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uccess of the victorious paper shells of the Cornell College navy； which were enlisted in the struggles of two seasons at Saratoga； against no mean antagonists； the college crews of the United States； surely proves that in strength； stiffness； speed； and fineness of model； the paper boat is without a rival。
When used in its own peculiar sphere； the improved paper boat will be found to possess the following merits： less weight； greater strength； stiffness； durability； and speed than a wooden boat of the same size and model； and the moulded paper shell will retain the delicate lines so essential to speed； while the brittle wooden shell yields more or less to the warping influences of sun and moisture。 A comparison of the strength of wood and paper for boats has been made by a writer in the Cornell Times； a journal published by the students of that celebrated New York college：
〃Let us take a piece of wood and a piece of paper of the same thickness； and experiment with； use； and abuse them both to the same extent。 Let the wood be of one…eighth of an inch in thickness the usual thickness of shell…boats； and the paper heavy pasteboard； both one foot square。 Holding them up by one side； strike them with a hammer； and observe the result。 The wood will be cracked； to say the least； the pasteboard； whirled out of your hand； will only be dented； at most。 Take hold and bend them： the wood bends to a certain degree； and then splits； the pasteboard； bent to the same degree； is not affected in the least。 Take a knife and strike them： the wood is again split； the pasteboard only pierced。 Place them on the water： the wood floats for an indefinite time； the pasteboard； after a time； soaks； and finally sinks； as was to be expected。 But suppose we soak the pasteboard in marine glue before the experiment； then we find the pasteboard equally as impervious to the water as wood； and as buoyant； if of the same weight； but； to be of the same weight； it must be thinner than the wood； yet even then it stands the before…mentioned tests as well as when thicker； and it will be found to stand all tests much better than wood； even when it weighs considerably less。
〃Now； enlarging our pieces； and moulding them into boats of the same weight； we find the following differences： Wood； being stiff and liable to split； can only be moulded into comparative form。 Paper； since it can be rendered perfectly pliable； can be pressed into any shape desirable； hence； any wished…for fineness of lines can be given to the model； and the paper will assume the identical shape； after which it can be water…proofed； hardened； and polished。 Paper neither swells； nor shrinks； nor cracks； hence it does not leak； is always ready for use； always serviceable。 As to cost； there is very little difference between the two； the cost being within twenty…five dollars； more or less； the same for both。 Those who use paper boats think them very near perfection； and surely those who have the most to do with boats ought to know； prejudice aside； which is the best。〃
An injury to a paper boat is easily repaired by a patch of strong paper and a coating of shellac put on with a hot iron。 As the paper boat is a novelty with many people； a sketch of its early history may prove interesting to the reader。 Mr。 George A。 Waters； the son of the senior member of the firm of E。 Waters & Sons； of Troy； New York； was invited some years since to a masquerade party。 The boy repaired to a toy shop to purchase a counterfeit face； but； thinking the price （eight dollars） was more than he could afford for a single evening's sport； he borrowed the mask for a model； from which he produced a duplicate as perfect as was the original。 While engaged upon his novel work； an idea impressed itself upon his ingenious brain。 〃Cannot；〃 he queried； 〃a paper shell be made upon the wooden model of a boat？ And will not a shell thus produced； after being treated to a coat of varnish； float as well； and be lighter than a wooden boat？〃
This was in March； 1867； while the youth was engaged in the manufacture of paper boxes。 Having repaired a wooden shell…boat by covering the cracks with sheets of stout paper cemented to the wood； the result satisfied him； and he immediately applied his attention to the further development of his bright idea。 Assisted by his father； Mr。 Elisha Waters； the enterprise was commenced 〃by taking a wooden shell； thirteen inches wide and thirty feet long； as a mould； and covering the entire surface of its bottom and sides with small sheets of strong Manila paper； glued together； and superposed on each other； so that the joints of one layer were covered by the middle of the sheet immediately above； until a sheet of paper had been formed one…sixteenth of an inch in thickness。 The fabric thus constructed； after being carefully dried； was removed from the mould and fitted up with a suitable frame； consisting of a lower keelson； two inwales； the bulkhead； in short； all the usual parts of the frame of a wooden shell； except the timbers； or ribs； of which none were used the extreme stiffness of the skin rendering them unnecessary。 Its surface was then carefully waterproofed with suitable varnishes； and the work was completed。 Trials proved that； rude as was this first attempt compared with the elegant craft now turned out from paper； it had marked merits； among which were； its remarkable stiffness； the symmetry of the hull with respect to its long axis； and the smoothness of the water…surface。〃
A gentleman； who possesses excellent judgment and long experience in all that relates to paper boats； furnishes me with the following valuable information； which I feel sure will interest the reader。
〃The process of building the paper shell…boat is as follows： The dimensions of the boat having been determined upon； the first step is to construct a wooden model； or form； an exact facsimile of the desired boat； on which to mould the paper skin。 For this purpose the lines of the boat are carefully drawn out of the full size； and from the drawings thus made the model is prepared。 It is built of layers of well…seasoned pine； securely fastened together to form one solid mass； which； after having been laid up of the general outline required； is carefully worked off； until its surface； which is made perfectly smooth； exactly conforms to the selected lines； and its beam； depth； and length are those of the given boat。 During the process of its construction； suitable rabbets are cut to receive the lower keelson； the two inwales； and the bow and stern deadwoods； which； being put in position； are worked off so that their surfaces are flush with that of the model； and forming； as it were； an integral part of it。 It being important that these parts should； in the completed boat； be firmly attached to the skin； their surface is； at this part of the process； covered with a suitable adhesive preparation。
〃The model is now ready to be covered with paper。 Two kinds are used： that made from the best Manila； and that prepared from pure unbleached linen stock； the sheets being the full length of the model； no matter what that may be。 If Manila paper is used； the first sheet is dampened； l