The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-26

FotoSc
Professor Page tells me that he expects with this
balance 10 be able to the railroad OF ten or
horse power The $4,000 is for larger experl;
ment upon ship employed to carry the merchandise OF
this country or on ships of war. He has reduced bis
estimate TO The lowest amount that be supposes viii be
only aSf differs fro from liz one osad ago. 20 and which
adopted by the two houses OF Congress- IN author
izng the Secretary of the Navy compensate Professor
whole time for these experiments He tells that that is
done, he will resgn his cerkshp, and give up his whole
time TO these experiments II il Is not done; ne will De
obliged TO support his family to retain his clerkshp and,
that event. can only give the time to i that he may have
in the evening" alter he has performed his six hours la
Dor in the Patsnl Office.
eced to the highest kind Of tests Mechanics have gone
and examined bis engne-scientifc men have gone and
examined It. bas been subjected also. to the examina-
uon OF an assemblage OF scientific men in New Haven,
10 Connecticut, short time Stree On that occasion,
Professor Silliman, tthe elder) well known to the
scientific world stated remarkable fact in respect TO
Professor Page Itwas about fifteen years ago that Mr.
Page, then quite YOUTH brought to his laboratory
miniature model Of his engine, and he roessor Siman
the great progress made IN short time, aud from what
be now saw and heard, he believed great results would
flow from it,
Mr. President believe ii was the great Sir Isaac New
tom who in speaking OF his own discovery and those OF
other eminent men, said that ii was great mistake 10
~ si any sea any
principle or great object he was to bring forward lie
began by having mere gimmering or dubious view OF
something, which, being followed up ana pursued, e1-
panded and matued until vast result followed This
seems 10 have been the case with Professor Page, who
began his invention fifteen years ago, when mere boy
carried to such Professor Siman, and excited
the hopes of Professor Sman for the great result which
might follow from it.
With respect 10 the expense OF it, Professor johnson says
that he paid too much tor his znc-that 1t ought to cost
about 10 cents for horse power instead OF 20 cents The
Professor then says that at all events, great advance.
ment made for in Europe the cost OF this power has
been fixed at fifty times that OF steam under the most
favorable circumsanceshat is, OF the highest price OF
steam Professor Page has brought down to about equal
and, when everything else is considered, It will be nm.
nilely the cheapest even II il costs in money somewhat
more than steam will refer TO one- single case now
and that is dispensing with those large chimnies which
up the decks OF steamboats,, and which make
obstruction for the Of steam where they have 10
pass bridges, and canals they cannot be used at all
The great bridge Wheeling very beautiful structure
indeed and that does great honor to the architect and
the city that built it; yet il is question now whether
that was not nuisance on account OF ITS interfering
with The chimnics on steamboats, II this power 10 used
there will be such question to arise. Professor Johnson
goes 10 remark that is very free from the dangers at
lendant upon the OF steam Professor Henry, we'll
known to US all now the Secretary Of The Sml!hsonlaa
sor Page and were much delighted with the ingenuity
exhibited in overcoming difficulties heretofore existing
Dr. Page has produced by far the most powerful magnetic
engine made Professor Powers then spoke of the
manner oil measuring the capacity OF the engine which
Professor Page had nade and speaking OF IL he SAID that
il entirely correct. and the best that could have been
adopted by Dr. Page for his purpose Here is professor
who Processes himself delighted at le results that he saw
IL was truly great result to raise 800 lbs of IRON by
magnetism through such distance, and 10 give TO II
such rapid motion. This experiment alone is great
result.
| will state that was Of the committee to whom
referred the memorial OF Professor Morse at the
time that he applied TO Congress for assistance
to enable him TO complete his experiments upon his eec
tro- magnetic telegraph. That wonderful piece OF ma
goes from the Atlantic high up the Missouri, which
strikes the Mississippi river at various points IRON the
mouth TO the falls OF ST. Anihony-that great piece
,,ffaa-rs
this Capitol saw il in its operation in a committee.
room and although ] was OF those who concurred
in the report made in favor OF Professor Morse that the
government should extend 10 him the sum of $4,000 Tor
the purpose OF enabling him TO proceed and make his
experiments between Washington city and Baltimore,
yel had idea at that time that that piece OF ma
chinery. which then worked in the committee room,
10 be worked the continent OF America and 10
enable persons great distance even OF thousands OF
ss 20 % each gave n
$40 900, for the trial OF this great power upon scale
commensurate with the business purposes of the coany
Mr.. CASS. This subject was up-though not imne.
diaely connected with this poinsome years ago; and
then had the in,enton-and wisa bad followed II
up-to make call upon the executive departments for
the sum which has been expended by this government
in carrying expenses which have amounted to moth
ing | am mos, utterly opposed TO this thing. | ac-
knowledge with the senator from Missouri the import
ance OF this improvement trust and believe il will 20
on. Bu the government should leave ifor IL may be
safely eft-to individual skill and enterprise II is not
our iancion TO Iy these e;nper@ea's ;. Let Us wsiI
for 1t, il will be well Let us leave TO individual
enterprise II can be safely left there and nowhere else
Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi. doubt very much the
propriey, and question entirely the power, IN us 10
make this appropriation. ! doubted The propriety when
the first appropa made, and II has become quite
apparent now when II increases rapidly the IN
crease OF power described by the senator from Missouri
900 being appropriated TO make experiments $4,000
asked TO carry them and next session sup
pose il will be $4,000 TO apply them. Now, Mr. Presi-
dent where did Conyess get the power 10 make these
propristonsl II Isl question that should ask our
selves in The exercise Of Legislative power over every
common OF power to which Congress appeal
The constitution provided to encourage the arts and In
venons by securing for limited time to authors and
inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings
and discoveries That is the whole grant OF power ~
the constitution and TO carry out that grant we estao
lished Patent Office to grant patent, and give copy.
rghtthe exclusive right TO all books and discoveries
made by their respective authors and inventors But tue
proposition OF the senator from Missouri IS TO make THIS
government not the guardian Of the rights oil authors
and dscogefers but the patron OF arts and Inventions
lion OF inventor, without the possibility OF deriving
any benefit from which capitalists require IN their
own cases | think that il once commenced there wil
be limit to this principle The honorable senator from
Missouri, tue other day, very graphically described ioe
thirsty character OF sand that gong to drink up the
water which 10 be collected 10 reservoirs on the
OHIO But the thirst OF that sand may be quenehed by
keeping il covered with Tor new sands cannot rise
require further drink But You cannot cover up the
demands for appropriations from Congress may come
pass that speculatng men, cbevaers oil industry IN
the probability OF large appropriations IRON Congress-
will submit to their inventions or schemes, anu seek
I~.~ tha ~