Carbolised Hose.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 144, 13 August 1872, Page 7

Carbolised Hose.

[From the San Francisco News Letter.] Rubber hose is generally made of alternate layers of rubber and canvas ; each layer of cloth is called a ply ; a four-ply hose consists of four layers of cloth and six layers of rubber. Rubber contains ingredients which very soon destroy all vegetable and animal matter with which it comes in contact. The cotton and the hose soon become useless, sometimes giving out even in a few months. To prevent the decay of the cloth, resort has been had to carbolic acid, which, by its antiseptic properties, entirely preserves animal and vegetable matter from decay for long periods of time. Any one can try the following experiment for his own satisfaction. Take a piece of common cotton cloth, saturate one half of it with carbolic acid, and bury it underground for two or three months; when that part not treated with carbolic acid will be found to be decayed, while the other part will be found as sound as when put in the ground. By saturating the cotton ducking of which hose is made with carbolic acid, it is protected against the destructive properties of the rubber ; the rubber can be vulcanised at a much less degree of heat when carbolic acid is used, thus again protecting the goods from injury. The United States Government appointed a special committee to investigate the merits of the carbolised hose, as the Government is a heavy purchaser, and since that time the Government has purchased none but carbolized hose, which is used in all the fire departments and in all the navy yards. The cities of New York, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore use it exclusively, and about five hundred other fire departments throughout the United States. There is now more carbolised hose sold for steam engines titan of all other kiwis of hose made in the United States. Immense quantities of it are sold for garden and irrigating purposes. It lasts four or five years, whereas other common rubber hose gives out after a few monhs. There is a guarantee of eighteen months given on all carbolised hose.