Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-01-05
PAfNE's DISCOVERY OF LIGHT FROM
r....t..t ,,. WATER.

4 a lettef sent 10 tnlS once giving tne TeSult o.
some experiments by Henry M. Paine in pro
ducing light from water, of which most i'm
portant things were anticipated. We have
heard but little more of the discovery till yes
terday we picked up the Washington Union
4 when we found the following article referring
4 to il, and which is highly interesting: 5
j AN IMPORTANT lNvENTIoN.-The following
communication was handed 10 us by the
author, Rnfus Porter, Esq, who iswell known
to us as the former editor of the Scientific
American, and as man well versed in
knowledge of the arts and invention. He is
man of superior Intelligence and OF great
! honesty of character, and we do not hesitate
TO say that any fact stated upon his own
knowledge may be relied upon implicitly.
We do not know whether all The great results
which he anticipates from the invention,
which he describes, can be realized; but he
has stated to us some remarkable facts, the
results of his own experiments, which would
seem TO justify the anicipations in which he
uGulges. If The invention shall turn out to
be what the inventors now promise them
selves it will be, it is certainly most won
dersul discovery, and will create new era
in the arts 7nd in civilizaiion
--i IFor the Union ..,
Messrs Editors.-l am authorized 10 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 by man--an invention
which must eventually, and almost imme
.diateIy, produce an immense revolution in the
commercial intercourse and business general
Throughout, the world; aud, although il will
break down and ruin many of the most i'm
porlant branches Of business und avenues Of
wealth, with hundreds OF wealthy incorpora-
iions and business establishments. yet it will
build up thousands Of others, and contribute
hundreds of millions 10 the benefit of man
kind, especially TO the American community.
The first and main feature, and foundation
OF this invention, and which at once opens
field for hundreds of other inventions, is the
discovery by Henry Nj Paine, Esq, OF
composing water and reducing it 10 the
gaseous state. By the simple operation of
very small machine, without galvanic bat
teries, or the consumption of metals or acids,
and only the application of less than one
three hundreh Il SoO) 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 sufii-
cient to supply light equal to three hundred
common lamps for ten hours; or 10 warm
an ordinary dwelling house twelve hours, in
cluding 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 ap-
plcabIily of these gases 10 the warming of
houses has also been tested with perfectly
satisfactory results. A steam engine fur-
mace and parlor stove, both adapted 10 these
gases, have been invented, and measures
taken for securing patents therefor.
Mr.. Paine has one of his machines, new
and elegant, now in full operation and pub
licly exhibited, aud may be expected 10 ey-
hibit the same in this city within twenty
days. The only actual expense of warming
houses by this apparatus is that OF winding
up weight like the winding up of clock
once day; and the heat produced may be
AZ easily graduated and regulated as the
flame of common gas burner No smoke
whatever is ploiuced, but very small
quantity of steam, sufficient to supply the
requisite moisture to the atmosphere, In its
applications 10 the predictions of steam
power, it will reduce the expense thereof 10
The mere wear Of machinery, and will imme.
dialely produce an immense demand for
steam engines, and induce the establishment
OF thousands OF manufacturing mills, reduce
the expense of travelling, and increase the
demand for agricultural produce, while ii
ruins the coal and gas business and such
manufacturing establishments as depend o's
monopoly and high prices. This invention,
moreover, removes completely the only OBJ
stacles which have hitherto existed to prial
navigation-the difficulty of procuring hy-
drogen gas, and carrying supply Of fuel
and it may now be considered matter OF
tolerable certainty that men will be seen
swiftly and safely soaring in various direc-
lions before the first Of May next. These
facts, being Of immense importance, should
not be longer withheld; and therefore would
avail myself of your widely circulating Jour-
nal to present them to the public.
Yours, respectfully,
r Porter.
Washington, December %, isis.