Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-08-17
ELECTR AS A MOTIVE
fOwER-THE IMPORTANT QUEs-
TION SETTLED.

Professor Page, in the Lectures which he
is now delivering before the Smithsonian In
stitution, states that there is no longer any
doubt Of the application of this power as
substitute for steam. He exhibited the most
imposing experiments ever witnessed in this
branch Of science. An immense bar of iron,
weighing one hundred and sixty pounds,
was made TO spring up by magnetic action,
and to move rapidly up and down, dancing
like feather in the air, without any visible
support. The force operating upon this bar
he stated TO average three hrtndred pounds
through ten inches of its motion. He said
he could raise this bar one hundred ieet as
readily as through ten inches, and he expected
no difficulty in doing the same with bar
weighing one ton, or hundred tons. he
could make ple-driver, or a iorge-hammer,
with great simplicity, and could make an
engine with stroke of six, twelve, twenty,
or any number Of feet.
The most beautiful experimen, we ever
witnessed was the loud sound and brillian,
fash from the galvanic spark, when produced
near certain point in his great magnet
Each snap was as loud as pistol; ard when
he produced the same spark at distance
from this point, it made no noise at all. This
recent discovery he stated 10 have practical
bearing upon the construction of an electro
magnetic engine. Truly, great power Is
here; and where is the limit 10 it
He then exhibited his engine, of between
four and FIVE horse power, operated by a bat
terry contained within space Of three cubic
feet. 1t looked very unlike magnetic ma
chine. 1t was reciprocating engine of two
feet stroke, and the whole engine and bate
ry weighed about one ton. When thepow-
er was thrown on by the motion of lever,
the engine started off magnificently, making
ono hundred and fourteen strokes per minute
though, when it drove a circular saw ter
inches in diameter, saving up boards an inch
and a quarter thick into laths, the engine
made but about eighty strokes per minute
There was great anxiety on the part of the
spectators 10 obtain specimens Of these laths
10 preserve as trophies of this great mechan
ical triumph. The force operating upon hi:
magnetic cylinder throughout the whole mo-
tion of two feet, was stated TO be six hundred
pounds when the engine was moving very
slowly, but he had not been able to ascertain
what the force was when the engine was run
ming at working speed, through it was con
siderably less. The most important and in
teresting point. however, is the expense o
the power. Professor Page stated that ht
had reduced the cost so far, thct it ras les
than steam under many and most conditions
though not so low as the cheapest steam en-
gines. With all the mperfections of the EN-
gine, the consumption ofthree pounds of zin'
per day would produce one horse power
The larger his engines CONTRARY to wha
has been known before,) the greater tht
economy. Professor Page was himself sur
prised at the result. There were yet prac
tical difficulties TO be overcome; the batter,
had yet TO be improved; and it remained ye
TO try the experiment on grander scale, II
make power Of one huudred horse, or more
Nat. Lntclligencer.