The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-02-24

employed in connection with electrormagr
nets. in Others, the latter are only used -
Change Of polarity is abandoned in some, and
with it the repellant force; the bars being
rapidly magnstized, and de7magnetized by
opening and closing their connection with
the battery. r. a-.s e ain7 $50
.g'In 1888, jacob propelled small shallop
with fourteen men, on the Nevada, at the
/ rate of four miles an hour, three against the
stream. He had four fixed electromagnetic,
and the same number of revolving ones; to
which the axle that carried the paddle.wheels
was attached His battery, consisting Of
sixty -four pairs Of platinum plates, each pre-
senting surface of thirty-six square inches,
was charged with nitric and sulphuric acids,
ON Groves plan. Since then innumerable
notifications of the apparatus have been de-
vised; lathes have been worked, and articles
of wood, ivory, and metals, turned; print
ing press operated, and a locomotive weigh
Ing five tons propelled, &C., &c. But these
experiments, interesting as they certainly
were, have brought out no markedresults, nor
afforded any high degree If encouragement TO
proceed. 1t might be imprudent to assert
that electro magnetism can never supersede
steam; still, in the present state of electri-
cal science, the desideratum.is rather to be
hoped for than expected. ~
Great, however will be his glory who in
the face of these ediscouragements succeeds.
The dificulty-is not in the mechanism for
employing the force, but in the extremely
short space through which it acts. This is
so limited that the phenomenon may be con-
sidered something like the converse of cohe-
sion: g. 6. an electro magnet with its arma-
ture in contact, had a lifting power of l,700
lbs., but when the armature was removed one
eighth of an inch, the weight supported was
barely ID lbs. The interposition of film
Of. tissue paper has reduced the power one
half. By making soft iron core play in the
centre of helix-like piston rod minus the
piston playing in its cylinder-an apparent
increase of range is obtained, stroke of
twelve or more inches realized; but this is
supposed to be colorado rather than real.
At the present cost of metallic fuel, cleo
tro-magnetism cannot become commercially
valuable, nor in any of the ordinary applica-
tions of steam can it come into competition
with that agent--not even if the requisite
acids could be had for nothing, since there is
more virtue in pound of coal than in five
of zinc.
Either the science is not ripe for applica-
tion, Or experimenters have not got on the
right track. II is not devices for transmit
ting the force that are wanted, but means Of
extending the range through which it acts
Should this be obtained, reader and cheaper
means of exciting twill probably follow.
The talent for inventing new modes of EN-.
ploying forces is great, but that of discover.
{ ing new motors, and applying them to the
general purposes ofengineering, is far greater
One is somewhat common, the other rare
, A new power is now wanted, is looked for;
and what field of enterprise will its intro.
duction open Every department of mental
and physical existence will be benefited by
it. Steam has wrought gloriously, and equal
changes for the better will be wrought BY
+ that agent which displaces it, or which takes
place beside it.
ATMOSPHERIC OR COMMON ELECTRICITY.
There are indications of a law by which
every motor must come in its own order.
3 it appears before its time, twill partakt
more or less OF the character of an abortion
d 1t will be imperfectly developed, its habi
I tudes not understood, and the means Of con
T trolling them, wanting. This was the cas-
S with steam, whose mechanical properties tn
d ancients detected, yet they were not prepare,
e for it,. In their hands Its application wa
J confined to trihes, and even Tor them sool
n laid aside. Such was the case with explo
n sive compounds also, and to some extent j
; is the case now with electricity.
That this piercing and potent energy is OF
dained to play a prominent part in the arts a
u IT does in nature, is all but certain; perhap
as multiiarious in its operations too. Al
e ready, it separates metals from their ores, an
e gilds our plate; in telegaphs, it annihllate
g time, and In electric CLOCKS, measures it: a
a an element for artificial illumination, it
/ now being courted, and may, at no distan
e day be used to light up the atmosphere owe
Y cities, in place OF myrlads of petty tapers.-
For other purposes also, the most sagaciou
of spirits are endeavoring TO subdue it,
But, if inorganic molors are TO come il
their turn, that is, according as preparation
are made to receive them, or, in other words
Z, not until pevlous familiarity with thei
: natures has fitted us properly to apply them
y ~ 10 udiuiy w uo VAPONVSu diot VIC ohouAu o
n soon realize what seems to be the highest
: and which, of all earthly things, we, as YET
e know least about. 1t is the part CT philoso
# pliers to reveal principles--of mechanics t
: apply them; but philosophers, as yet, kno,
9 little more about electricity than do artif
I GERS. .fsl.sta
S While some are sanguine of soon yokin
r this invisible steed in material traces, an
e compelling tito work as do grosser motors
e Others, incline to- the opinion that the chic
d of earthly conquests is not to be made S
: readily. Certes, when electricity is brough
n into mans service as common Worker, al
e that may come after must needs be subordi
: nate. When this ubiquitous, exhaustless
: imponderable something spirit, sub
stance, or whatever it be-becomes so ia
: subdued, men will have, progressed, on
S would suppose, beyond terrestrial, and en-
o tered upon celestial physics Fa
D The pursuit is, however,, a legitimate one
t and neither repeated nor long-continued fail
: ures can be attended with dishonor. Success
C isa matter of time=-if not now to be attain
b ed, it will be-must be. The difficulty wit
Q electro -magnetism- the short distance throug
4 which the force is felt--balongs, not to I'll
0 ordinary phases Of the fluid in Natures exhi
bitions She causes it to act through create
/; spaces than can ever be required iR the arts
s and as further inaucement for us to perse
II we're, she shows its energy under circumstan
/, ces where it might have been least suspecte