The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-11

There isnow. over the principal entrance into the
Bank OF LOUISIANA, Cont street, beautiful speci-
men OF the newly invented plan of illuminating the
dial plates Of clocks in public edfces. For many
years 1t had been great desideratum in mechanics
10 get rid Of the cumbrous agencies by which the
dial plates of clocks in churches, factories and
other large edifices, are illuminated These were
by means OF exterior reectors which, besides being
TO certain degree imperfect and subject to de-
rangement, necesstated being drawn in and put
out morning and evening, occasioning consd-
cradle labor. In the year 1915, NJ Durey, a mer.
chant at Havre, formerly, we believe, shpmas-
ter, by series OF very ingenious experiments dis
covered method, as beautiful it is simple for
supplying the want that had been so long felt He
prepared dial Of plain glass painted on it the
hours and minutes in white, and placing a couple
OF strong rehectors in square box, lined with
black velvet, technically called dark chamber,
(chambre obscurc,) fixed the latter behind tie
dial, when the most beautiful effect was produced.
lie Immediately applied for patent, which was
given unhcstatingly, and his invention was chars
acterized as rich in outward show, beautiful in
effect as to the distribution Of the light and simple
In contriyance. Most of the public edfces in Paris
now supplied with clocks, have dial plates illumin
ated by these interior refiectors.
Since the st. Louis Cathedral has been in the
hands Of the workmen for the purpose of being en-
larged, the church wardens applied to Mr.. Stanis-
laus Fournier, an eminent clock-maker, of this
city, and an eieoe of the celebrated Lepante, of
Paris, TO put In complete repair the old clock of
that edce, and 10 furnish il with dials on the plan
OF M. Durey, illuminated by night with interior re-
Electors. That gentleman, in undertaking the
task sent to Paris for glass dial in order to make
an experiment before he proceeded to work on the
cathedral clock. How he has succeeded may be
seen every evening before the Louisiana bank, the
liberal directors Of which institution having given
him permission to exhibit his dial plate above their
principal entrance.
This is a sngularly beautiful object to look at
from the street; but there is something still
interesting connected with it, This consists of the
method employed for setting the hands in motion,
which Is by electricity. The scientific world had
long sought for means Of applying the electric
current toward marking the hour on dial plates,
separated from the clockwork and only connected
hereto by conducting wires, and it is but recently
that the desire was accomplished. MIR. Fournier,
who Is familiar with such pursuits, determined on
joining second experiment to that of illuminating
the face of the clock, he has succeeded equally
as well in the latter as the former
At the Bank of Louisiana there is nothing but the
dial and the hour and minute hands; the clock is in
Mr. FPS store 76 Royalsore, where also is the gal
vanic pile from which the conducting wire leads TO
the bank, past the adjoining houses, and along
which the electric current travels that moves the
hands. person standing in the street can both
by day and night the progress Of the minute hand,
the apparatus for applying this novel and beautiful
notiUe power at Mr. Fournier's store yesterday af-
ternoon, and can truly say that it is specimen of
elegant simplicity of which he may well be proud
II Is emphatically as simple toy. The manner
in which the electric current is alternately ar
rested and released In order 10 keep pace with the
march OF the contiguous cockwork, and to go forth
every half minute as fiery messenger to operate
the distant hands on the dial plate is beyond all
praise, making the spectator wonder ut the extraor-
binary resources of art in this extraordinary age.
II Is OF course well understood that the electric
rent will act as well the hands, if the dial plate
be fixed at the extremity of the Third Municipality,
at Lafayette, or, indeed, at any other distant spot;
and that the minute and hour will be correctly
indicated. Distance between the clockwork and
the dial will not in the least delay or interfere with
the action OF the current.
Last evening, which is the first time the dial at
the Bank OF Louisiana was illuminated, numbers of
our fellow citizens stopped and gazed with admira-
ton at its refulgent appearance, whilst the half
minute movement of the long hand seemed to puz-
zle whilst it amused the uninitiated into the secret
of the experiment.
We recommend all our citizens who take an in
terest in every new triumph of science to direct
their steps, should leisure permit in the direction
of Cont street tonight, in order to witness this
elegant novelty. We signalze, also, to their no
tce the two inventions thus illustrated by Mr..
Fournier, worthy their best patronage. We
think all our public ediices should have clocks in
front of them; and certainly, since it is easy to
give them illuminated dial plates. the use as at
present of Opaque ones should be discarded.
The hands of a clock, constantly visible day and
night, have been found to subseryc society in
higher way than by merely indicating the measure
of time. They often act as monitors, particularly
when pursuing their silent watch at night the
dial plate that beams with sweet mild lustre, and
seem to say at each onward step
"Seize the moments they fly,
Know to live, and learn TO die"
In reference to the employment OF electricity in
moving the hands, il is pregnant with the greatest
advantages 10 all large communities. single
clock might be made TO serve dozen dials, or even
more, all in distant parts of the city. This is
a subject worthy the attention of the municipal
councils, the invention untes accuracy with
economy. One good clock might serve the whole
of the public buildings in the three municipalities
Netc Orleans Picay,ins, ooh tdt.
PRoFEssoR Looms ON "KSocKIso ANY MoEY.-
Somebody having attempted to bolster up non
sensical story about mysterious knocking in
Rochester, New York, by the authority of PROBES