The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-03-23
ELECTRO MAGNETISM AS MOTIVE
POWER

" W l. IA
The following IS lie repor, of the Select
Committee of the Senate, presented By
/ Nj. Benton "a "Wednesday lest, on the APP
plics'icn Of Dr.. Psge for aid in testing his
new invention in electro magnetism.
Mr.. Rea,on, from The S, leci Committee
OF The Senate, TO whom wss referred The
memorial OF Professor Puge, made The fol-
loxing report:
THAT the memorisllst represents that,
he has discovered mode ofapp!yiu electro
magnetic power Tor HE purpose Of ma. ga
ton end loconin,on, aud as a general sub.
sll'ule for the dangerous agency Of steam;
that he has been engaeed 10 The iuYes ga.
ton ii this subject for more than twelve
years, al great expense and sacrifice that
he is nov able TO demonstrate The a,aila.
bility of the electromagnetic power, as n
mechanical agen', upon d srale Of mugDi.
iUde commemorate with his limited means;
that means larger than his own would be
necessary to test the availability Of the
power in lis application to the srea, pur.
poses o. useful navigation and Iocomotion !;
that he deems his invention worthy OF na.
tionsl encouragement, upon the same prn
cipal that encouragement was extended by
Congress to Professor Morse for telegraph.
ing by electromagnetic and he prays
that a select committee may De appointed
to examine his invention, and TO wines.
his experiments, aud that an appropriation
may be- made to enable him 10 apply his
inven,ion on a large and useful scale.
"In pursuance to their appointment,
the Committee attended the lectures now
in course of delivery 10 this city by Prof
Page, on electro magnetism, and witness.
ed his experiments in the application Of
that power as n mechanical agent, and
are satisfied that his past success, with bis
limited means, jusiihes the expectation of
farther success from enlarged means, The
power was exhibited (among other ways)
IA The suspension Of a mass Of iron of SO
pounds, without visible support, and in the
capacity of The great electro maguet to
sustain all the weigh, that could be crowd.
several persons, and believed capable Of
sustaining a weight Of l0, geo pounds Its
application was exhibited n the propul.
sion Of miniature engines, and in driving
an engine Of considerable power by which
boards are planed with ease aud smooth.
ness.
81" That the power is great, and can be
applied to the useful purposes Of navga.
lion and lncomotlon, the committee see no
reason To doubt. The inGsiry which rests
upoa their mind Is rs 10 the cost Of the
pr oduciion OF this power, and whether il
can be produced a, rate 10 justify its
comDon use as a mechancai agent. On
this point experience can be the only safe
guide, aad thus far experience is layora.
be. DE-. Page informs he committee
that he has succeeded in largely reducing
the cost Of production, and expects to be
able to bnn2 il within the limits of an eco
nomicai power, especially when the saving
of lte, es well as money, shall be com.
pretended under the idea OF economy
safety being one OF the great objects Of his
invcnion.
upon the examination Of the power
and applicability of Professor Pages in
vcntion, the committee deem it an object
Of national interest, that its entire ability
be completely tested and. the sum of
twenty thousand dollars being deemed ne.
cessary by him for thai purpose, they re.
commend an appropriation accordingly,
and direct their chairman 10 propose it as
an item in the naval appropriation bill"
The report was ordered to be printed
Baltimore Sun.