Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-08-23
From the Nation9 Intelligencer Of Aug. TO-
EIectrO-Magnetism as Motive POWer---
The Important Question Settled.

From the National Intelligencer of Aug H.
INSTRUMENTATION as a Motive PoWer---
The Important Question Settled.
Professor Page in the Lectures which he is
now delivering before the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, states that there is no longer any doubt of
the application of this power as substitute for
steam. He exhibited the most imposing exper-
iments ever witnessed in this branch of science.
An immense bar of iron, weighing one hundred
and sixty pounds, was made to spring up by mag
netic action, and to move rapidly up and Town,
dancing like feather in The air, without any VS.
ible support. The force operating upon this bar
he stated to average three hundred pounds
through ten inches Of its motion. He said he
could raise this bar one hundred feet as rapidly
as though ten inches, and he expected no dlfiicul
ty in doing the same with bar weighing one
ton or hundred tons. He could make pile
driver, or forge-hammer, with great simplicity,
and could make an engine with stroke OF SIX,
twelve, twenty, or any number OF feet.
The most beautiful experiment we ever wit
messed was the loud sound and brilliant flash
from the galvnic spark, when produced near
certain point in the great magnet. Each snap
was as loud as pistol; and when he produced
the same spark at a little distance from this point,
it made no noise at all. This recent discovery
he stated TO have practical bearing upon the
construction of an electromagnetic engine
Truly great power is here; and where is the
limit 10 it
He then exhibited his engine, ofbetween four
and five horse power, operated by battery con-
tanned within a space of three cubic feet. 1t
is very unlike magnetic machine. 1t was re-
ciprocating engine of two feet stroke, and the
whole engine and battery weighed about one ton.
When the power was thrown on by the motion
of lever, the engine started off magnificenlly,
making ] II strokes per minute; though when
it drove a circular saw ten inches in diameter,
saving up boards an inch and quarter thick
into laths, the engine made but about eighty
strokes per minute. There was great anxiety
IN the part the spectators to obtain specimens
of these aths to preserve as trophies of this great
mechanical triumph. The force operating upon
this magnetic cylinder throughout the whole
motion of two feet, was stated to be 600 pounds
when the engine was moving very sowy, but he
had not been able to ascertain what the force was
when the engine was running at working
speed, though it was considerably less. The
most important and interesting point however
is the expense of the power. Professor Page
stated that he had reduced the cost so far that it
was less than steam under many and most con-
dtions, though not SO low as the cheapest steam
engines. With all the imperfectious of the en-
CINE, the consumption OF pounds OF zinc per
day would produce one horse power. The lar
ger his engines Contrary to what has been
known before) the greater the economy. Pro-
fessor Page was himself surprised at the result
There are yet practical difficulties to overcome;
the battery had yet to be improved and tire
manned yet to try the experiment on a grander
scale, to make a power of one hundred horse, or
more.
Truly the age is fraught with wonder and we
can now look forward with certainty to the time
when coal will be put 10 better uses than to burn,
scald and destroy.