The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-06-18
From tho lioston Post.
The Hydro-Electric Light.

After period Of six years, employed
in series IF experiments, conducted ON
the most philosophical principles, aud
continued with indefatigable pcrsever-
ance. Mr.. Henry NJ. Paine, of Worces-
ter, has completed his " Magueto.eec>
lric Decomposer an ingenious appar-
atns for evolving hydrogen and oxygen
gases from water, by the agency of cleo
lrIcity, generated by mechanical means.
The gases thus obtained may he used for
light, heat. and motive power, and have
already been practically tested for the
two hrsi nnlneu Pu,r----,
rable scale, with wonderful effect.
AT his residence, on Tuesday evening,
April 23d, Mr. Paine exhibited the ope-
ration Of his invention 10 number Of
gentlemen of Boston and Worcester,
some Of whom have had considerable ex-
perience in the gas business, and others
have taken great interest in plans and
projects. having in view the production
of artii ial light at cheaper rates than it
can be furnlshe by the means hitherto
employed by gas manufacturers. Mr..
Paine had his house brilliantly lighted
up, although he used only one small
burner for each ronm The light was
exceedingly strong and white, and SO
pure that the most delicate shades of blue
aud green in some colored prints could
he instantly distinguished at a distance
of several feet from the burner, IA cons
mon gas-burner,) which was supplied
with gas from pipe, whose diameter
did not exceed one quarter of an inch.
AT the same time iha, the light was
being exhibited, the mode for using the
gas for heating was also shown. A small
| Jet of pure hydrogen, between two cir
cular plates OF mon, raised a few inches
rom the floor, was lighted, and in few
minutes an equal and genial heat was
ditf'used throughout the apartment, Thus
the aslonished party had light and heat
together, supplied from the same source
below, and their expressions of admira>
,lon were unbnuuded nor were thev
; sbaed when they were led down into
tho rollnr to ka .y,oaI,,,,t,,
small machine by which the gas was
. made. The DIX containing it was about
Is inches square and ; in depth. We
cannot give the details of the interior Of
the machine, but will simply state that, :,
AS The name indicates, it evolves mag
{ neto-electriciIy by purely mechanical ac-
ton. From the above mentioned box
there ran flt copper wires into the de-
composing jar, which was about two
feet in height aud six or eight inches in
diameter. and partly filled with water !;
! III this Jar, by the action Of the electric
ity just spoken Of, pure hydrogen gas a.
lone was formed from the water, whence
it passed into two gasomelers or reser-
voirs, about the size OF barrel each
+ The pole, at which oxygen gas is Iibe~
, rated, on this occasion passed into the
, ground, so that hydrogen alone was
, evolved by the action of the machine.
| The process Of carbonizng the hydro
gen for illumination is exceedingly SIM
pie, and was open to view; it is very
cheap, So much So that Mr.. Paine saw.
that the cost Of carbonizing the gas he
/ has burned in his house in three burners
every evening lor a week has not yet a.
mounted to one cent. The hydrogen is
used for the general puposes Of light and
heat, and the oxygen can also be secured
in second Jar, and may be used with
the hydrogen to produce the calcium
light" for light houses.
Mr.. Paine has also discovered prin>
cipIe by which he can regulate the quan-
lty Of electricity to he discharged into
the composing jar. A large machine
has recently been perfected by Mr..
Paine, ofsufficien' power TO supply ihreo
thousand burners with gas it is mp in
the Worcester Exchange, and only oc-
cupies a space Of three feet square by
six in heighth.
One cubic foot of water will make
+ 2l00 feet of gas, and a weight of 81 lbs.
falling nine feet in an hour will make
from this large machine I00a feet Of gas
The apparatus can be applied to gas
works of any kind, and he used with any
of the gas fixtures at present in fashion.
Editorial Correspondence Of the Tabans
The E;oht NTH tha cuanior5s O uoov