The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-02-27


10 We invite the particular attention
of every reader of the Pioneer, to the dis
covery described below. In our opinion, i
ever heard of-especally to all those widel,
extended prairies of the northwest, which
need nothing but fuel to make them the
most desirable lands in the world.
Extraordinary Discovery.
We copy the following letter from ths
Washington Union, which vouches for the
scientific intelligence and high integrity o
the writer.
Messrs. Editors:-I am authorized to an.
nounce the discovery and practical test OF
the most important scientific invention ever
yet produced. or brought to light since the
world has been inhabited 10y man.
The first and main feature, and founda-
ton of this invention, which at once opens
"A field for hundreds of other inventions, is
the discovery, by Henry M. Paine, Esq.
of ready and almost expenseless mode OF
decomposing water and reducing it to the
gaseous state. By the simple operation OF
very small machine, without galvanic bat
teres, or the consumption of metals and
acids, and only the application of less than
one three -bundredths q .SOO) part Of one
horse power, Mr.. Paine produces two hun
dred cubic feet of hydrogen gas, and one
hundred feet of oxygen gas, per hour.
This quantity OF these gasses (the ac-
tual cost of which is less than one cent?
will furnish as much heat by combustion as
two thousand feet of ordinary coal gas,
sufficient to supply light equal to three
hundred common lamps forten hours; or to
warm an ordinary dwelling house twelve
hours, including the requisite heat for tho
kitchen; or to supply the requisite hea. for
one horse power of steam. This invention
has been tested by six months operation
applied to the lighting Of houses, and re-
Gently the applicability Of these gases to the
warming of houses has also been tested
with perfectly satisfactory results. A steam
engine furnace and parIor stove, both
adapted to the burning of these gases, have
been invented, and measures taken for Sc
curing patents therefor.
Mr.. Paine has one of his machines, new
and elegant, now in full operation and pub
licIy exhibited, and may be expected to ex-
hbit the same ia this city within twenty
days. The only actual expense of warm
ing houses by this apparatus is that of wind
ing up weight (like the winding up of a
clock) once a day; and the heat produced
may be as easily graduated and regulated
as the fame of a common gas burner. No
smoke whatever is produced, bur a very
small quantity of steam, sufficient to supply
the requisite moisture 10 the atmosphere.
In its application to the production OF
steam power, it will reduce the expense to
the mere wear of machinery, and will i'm
mediateIy produce an immense demand for
steam engines, and induce the establish
nent of thousands of manufacturing mills
reduce the expense of travelling, and in
crease the demand for agricultural pro-
duce, while it ruins the coal and gas busi-
ness, aud such manufacturing establish
tnents as depend on monopoly and high
prices.
This invention, moreover, remoye es COM
pletely the only obstacles which have hith-
erto existed to aerial navigation--the diff.
ficuI.y of procuring hydrogen gas, and car
ryng supply of fuel; and it may now be
considered a matter Of tolerabIe certainty
that men will be seen swiftly and safely soar
ing in various directions before the first oI
May next. These facts being of immense
importance, should not longer be withheld
and therefore would avail myself of your
widely circulated journal to present them
to the public.
Yours, respectfully,
X. PORTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %. I6f9.