Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-23


The following communication was ham
d>d 10 ~ BY the author, Rufus Porter
Es0.. Who - we'll known to Us ss the ios'
mer editor Of the Scientific American
and I, q man we'll versed in a knowledge
Of the the arts and invention. lie - .
man of superior intelligence and OF gree'
honesty of character, and we do not hest
tate TO say, that any fact stated upon MS
own knowIcdse may be relied upon I'M
nl;c;,lv. We do not know whether all the
great results which, he anticipates fro'"
the invention which he Describes, can be
realized: hut he has stated 10 Us some re-
mark able facts, the results Of his own ex-
nerimepts, which would seem to JUSTIFY
the cipations in which he INDUCES. u
the invention shall turn out TO be what the
inventors now promise themselves WIZ
i,e, il is certainly most wonderful DIS
covery, and will create new era III inc
arts and in civilization.
MEssRs. EDIrORs: ! am authorized 10
announce the discovery and practical test
of the most important scicnt'fic 'nven-
ton ever vet produced or brought to light
since the world has been inhabited by
man-an invention which must eventual
". and almost Immediately, produce an
immense revolution in the commercial IN
tercousse and business in general. through
out the world; and, although il will break
down and ruin many OF the most IInPor-
tant branches Of business and avenues Of
of wealth. with hundreds Of wealthy cor
pOrstiOn and business ESTABLISHING nts, yet
II will build up thousands Of others, and
contribute hundreds Of millions 10 the
benefit Of mankind, especially TO the
American community.
The first and main feature. and founda-
sion Of this invention, and which at once
opens field for hundreds Of other invcn-
tons is the discovery by Henry NJ. Paine.
Esq. OF ready and almost expenseless
mode OF decomposing water and rcduc-
ing il TO the gaseous state. by the sim
pie operation of a very small machine.
without galvanic batteries, or the con-
sumption Of metals or acids, and only the
application Of less than one three-hun
dredih U-30O) part of one horse power
Mr.. Paine produces goo cubic feet OF by
llrogen gas, and 100 feet Of oxygen gas
per hour. This quantity OF these gases.
{ihe actual cost of which is less than one
cent? will furnish as much heat by com
bu,tion as 1000 feet OF the ordinary coal
gas, and sufficient to supply light equal 70
three hundred common lamps for ten
hours; or to warm an ordinary dwelling
house twelve hours, including the requisite
heat for the kitchen; or to supply the re-
quistc heat for one horse 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. steam engine furnace
and parlor stove. both adapted 10 tho
burning of these gases, have been Invcn-
ted, 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 cx-
pectcd TO exhibit the same in this city
within twenty days. The only actual cx-
pense Of warming houses by this apparatus
is that Of winding up weight Qke the
winding up Of q clock) once a day; and
the heat produced may be as easily gra-
duatcd and regulated az the flame Of a
ever is produced. bu, very small guam
ttS OI StcdIn, Sui!iCltIt 10 supply tut re
Iui>te moisture To the atmosphere. In
its application to the production Of steam
power, il will reduce the expense thereof
to- the mere wear of machinery. and will
Immediately produce an immense demand
for steam engines, and induce the esta-
blshncnt OF thousands of manufacturing
mills. reduce the expense of travelling
and increase the demand for agricultural
produce. while it ruins the coal and gas
business. and such manufacturing csta-
blishmcnts as depend on monopoly and
high prices. This invention, moreover
removes completely the only obstacles
which have hitherto existed 10 aerial navi-
ga,;on-,hc difficulty of procuring hydro
gen gas. and carrying supply of fuel;
and il may now be considered a matter OF
tolerablc certainty that men will be seen
swiftly and safely soarn. in various direc-
iions before the first of May next. These
facts. bein. of immense Importance.
should not be longer withheld; and there
fore would avail myself of your widely
circulating journal 10 prcscn, them 10 the
public. Yours, respectfully.
X. PORTER
WASHINGTON, December 29, 1919.