The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-07
EIeetro.Masnetis,p,

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 rs to render it unavailable for use The |
following account by Prof PAGE, of his expert
ment he other day, is silent as to the cost Of
the power he produced-the only important item
in tie case.
If locomotive weighing eleven tons, ran at
the rate of nineteen miles an hour on a level, il
would indicate about four-horse power, accord
ing to the usual estimates. He makes double
allowance for the friction of new machine. If
correct in that, the power exerted was double.
The En.elligencer, in the preliminary notice of
Prof PAGES article, intimates that his 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 day, which is as cheap as steam
and the thing is done. But Mr. PAGE does not
venture to tell the public SO, and from the size
of his 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 n 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,
and that costing probably one hundred times as
much as il does under this new mode Of appli-
cation, we cannot be Indifferent 10 great re.
suit, and the high promises with which il seems
to be fraught:
Mess.s. EDlToRs: The Electro Magnetic
Locomotive made very favorable trip on Tues
day last, more especially when il is taken into
the account that We were constrained TO make this
trial with only one-half Tor 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-!orse power. The actual power
lhave not been able to ascertain; but the follow
ing data may serve 10 give some idea of its power.
The locomotive, with the battery fully charged.
weighs tGa and half tons. With the seven
passengers taken on the trip to and from Bla-
densburg the weight was eleven tons. Under
the most favorable arrangements eight pounds
n
rail, and seven pounds will barely keep ton in
motion. Ordinarily, upon railroads the allow
ance is ten pounds TO a ton, but this applies only
TO cars unincumbered by machinery The fric.
ton Of locomotive machinery renders its draught
far greater and can only be accurately ascertained
by experiment in each case. The magnetic To-
comotive the first Of its kind ever made IL i'm
perfect, and, from the newness and Stiffness Of
all the work, it runs exceedingly hard We will
take 200 pounds, which is below the actual
power required TO keep il in motion on level
portion Of the road A horse power upon the
usual estimate is $50 pounds 81 miles an hour,
or $40 pounds mile an hour. The speed o.
the magnetic locomotive is, we will say, Is
miles an hour on level road, (it has in fact
made more,) and its traction 200 pounds
We have then 375 pounds mile an hour for
one horse, and 200 pounds Is miles an hour for
the locomotive, which gives eigh horse power
But the engine has more than this. Ithas greater
power at slow speed, and must have, by all
reasonable estimates, twelve horse power which,
rs said before, is about one-half its proper ca
pacity. One Of the most serious defects arises
from want Of insulation in the helices. After
the engine was placed on the road il was found
necessary 10 throw. out Of action FIVE Of the
helces, and these at the most important point in
the stroke. This difficulty could not be rene
died without taking both engines entirely out
an undertaking for which had neither time nor
means, as the track with which we are now ac-
commodated is soon TO be filled up for the pur.
poses of the Railroad Company Another Sc.
rious difficulty encountered was the breaking of
the porous cells in the battery. causing mix.
ture of the two acids and the intercepton of a
large portion of the power. had great diff.
Guilty in procuring suitable porous cells, land the
Manufacture Of such as needed was, after a
great expense, given up by two Of the best pot
terry establishments in the country as thing i'm.
practicable. II was, however, accomplished
through the ingenuity Of MI. Ar Davis, my en-