The Leavenworth Daily Times
Leavenworth, Kansas
May 28, 1861
Caution to Soldiers.—We are reliably informed that large quantities of rubber goods, particularly rubber blankets, which are utterly worthless, are being sold to our brave volunteer soldiers. They are made of India rubber and lamp-black only, and being sun-dried in warm weather, consequently become soft and sticky, and in cold weather rigid, and in neither case will unfold, and therefore are worse than useless.
The only rubber goods of any value are vulcanized. They only will stand changes of climate, and a blanket of this quality is indispensable. No one, we are informed, but an expert can detect the difference between the good article and the worthless, when both are new, and soldiers and buyers should see they are not deceived. It is a shame that any American should for the sake of the profit, which we are told is very large on the spurious goods, palm off stuff he knows to be worthless upon our patriot soldiers, and thus defraud them of the very comfort which they need the most—a well made water proof blanket.
We trust the proper officers will see they are not supplied with such trash, and conclude by repeating that rubber goods, Unless Vulcanized, are worthless.—[New York World]