Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-03-30
VERMONT PHOENIX.
BrattIebOrO, Friday, March 30, IS4o.
When will Wonders Cease ,

This is assurcdly an age Of progress. Every |
few days we are startled with some invention,
so repulsive to our ideas Of possibility that we
scout il and the author as absurd aud visionary. |
Our incredibly is here forced to yield. TO stub |
born fact, and just ms our minds begin to assent
to the reality Of seeming mpoissbilitics, we are
presented with another The inventive genius
Of the age is far ahead Of the capacity Of tbs
mass Of mankind to follow or appreciate.
The wonders accomplished by Railroads were
deemed impossibiliiies few ycap ago. The
Magnetic Telegraph actually demonstrated in the
face Of Congress its wonderful capabilities 10 an
initiate time in the transmission of ideas for ser
erai years before they would believe il, and even
then many Of them denounced Il as a humbug
and lis discoyerer rs a mailman. Yet now lis
wires are spread over tho broad Republic, and
on Monday, 9Th inst, il carried the Inaugural
message Of President Taylor from Washington
to Boston, over fire hundred miles, in less than
three hours. Fast upon the heels Of these dis
coveries, we have project to send letters with
the same rapidly, by means Of hollow tube
stretching over the country, which by sue
ton will transport instantancously letter or
package deposited ut the other, however distant.
We shall expect further improvement soon,
which by enlarsng tho tube will transport pas
scngcrs the same way. How delightful Il would
be to get into such a tube here, head foremost,
and the next instant find your head proiruding
from the other end in Boston or New York.
We commend this projected improvement to
the Directors Of the Railroads berealouis, who
with profound wisdom arc trying to make their
Road, profitable by charging so high fares that
few will travel them. VIVA, would their stock
be worth with such n competitor as this?
In New York city, We see that experiments
are making to substitute Balloons for a steam
Engine as a motive power for cars. 1t has been
tried before Committee Of the Common Coun-
ell, aud found, II is said, 10 answer the purpose
admirably.
We find in the proceedings Of the late Con.
gress, that one Dr. Page claims 10 have discov-
cred mode Of applying Elcciro-Aiagnetism as
a aotre Porer. His claims were referred to a
select committee OF the Senate, which made
report on the gslh February last, which We
publish as a matter Of general interest;
hlr Benton, from the Select Committee Of
the Senate, to which was referred the memorial
Of Professor Page, made the following report:
That the mcmorialisi represents that be has
discovered a mode Of applying electromagnetic
power for purposes OF navigation and locomotion,
and as general substitute for the dangerous
agency Of steam that be has been engaged in
the Investigation Of this subject for more than
twelve years al great expense and sacrifice I;
that be is now able to demonstrate the available
iiy Of the electromagnetic power, as rDcchani-
cal agent, upon a scale Of magnitude conmensu-
rate with bis limited means; that means larger
than his own would be necessary to test the
availability OF the power in its application TO the
great purposes OF useful navigation and locomo-
ton that he deems his invention worthy Of ma
tional encouragement upon the same principle
that encouragement was extended by Congress
q. PEgtsfSPr More for ielegraphing by electro
may be appointed 10 s sSa shss g%i sSa
TO witness his experiments, and that an appro-
priaion may DO made to enable him to apply
his invention on n large and useful scale
mee PsisSss &, & s ePss"ss, ,ss Gem
delivery in this city BY Professor Page. on cleo
tro magnetism, and witnessed his experiments in
the application OF that power as a mechanical
agent and ART satisfied that his past success, with
bis limited means, ius,iies the expectation Of
farther success from enlarged means. The pow
or was exhibited (among other ways) in the sus-
pension Of mass Of iron Of iiiiy pounds, with
cut visible support, and in the capacity Of the
great electro-mHgnei, 20 sustain all tie weight
that could be crowded upon il, consisting Of
masses of iron and several persons, and believed
capable Of sustaining a weight Of ten thousand
pounds. Its oppiioafion was exhibited in the
propulsion Of miniature engines, and in driving
an engine Of considerable power By which boards
are planed with ease and snooihRess
THAT the power Is great and can he spilled
10 the useful purposes Of navigation and locomo-
ton, the committee see no reason 10 doubt The
inquiry which rests upon their minds il rs to the
cost Of the production Of this power, and wheih-
er it can be produced at rate TO Justify its CON-
mon use as mechanical agent. On this point
experience is the only safe guide, and thus far
experience is favorable. DR.. Page informs the
committee that he has succeeded in largely re-
ducing the cost Of production, and expects 10 be
able to bring il within the limits OF an economi-
cal power, especially when the saving Of life, as
well as money, shall be comprehendel under the
idea of econoiny--salciy being one Of the great
objects of his invention
"Upon the examination Of the power and ap.
plicnbility Of Professor Pages invention, the
committee deem It an object Of national interest,
tina, its entire ability be completely tested and
the sum Of twenty thousand dollars being deem
cd necessary by Inn for that purpose, they rec
ommend an appropriation accordingly and d.
rect their chairman to propose i as an item in
the Naval Appropriation bill"
The report was ordered 70 be printed