Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1845-06-07
To the Editors Of the Indiana State Sentinel.
ave take no note Of timen

GENTLEMEN - There appears, in your paper o
last Thursday, notice Of eectro-mag ghetto clock
set up in part of England by Mr. Brain, which
clock never runs down and consequently never re.
quires TO be wound up This then is the long sought
for desderatum of perpetual motion applied to prac-
ical utility. have something of the sort, viz
two columns constructed Of alternate plates of zinc
and copper, between which was suspended bell
which kept up constant vibration between the col
umns, and consequently perpetual ringing For
some SIX or seven years, during which was well &C.
qualnted with this machine, Off may so call i, }
there was no cessation or perceptbe vcriation Its
vibrations nor would it have stopped yet h3d not an
unlucky boy run against it and knocked it to pieces
and the constructor being satisfied with the expert
ment did not rebuild il:
But my object in addressing you on the subject is,
10 enquire whether if a public clock upon the old
fashioned principle is toe expensive affair for u.s.
the good people of indianapolis, we might not con-
trve to obtain upon the electro agnetic prnci-
pie. We have, IT appears to me, as many Brains
here as they have in England, and surely if we do
but lay our heads together may devise some means
of obtaining public clock an article so useful to the
community, of such general acknowledged utility, as
to lead one to marvel why it Is not one of the first
things thought of and provided in every town as soon
as the town shows symptoms of becoming populous.
1t ls stated that the cost Of the motive power of
this electromagnetic affair seven shilngs and
slxpence equal to dollar sxty-six cents and two
Thirds and that IL has only three small wheels But
has no bell that we are told Of; and public clock
ought by all means TO be clock of striking po,rers
would probably require more than three wheels il
ought also have four faces which would likewise
add TO the number of wheels But laying aside all
calculation with regard 10 al electro magnetic clock,
idle speculation, u clock we ought TO have and the
cost of good one would not To so large a
sum that 1t could not be obtained either BIZ tax or
by voluntary contributions.
no IN do , a. r..
House. The law provides that when a writ or exc
cution is issued, the shcrifs officer or constable
receiving II shall endorse on said writ or ex-
ecution the day and the time of day when he re-
ceived It How IS the officer to know the time of day
Ii may be presumed that he carries a watch That is
mere presumption. The law does not supply him
With watch, nor provide that he shall wear one !;
and If II did, there might be some difficulty even for
the strong of the law to make that watch always
10 show the true time, whilst if it be requisite to re-
gster the time is equally requisite that be regis
tered correctly
The same clock would also register our markets
We have now 70 depend upon the time indicated by
the clock watch Of indiv dual for the regulation
of market hours Certainly public clock would be
better authority.
If the State were 10 erect clock upon the steeple
of the Capitol, besides the great utility of such an
add tion to the bnidng, it would materially improve
the appearance of the INSIDE of the cnpola. At pre-
stHt al view from below, ike
the shaft Of some mine, with small aperturcs at the
top to admit light. A ceiling placed third or even
half way from the present To the floor Of the le-
gislative chambers would take off much of its at pres
ent monotonous appearance, and afford an ample
chamber for the construction of a clock and for other
useful purposes. The cost to the State would not
amount suppose, to cent piece for On IN citizen
Time, says Ben. Franklin. is the stuff that life is
made Of. If so. surely ought to have public
gnomon to mark Its lapse. CIIRONOS.