The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-11
Eclectic oloeE-nlum,n..sa Dial.

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 cdifices For many
years 1t had been great desideratum in mechanics
TO get rid OF the cumbrous agencies by which the
dial plates of clocks in churches factories and
other large edifccs, are illuminated These were
by means Of exterior rehecors, which besides being
TO certain degree imperfect and subject 10 de-
rangement, necessitated being drawn in and put
out morning and evening, occasioning consid-
cradle labor. In the year 1915, nj. Durey, a mer-
chant at Havre, formerly, we believe, a shipmas-
ter, by a series Of very ingenious experiments dis
covered method, as beautiful as 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 couple
of strong rehcctors in square box, lined with
black velvet technically called dark chamber,
(chambre obscurc,) fixed the latter behind til
dial, when the most beautiful effect was produced
lie Immediately applied for patent, which was
given unhcstatingly, and his invention was chars
acterized rich in outward show beautiful in
effect as to the distribution of the light and simple
IN contrivance Most of the public edifices in Paris
now supplied with clocks have dial plates illumin
ated by these interior refectors.
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 Fourier, eminent clock maker, of this
city, and an sicre of the celebrated Lepante, of
Paris, TO put in complete repair the old clock of
that cdce, and to furnish il with das on the plan
OF M Durey, illuminated by night with interior
nectors. 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 more
interesting connected with it, This consists of the
method employed for setting the hands in motion,
which ID by electricity The scientific world had
lu nf xIxx,.x aala-
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 Mr. Fournicr,
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 in
Mr.. FPS store 76 Royal store where also is the gall
vanic pile from which the conducting wire leads to
the bank, past the adjoining houses, and along
which the electric current travels that the
hands. person standing in the street see both
by day and night the progress Of the minute hand,
which moves every half minute. We examined
the apparatus Tor applying this novel and beautiful
motipe power at MIR. 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 simple as toy. The manner
in which the electric current is alternately ar
rested and released in order to keep pace with the
march OF the contiguous cockwork, and to go forth
every half minute as a fiery messenger to operate
on the distant hands the dial plate is beyond all
praise, making the spectator wonder nj the extraor
binary resources OF art in this extraordinary age
1t is of course well understood that the electric
rent will act 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 as correctly
indicated. Distance between the clockwork and
the dial will not in the least delay 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 pug
zle whilst il amused the uninitiated into the
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 signaze, also, to their no
tice the two inventions thus illustrated by MIR.
Fournier, worthy their best patronage. We
think all public ediices should have clocks in
front of them and certainly since il is SO easy to
give them illuminated dial plates, the at
present of Opaque should be discarded
The hands of clock, constantly visible day and
night, have been found TO subserve society in
higher way than by merely indie atng the measure
of time. They often act as monitors, particularly
when pursuing their silent watch at night over the
dial plate that beams with sweet mild lustre, and
seem To say at each onward step
Seize the moments as they fly,
Know 10 live, and learn to die"
In reference 10 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, even
MORE all in distant parts Of the city. This is
subject worthy the attention of the municipal
councils, the invention unites accuracy with
economy One good clock might serve the whole
of the public buildings in the three municipalities
Netr Orleans Picaytfns, 20h tdt.
PRoFEssoR LOOMS ON "KSocKTro ANY MoKy.-
Somebody having attempted TO bolster up
sensical story about mysterious knocking in
Rf.rh Nev Xor nv h. anth Of Def