trunk is made impervious to air and 

 water, by means of the gum-elastic sponge cord inserted in the 

 groove. 



Another method of making the trunks water and air-tight, is 

 by a cushioned lid, both in the top and bottom of the trunk, as 

 will be easily understood fi'om the plate , figs. 1 and 2. 



