The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-09-10
ELECTRO MAesErrsm AS A Morv1E Power

| IN tno lectures WHICH he Is 10" uellVeTlHS Ue-
fore the Smithsonian Institute, states that there
is no longer any doubt Of The application ofthis
power as a substitute for steam. He exhibited
the most imposing experiments ever witnessed
in this branch of science. An immense bar of
iron, weighing one hundred and sixty pounds,
was made to spring up and down, dancing like
feather in the air. without any visible support.
The force operating upon this bar be stated to
average three hundred pounds through ten inch
es Of its motion. He said he could raise this
har one hundred feet as readily as though ten
inches, and he expected no difficulty in doing
the same with bar weighing one ton or a hun.
dred tons. He could make pile. driver or a
forge.bammer with great simplicity, and could
make an engine with stroke of six, twelve,
twenty, thirty or any number OF feet.
The most beautiful experiment we ever wit.
messed was the loud sound and brilliant fash
from the galvanic spark, when produced near
certain point in his great magnet. Each snap
was as lond 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 electro mag .,etic
engine. Truly, great power is here, and
where is the limit TO il?
He then exhibited bis engine, Of between
four and FIVE horse power, operated BY battery
contained five horse power, operated by hat.
terry contained within space ofthree cubic
feet. 1t looked very unlike magnetic machine.
II was a reciprocaiing engine oftwo feet stroke,
and the whole, engine and battery, weighed
about one ton. When the power was thrown
on by The motion oil lever, the engine started
off maguifcently, making one hundred and fif:
teen strokes per minute though, when it drove
| circular saw Ten inches in diameter, saving
up boards an inch and quarter thick into laths
the engine made but eighty strokes per minute.
There was a great anxiety on the part OF the
spectators 10 obtain specimens 0fthese laths, TO
preserve as trophies Of this great mechanical
triumph.
The force operating upon bis magnetic cyl.
inder throughout the whole motion of two feet,
was stated to he 600 pounds when the engine
was moving very slowly; bu, he had not been
able to ascertain what the force was when the
engine was running al a working speed, though
i, was considerably less. The most important
and interesting point. however, is the expense
nf the power. Professor Page stated that he
had reduced the cost so far, that It was less
than steam, under many and nnnsi nA-Ait;-.-.--
sss.,uti as The cheapest steam engines.
With all the imperfeclions of the engine, the
consumption Of three pounds OF zinc per day
would produce one horse power. The larger
his engines, CONTRARY 10 what has been known
before,) the greater the economy. Professor
Page was himself surprised al the result. There
were yet practical difficulties to4be overco.ne;
the battery had yet to be improved; and it re.
mained YET TO try the experiment on grander
scale, to make power OF 100 horse, or more
Truly the age is frought with wonders, and
we can now look forward with certainty to the
time when coal will be put TO better use than
to burn, scald and destroy.
HINTS TO WIvEs.-Never complain that
your husband pores too much over the papers
to the exclusion Of that pleasing converse which
you formerly enjoyed with him. Don't hide
The paper don't give il to the children to tear;
don't be sulkey, when the boy leaves il at the
door, but take il in pleasantly and lay it down
before your spouse. Think what man would
be without newspaper treat il as great
gent in The work Of civilization, which il as.
suredIy is, and think how much good newspa'
pers have done by exposing bad husbands and
had wives, by giving their errors to the eye oi
the public. But manage you in this way:
when your husband is absent, instead of gossip.
ing with your neghbors, or looking into the
shop window, 81. down quietly and look over
that paper, run your eye over its home and tor.
-ign nrws, glance rapidly at the accidents and
casualties, carefully scan the leading articles
and at tea time, when your husband again takes
up lha paper. say. "My dear, what an awful
state of things there seems TO be in lodIa' or
what a terrible calamity at New. York, or trade
appears to be fouri.hing in The North, and de-
pend upon il down will 60 The paper. lfhe has
no, read the information he will hear il from
your lips, and when you have done, he will ask
"Dd you, my dear read Simpsons letter upon
The discovery of Chloroform." And, whether
you have or not you will gradually &c. int" as
cosy cha. as you ever enjoyed. and you will
soon discover thai ,ghlly used, the newspaper
is the wie's real friend. for it keeps the husband
at home. and supplies capital topics for every
day table talk.-Family Friend.
A MYSTERIOUS ArFA1R.--We learn from
the Frankfort (Ky.) Commonwealth, August
l3, that Miss Bowlin now OF Hart county, KY,
recently took poison to destroy herself; and
while under its influence, and being informed