The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-23
From the Washington Union
An Important Invention.

The following communication was handed to
us by the author, Rufus Porter, Esq, who is well
known to us as the former editor of the ScicaH-
tc .1mcrtc0n, and as a man well vcrscd in Il
knowledge of the arts and invention. He is
OF superior intelligence and of great honesty of
character, and we do not hesitate to say that a.
ny fact stated upon his own knowledge may be
relied upon implicitly. We do not know whcth-
er all the great results which he anticipates from
the invention which he describes, can be rcaliz-
ed; but he has stated to US some remarkable
facts, the results of his own experiments, which
would seem to Justify the anticipations in which
he indulges. If the invention shall turn out to
be what the inventors now promise themselves
it will be, it is certainly most wonderful disco
very, and will create 4 new era in the arts and in
civilization:
Fer the Union.
MEssRs. EDlToRs:-I am authorized to an
nounce the discovery and practical test of the
most important scientific invention ever vet pro-
duccd or brought to light since the world has
been inhabited by man-an invention which
must eventually, and almost immediately, pro-
ducc an immense revolution in the commercial
intercourse and business in general throughout
the world; and, although it will break down and
ruin many of the most important branches ofbu-
siness and avenues of wealth, with hundreds of
yet, it will build up thousands of others, and
contribute hundreds of millions to the benefit of
mankind, especially to the American communi-
ty.
The first and main feature and foundation of
this invention, and which at once opens a field
tor hundreds of other inventions, is the discove
ry, by Henry M. Paine, Esq, of ready and al
most expcnseless mode of decomposng water
and reducing it to the gaseous state. By the
SIMPLE operation Of a very small machine, with
out galvanc batteries, the consumption of
metals or acids, and only the application of less
than one-three- hundrcdth Q-30W part of one
horse power, Mr.. Paine produces 200 cubic feet
of hydrogen gas, and 100 feet of oxygen gas per
hour. This quantity of these gases (the actual
cost OF which is less than one cent? will furnish
as much heat by combustion as 1000 feet of the
ordinary coal gas, and sufficient to supply light
equal to three hundred common lamps for ten
hours; or to warm ordinary dwelling house
twelve hours, including the requisite heat for the
kitchen; or to supply the requisite heat for one
horse power of steam. This invention has been
tested by six months operation, applied to the
lighting of houses; and recently the applicability
OF these gases to the warming of houses has also
been tested with perfectly satisfactory results
A steam engine furnace and parlor stove, both
adapted to the burning Of these gases, have been
invented, and measures taken for securing pat
ents therefor.
Mr.. Paine has one of his machines, new and
elegant, now in full operation, and publicly ex-
hibited, and may be expected to exhibit the same
in this city within twenty days. The only ac-
tual Expense of warming houses by this appara-
tus IS that OF winding up weight Okc the wind.
ing up of clock) once day; and the heat pro-
duced may be as easily graduated and regulated
as the flame OF a common gas burner. No smoke
whatever is produced, but very small quantity
of steam, sufficient to supply the requisite mois
ture to the atmosphere. In its application to
the production of steam power, it will reduce
the expense thereof to the mere wear of machi-
merry, and will Immediately produce an immense
demand for steam engines, and induce the estab-
llshment of thousands Of manufacturing mills,
reduce the expense of travelling, and increase the
demand for agricultural produce, while it ruins
the coal and gas business, and such manufactur,
ing establishments depend on monopoly and
high prices. This invention, moreover, removes
the only obstacles which have hith-
'rto existed to nrial navigaton-the difficulty of
procuring hydrogen gas, and carrying supply
# fuel; and it may now be considered a matter
ftolerable certainty that men will be seen swift
y and safely soaring in various directions before
he first of May next. These facts, being ofim-
1ense Importance, should not be longer with.
cid; and would therefore avail myself ofy your
'idely circulating journal to present them to
le public. Yours; &c.
r.. PORTER.
Washington, Dec. %, 1s49, n.sra J