The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-01-10

An Important Invention.
The following communication was handed
to us by the author, Rufus Porter, Esq, who
is well known to US as the former editor of
the Scientific american, and as man well
versed in knowledge of the arts and inven-
tons. He is man of superior intelligence
and of great honesty of character, and we do
not hesitate to say, that any fact stated upon
his own knowledge may be relied onimplicit-
lly. We do not know whether all the great
results which he anticipates from the inven-
Iton which he describes, can be realized; but
lhe has stated some remarkable facts, the re-
suits of his own experiments, which would
seem to Justify the anticipations in which he
INDUCES. If the invention shall turn out to
to be what the inventors now promise them
selves it will, it is certainly a most wonder
| full discovery, and will create new era in
the arts and civilization:
Washington Union.
Messrs. Editors IL am authorized to an
nounce the discovery and practical test OF the
most important and scientific invention ever
/ yet produced or brought to light since the
world has been inhabited by man-an inven-
ton which must eventually produce an i'm
mense revolution in the commercial inter
course and business in general throughout the
world; and, although It will break down and
ruin many of the most important branches OF
business and avenues of wealth, with humid
reds of wealthy corporations and business es-
Establishments yetit will build upthousands OF
others, and contribute hundreds OF millions TO
the benefit OF mankind, especially 10 the
American community.
The first and main feature, and foundation
of this invention. and which at once opens a
| e Il = l.. a
discovery by Henry Nj. Payne, ESQ.,, of a
ready and almost expenseless modeof decom-
posing water and reducing it to a gaseous
state. By the simple operation of very
small r.achine, without galvanc batteries, or
the consumption Of metals or acids, and only
the application Of less than one three-hund-
redth 1-300) part of one horse power, Mr..
/ Payne produces 200 cubic feet of hydrogen
gas per hour. This quantity of these gasses
1.-THE actual cost Of which is less than one cent)
will furnish as much heat by combustion as
1000 leet of the ordinary coal gas, and sulfic-
lent to supply light equal to three hundred
common lamps for 10 hours; or to warm an
ordinary dwelling house twelve hours. inclu-
ding the requisite heat for the kitchen: or to
supply the requisite heat for one horse power
of steam. This invention has been tested by
six months operation, applied to the lighting
), these gases to the warming of houses has
also been tested with perfectly satisfactory
results. A steam engine furnace and paror
stove, both adapted to the burning Of these
gases, have been invented, and measures ia
ken for securing patents therefor.
Mr.. Payne has one of his machines new
and elegant, now in full operation and pub
licly Exhibited, and may be expected to exhib-
it the same in this city in twenty days. The
only actual expense Of warming houses by
this apparatus is that of winding up a weight
like the winding up of a clock) once day ;
and the heat produced may be as easily grad
luated and regulated as the fame Of a COM
p mon gas burner. No smoke whatever is
produced, but very small quantity OF steam,
Sufficient 10 supply the requisite moisture to
the atmosphere. In It's application to the
production of steam power, it will reduce the
Iexpense thereof to the mere wear of machin-
Iery. and will Immediately produce an i'm
, mense demand for steam engines, and induce
the establishment Of thousands of manufacture
ing mills reduce the expense of travelling,
, land increase the demand for agricultural pro-
lduce. while it ruins the coal and gas business,
land such manufacturing establishments as
depend on monopoly and high prices. This
: invention moreover removes completely the
only obstacles which have hitherto existed TO
aerial navigation--the difficulty Of procuring
5 hydrogen gas, and carrying a supply OF fuel;
t and it may now be considered matter of toll
cradle certainty that men will be seen soar
ing in various directions before the first OF
May next These facts being oil immense
Importance, should not be longer withheld +;
and therefore would avail myself of your
widely circulating journal to present them to
RUFUS PORTER.
WASHINGTON Too % 1S1Q