Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-31
PROF. PAGES ELECTROMAGNETIC POWER.
lnrroarrD ron THE ISrrII1sEsc.s.]

IaxroRrKp THE ISTELLIGEscER
Among the most interesting subjects before the
American Scientific Convention, just closed at New
Haven. was Prof. PAGE's Invention for applying
Electro Magnetic power. Prof. BAcHE having re-
lnquished Ills hour for addressing the association
in favor of Prof PAGE the latter came forward and
in lucid manner explained to large and delighted
audience the principles and astonishing results Of
his invention. The grand principles of action were
illustrated experimentally.
After he had concluded, an interesting debate
took place upon the subject.
Prof Roexas rose and said that be would like have the
Association now institute comparison between the of
steam and the Of the power obtained by Dr. Page.
He spoke length and in detail Of the duty performed
by the largest class Of steam engines and estimated the cost
Of steam horse power tloo cents for hours
Prof. PACE remarked that this very low estimate.
Whatever might be however, be prepared this time
only to explain his invention, and to show for the first time
an available power from electro magnetism.
Prof SrLLIMAs senior (about to retire. remarked that
some fifteen years ago Dr. Page then quite youth, brought
to his laboratory miniature model Of his engine and that he
prof s INDUCED at ,ha. time high hopes Of this invention
From the great progress made in short time, and from
what he now saw and heard he believed great results would
Aow from it.
had fixed the of power low for average cost
and that Prof. Page had fixed his of magnetic power
high Prof Page had paid much for his zinc and that
his horse ought to be ten Of twenty
At all events great advance had been made for in Europe
the of this power had been fixed fifty times that Of
steam under the favorable circumstances that is the
highest price Of and lowest Of magnetic power In his
opinion however, and he believed Dr. Page concurred with
him, this power not TO supersede steam, as they
would interfere with each other They would both be
used and side by sde Where there serious objections
to the of steam power, this power would in very
WELL 1t free from the dangers attending the use o
steam.
Prof RoeERs said that he proposed his question
scientific interest," and that it far from him derac from
the merits Of Dr.. Page his feelings Of national pride
in this matter. b
Prof. PAGE remarked that we could fix an absolute
price per horse power for any other power. It would
depend upon variety of circumstances The cost in small
steam engines relatively greater than in large. The dis
from the market for fuel the character and peculiar
duty Of the engnes to be reckoned The Of electro
magnetic power not to be reckoned in this comparison
by the cost Of znc the cost Of by the pounds
of coal consumed The cost of human e the sacrifice of
millions Of property, and risk Of many millions more and all
the contingent advantages and disadvantages taken
the this power could be made convenient
and perfectly manageable it would be used in many places if
il should cost much more than steam.
Prof. Henry said he had witnessed with great interest Dr.
Psges experiments before the Smithsonian institution and
much delighted with the ingenuity exhibited in
coming difficulties heretofore existing Dr.. Page had pro-
duced by far the most powerful electro magnetic engine
made within his knowledge.
Prof. JOHNSON ken requested Dr. Page explain the mode
by which he measured the power Of the engine.
Prof. PAGE then drew diagram of the wheel Of his
engine, and loaded friction brake pressing upon the crcum
ference of the wheel The brake loaded 62O lbs
The power required barely keep e engine motion under
this load l26 bs The full power being on, the engine
made eighty revolutions per minute under this load The
circumference of the wheel being about fourteen feet
easy for any compute the horse power from these
He willing to call it four horse power.
Prof. PIERCE, Of Harvard University, and said that
this mode of measuring the power entirely correct and
the best that could have been adopted by Dr. Page for the
purpose. It better than raising weight, enabled
him to work his engine for several hours under the load and
thereby ascertain the cost 1t the mode most commonly
pracced for measuring the power of engines He felt
tonishment and great delight the results obtained by Dr.
Page 1t truly great result to raise 800 lbs Of iron by
magnetism through such distance and keep in such rapid
notion This experiment alone carried conviction.