Washington telegraph., 1850-01-30
WONDERFUL, IF TRUE.


We published some months ago, an
.,ount of an invention by MIR. Henry
sG paine. of a method of decomposing
,',.ter at a very small expense. This in
"ont;on. if it really be all it pretends to be,
:. scarcely second to any that has ever
,on made. That there is something in
:, is now vouched for by MIR. Rufus Por-
.ar formerly editor of the Scientific Amer
:o.n who forwards the following letter
~ the the Washington Union;"
MEssRs. EDIToRs-I am authorized to
,rnounce the discovery and practical test
If the most important scientific invention
over vet produced or brought to light
since the world has been inhabited by
,nan-an invention which mus: even:u-
,.Ilv and almost Immediately produce
on immense revolution in the CONNER
o;al intercourse and business in general
tbrouohout the world; and, although 1t
will break down and ruin many of the
most important branches of business and
avenues of wealth, with hundreds OF
wealthy corporations and business estab-
lshments, vet it will build up thousands
,of others, and contribute hundreds of mil
,ons to the benefit of mankind, especially
10 the American community.
The first main feature, and foundation
If this invention, and which at once opens
4, field for hundreds of other inventions,
is the discovery of Henry M. Paine, Esq,
of ready and almost expenseless mode
of decotnposing water, and reducing it to
the gaseous state. BY the simple opera
,;oo of a very small machine, without
oalvauic batteries, or the consumption OF
metals or acids. and only the application
of less than one three hundreth Q-3OO)
mart of one horse power MIR. Paine pro-
Juces two hundred cubic feet of hydrogen
oas. and one hundred feet of oxygen gas
per hour. This quantity of these gases,
1he actual cost OF which is less than one
cent) will furnish as mucl, heat by COM
hustion as 1000 feet of the ordinary coal
gas, and sufficient to supply light equal to
three hundred common lamps for ten
Aours. or to warm an ordinary dwelling
house twelve hours, including the requis-
ite heat for the kitchen; or to supply the
reouisite heat for onehorse power OF steam
This invention has been tested by SIX
months operation, applied to the lighting
of houses, and recently the applicability
of these gases to the warming OF houses
has also been tested with perfectly salts
factory results A steam engine furnace
and a parlor stove, both adapted to the
burning of these gases, have been invented,
and measures taken for securing patents
therefor.
Mr.. Paine has one of his machines,
new and elegant, now in full operation
and publicly exhibited, and may be expect
ed to exhibit the same iii this city within
twenty days The only actual expense
of warming houses by this apparatus is
that of winding up weight luke the
wiuding up of clock) once day; and
the heat produced may be easily gradua-
ted and regulated as the fame of COM
mon gas burner No smoke whatever Is
produced but very small quantity OF
steam. sufficient to supply the requisite
atmosphere. In its application to- the
production of steam power, 1t VIII reduce
the expense thereof TO The mere wear OF
machinery, and will Immediately produce
an immense demand for steam engines,
and induce the establishment OF thousand
of manufacturing mills, reduce the expense
of travelling, and increase the demand
for agricultural produce, while 1t runs
the coal and gas business and such man
ufacturing establishments as depend OH
monopoly and high prices. This nven-
ton, moreover, removes completely the
only obstacles which have hitherto ex-
listed TO Rrial navigation-the difficulty
of procuring hydrogen gas, and carrying
a supply of fuel; and it may now be con-
sidered matter of tolerab}e certainty that
men will be seen swiftly and safely soar
inc in various directions before the first
of May next. These facts, being OF I'M
mense Importance, should not be longer
withheld; aud [ therefore would avail
myself of your widely circ uating journal
to present them TO the public.
Yours. respectfully,
r. PORTER.
V,cH;xoton Dpc % C949