The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-05

P~ias's Discovery.
Some months since we published letter from Rufus
Porter esq., late editor Of the Scientific American giving
an account OF the discovery. BY Mr. Paine Of Worcester
Massachusetts, OF most important method OF separating
the gases OF which water is composed and applying the
discovery TO the generation Of light and heat on larger
and cheaper scale than by any OF producing such
effects ever before known We did express our be-
lief in the statements OF Mr. Porter. although we did say,
what believe. that he is honest man. who would
not deceive others II he not himself deceived The
immense importance OF the discovery, If made. we did
not deny.
Since them Mi. Paine himself has made statement Of
the manner in which the discovery was made from
which we extract the following paragraphs:
Believing in the doctrine of and inmate
ay Of the electric huid all efforts accom- the de-
sired result h,ed and the experiment was about be
abandoned when doubt 10 the truth of the books
the question OF the nature OF electricity, in my mind
and on the faint hope held FORTH the experiments
newed. and the results than realized the san
gune expectaons for not only was the Insulation of the
water perfect and the rapid, but the cleo
uc huid was found to be susceptible of accumulation and
condensation 10 unlimited degree. The and rapid
N with which the water wss resolved INTO is component
TO some practical and that Of light selected
he mos. simple and Inexpensive in It's application But
mouniable obstacle met in the inability separate
Of my family compelled me to desist.
Although the practical experiments abandoned, the
IL me
ed communication between the poles, that
Of no w
Pile experiment decided TO be One pole insert
the other pole in another glass in the opposite corner and
an electrical communication made between. All the water
All the water was in the ohsf and oxygen only
Obtained The result was known-he experiment was
atns having its heces kept in motion by putin
operation my dwelling, found capable Of
this period Of the experiments that issued the circular
nouncng the discovery and with Il an invitation to the
citizens of this place to call and examine for themselves
The results Of oil experiments up this date are
oows The descent Of weight 81 lbs distance OF feet,
than Of the of the apparatus. say $500
You may use the gases Tor light power q calor
and make your own deductions.
And within day or two we have found in the Ohio
Statesman the following notice OF the alleged invention
PAIsE's WATER The following extract from an
editorial by Thomas Drew of the editors Of "burrits
Christian Ciizen, Of the 18th instant published Wor.
cester, Massachusetts, shows his entire confidence In the
reality importance of the great discovery which Paine
is alleged to have madei
We were, present few evenings since at private ex
Y Tor the decomposition Of water and The separation Of its
component gases for the purposes OF light and fuel and
decomposition of quart of water, supply Of gas
evolved, enough light hall OF the largest for
agency
ton was the winding up weight BY which the decom-
posing apparatus Is set in motion.
The revolutions and changes which this wonderful dis
covery Is destined to produce in the mechanic and
sciences II Is impossible 10 estimate But hope,
long, be able to furnish full description of the sppaa-
and the scientific laws upon the action and existence
Of which its construction Is based. Meantime, would
advise readers who may have investments in gas
and whale ships to sell the earliest oppornni-
y for the time % coming when wafer will be the chief
lakes. and Clouds will supply all the light and fuel which
men need when gas works will become obsolete, and the
eviahans of the deep be permitted range pasture
grounds Of the ocean unrnolesed by man.
When il is remembered that water is composed OF hy-
dogen and oxygen cases. in the proportions Of about
Of the former one Of the latter and that one is very
combusble substance and the other the great supporter
OF combustion, il is not impossible that mode OF sepa.
rating them rapidly and completely than has been
known, may have been will be discovered by the re.
searches OF the ngenoa the great storehouse OF Ma
lures secrets And those who believe that such dis
coyery possible will not fail to see to what valuable
uses il be applied in the practical affairs Of life
how cheapy light and fuel will be furnished the poor
and what vast and valuable agencies will be applied to
the propulsion Of machinery Of all kinds As long as it
the purpose OF the great Author OF all TO continue man
upon this sphere his benefcent providence will not fail
to supply him with everything necessary to minister to
his wants and comforts. For ages man may stumble
over the materials and agencies which have been pro.
vded for his use but his past progress shows that his
pilgrimage here will not be until the things which
have been provided for him have been discovered and
appropriated the useful purposes for which they have
been designed