The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-06

There has been no doubt for twelve or fifteen
years among scientific men, that any amount of
power could be exerted by electro magnetism.
But the difficulty has been that the cost was so
great as to render it unavailable for use The
following account by Prof PAGE, of his expert
ment the other day, is silent as to the cost of
the power he produced-the only important item
in the case
If a locomotive weighing eleven tons, ran at
the rate Of nineteen miles an hour on a level it
would indicate about four-horse power, accord
ing to the usual estimates lie makes double
allowance for the friction of a new machine If
corrcc, in that, the power exerted was double.
The Intellgencer, in the preliminary notice of
Prof PAGES article, ntimates that bis power
costs probably hundred times less than it has
cost others. The cost of electromagnetic
heretofore has been about ten dollars day per
horse power. If this is hundred times less, it
is ten cents a day. which is as cheap as steam
and the thing is done But Mr. PACE does not
venture to tell the public so, and from the size
of bis battery on the occasion referred to, we
should suppose that the cost of the power is
still enormously greater than steam:
RAPID PROGRESSION OF ELECTRO MAGNETIC
PowER.-We lay before our readers a statement
from Professor PAGE respecting the Electro
Magnetic Locomotive; and when we regard the
fact that the highest power ever attained before
his experiments was less than half horse power,
,l.ll -,,I
much as it does under this new mode of appi-
cation, we cannot be Indifferent to so great a re-
suit, and the high promises with which it seems
TO be fraugbt:
Messrs. EDIToRs: The Electro Magnetic
Locomotive made very favorable trip on Tues
day last more especially when it is taken into
the account that we were constrained to make this
trial with only one-half Cor even little less) Of
the power the engines and battery are capable OF
Welding. Each engine, calculated upon the basis
ofmy stationary engine, ought to give at the low
est estimate l2-horse power, which would make
the locomotive 24-horse power. The actual powe,
Ihave not been able to ascertain; but the follow
ing data may serve to give some idea of its power
The locomotive with the battery fully ch.rged
weighs ten and half tons. With the sever
passengers taken on the trip to and from Bla
the most favorable arrangements eight pound,
are required TO start ton on perfectly leve
rail, and seven pounds will barely keep ton il
motion. Ordinarily, upon railroads the ALLOW
ance is ten pounds to ton, but this applies only
to cars unincumbered by machinery The fric-
ton of locomotive machinery renders its draugs,
far greater and only be accurately ascert aiaee
by experiment In each case. The magnet 10
connective, the first Of it's kind ever made is ion
perfect and, from the newness and Stiffness o
all the work, it runs exceedingly hard We wi
take 900 pounds, which is below The actus
power required to keep it in motion on a lev,
portion of the road. A horse power upon Il
usual estimate is so pounds a miles an hou
or 375 pounds mile an hour. The speed
the magnetic locomotive s, we will say,
miles an hour on level road, (it has in ia
made more) and its traction 200 pound
We have then 375 ponds mile an hour {,
one horse, and 900 pounds Is miles an hour Fl
the locomotive, which gives eigh horse powe
But the engine has more than this. Itbas great
power at slow speed, and must have, by 3
reasonable estimates, twelve horse power; whc
as said before, is about oue-half its proper C
pacity. One Of the most serious defects aris
from want Of insulation in the heces AT
the engine was placed on the road it was -four
necessary to throw out Of action five of Il
helices, aud these at the most important point
the stroke. This difficulty could not be rem
died without taking both engines entirely out.
nm undertaking for which had neither time n
means, M the track with which we are now a
commodated is soon to be filled up for the pu
poses Of The Railroad Company Another 9
rious difficulty encountered was the breaking
the porous cells in the battery, causing mi
ture of the two ncids, and the interception of
large portion Of the power ] had grent diI
entity in procuring suitable porous cells and t
manufacture Of such as | needed was, after
great expense, given up by two of the best pr
fery establishment in the country thing il
practicable II was, however, accomplish
through the ingenuity Of Mr. Ari DaviA my q