Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28

commission of scientific men, amply provided with such forces
and such implements will enable them carry out sue
cesully impossible that any thing like unity can be
obtained the part Of those who have devoted may
after devote their time and labor TO the research of the great
desderatum bringing forth that may be like
the attainment Of the object sought to be promo
ted by this amendment.
Besides the important results thus briefly refened TO-
there another object OF vast moment and almost equally
worthy Of the serious consideration of the Senate. aude
the deepening of the passes the mouth Of the Mississippi
And this not only that particular section OF country
which is made the special point Of survey, but the whole
Union and, indeed the civilized world. The Mississippi
the main outlet through which have pass the uncounabs
millions of produce raised in the gorgeous valley which bahes
in its waters be thence distributed to all parts Of the nhab
| tied globe,
1t known Mr.. President. that later than fifteen
twenty years ago. there passes the Of deep
enough admit vessels drawing upwards of seventeen feet Of
Those passes through the deposes Of the river have
more than twelve feet The shipping and mercantile inter-
ess ct the country have been much injured by and still suffer
heavily FROM the distractions thus accumulated at the
Of that southwestern inland and both require that imme
dae steps be taken them The survey which this
appropriation conempates to institute, WILL in all probability
lead to the adoption of scheme through which end shall
be put to hindrance which, if provided against
close all ngress to and egress from the river all but
the poorest kind Of craft and to fishing boats
The amendment agreed to.
Various amendments offered and disposed of
after which, motion Of Mr. BADGER, the Senate pro-
ceeded the consideration of Executive business and after
time spent therein the doors re-opened and
The Senate adjourned.
| MONDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1850.
AT eleven o'clock the Senate proceeded to the consideration
Of the bill making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic
expenses of the Government for the year ending the 30h Of
June, 1851, and for other purposes
| Mr.. BENTON moved to amend by adding the following
For continuing and completing the experiments to test
mechanical agent for the purposes of navigation and loco
notion and the probable cost OF using the same in driving
ship at sea- boat on river Or railroad ear or either Of
the invention Of Professor Page the of $4,000
Guiding balance remaining from the Of March
lS9 for the object be expended under the
vision Of the Secretary of the Navy in making practical
permsnts of said invention according the plan be
and conducted by Professor Page and the Secretary
the Navy authorized allow the said Professor Page
for his services giving his whole time
experiments equal to the pay Of examining clerk in
Mr. BENTON do not propose to say anything in favor
Of that resolution, because the subject Of has spoken best
for itself Professor Page brought his machine into Wash
ngon city about two months ago. and exhibited it for four
evenings that all persons might and
the learned the unleaned the mechanical and those
who mechanical. Besides that, be has had his
chine subject TO inspection at his own house, two three
miles out Of the cty almost every evening SINCE and great
many persons members of Congress and Others have been
to see it. do propose say any thing about
it than explain the amendment The amendment is
nuaon of the appropriation adopted at the last session Of
Congress- when the sum Of 900 appropriated for
these experiments the money be expended and applied
this amendment proposes under the supervision of the Sece
tay Of the Navy Professor Page then, and is,
clerk in the Patent Office Like many other persons in
country he has to support his family by following pur
suit Every thing then that he has done under that
appropriation has been done in the evening" after six hour
service in the Patent Office, from nine in the morning till three
in the afternoon He had then in this interva-after six
hours work in the Patent Office and the hardest kind of
i he IF
from onethd of horse power to about four horse power,
at the time exhibited the Smithsonian Institute and
to about seven and half That is to say, the same
capacity which at the Smithsonian Institute gave but four
horse power gives and half horse power That
is the progress made since that e and that is the progress
going He has been confirmed in principle Of the
greatest moment in invention where power to be used
for the propulsion moving Of any thing will state il in
his own words ssI demonstrated the important principle
that the power is in the duplicate ratio Of the battery employ
ed" Which MEANS suppose, that when he has added the
of horse to the battery he has gained the power Of
! two in the operation.
but 900 remaining The for the whole has been
settled the treasury most regular The appro-
praton asked for 10 000 in addition to the 900
remaining Professor Page tells that with the balance
mainng from the advance which he has made he expects
be able railroad Of ten twelve horse power,
and that be will actually run it. The $40 900 for larger
experimental experiment either upon ship employed in
carrying merchandise upon ship Of and he has
duced it to the smallest sufficient for that purpose.
The amendment of this session differs only from the
which offered year ago, and which adopted last
sion by both houses of Congress- in authorizing the Secretary
of the Navy compensate Professor Page for his personal
labor, condition of his giving his whole time to the
periments. He tells that if that is done ne will resign
his cerkhip and devote his whole time to it but if that is
done he has to support his family and must retain his
clerkship and only give his evenings after six hours
work in the Patent Office, to it.
Mr. President the experiments OF Professor Page have been
subjected to every kind of test Mechanics have examined
Them scientific have examined them, and they have been
the subject of examination in assembage Of scientific
New Haven, in Connecticut short time since. On
that occasion Professor Sman, the elder we'll known
the scientific world stated very remarkable fact with respect
to Professor Page He said "Tha fifteen years ago
Dr. Page then quite youth, brought to his laboratory
miniature model of his engine, and that he prof S) in
dulged that time high hopes Of this invention From the
great progress made in short time, and from what he
now and heard he believed great results would flow
sfrom it."
Mr.. President, it was believe the great Sir Isaac New
who speaking Of his discovery and those of other
eminent men, said that it great mistake suppose that
any great dscoverer great inventor conceived all
discovered all once the great principle the great OBJ
ec for which he in search but that he began with hav
ing glimmeripg of it. dubious view Of something
which, being pursued expanded and maured until vast re-
suits flowed from it. That have been the with
Professor Page, who, fifteen years ago. when mere boy
carried his invention Professor Sman, and then excited
hopes in Professor Sman mind which he is proud to say
wholly confirmed.
Professor Johnson remarked that
Professor Page had paid much for his znc and that
his ought be instead OF twenty cents
A. bolk aha