New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-05
Paine's Light.

To the Editor Of The Tribune:
SIR: Mr.. Paines letter, Published in your pa
per of the 3Oth ult, contains some illusions to me
calling for notice, especially from his statement
"that he would answer your inquirer in such a
way that, while truth only will be used, he will be
very much dissatisfied"
do, Sir, feel much dissatisfied, bat not with the
truth. 1t was to reach that addressed DR.. Do
remus, not Mr. Paine, and feel again compelled
70 call upon the former for information upon mat
tiers of fact, seeing that he was at Mr. Paine s
workshop, found that all was movable and was
"worked by them at their pleasure -" all was
taken to pieces that was required, and the water
and the turpeutne examined and since by his
sileace from the date Of publication, he admits the
statements of that letter. Perhaps he will inform
an anxious public what parts Of the apparatus
were required to be taken 70 pieces at that visit
what portions Of the same were examined !;
whether the magnets and connecting wires are
voritable magnets and connecting wires, or hollow
vessels, with condensed gas and q delivering
tube whether the turpentine was such in purify,
or mixed with another hydrocarbon; and, II the
latter case, whether that mixture was introduced
previous to the passage OF the hydrogen Y! through
it. or as the result Of the gas trayerslng II was
the evolution Of the gas ct the end OF the wire OF
that steady character which ordinarily takes
place under the circumstances described VIII
Dr. Doremus inform tue public what were the re-
suits which he witnessed, forwhichhe was at fault
70 account The Dr. is made to say that the ca
talgSed by drogen was without sufficient odor to
render it safe What is meant by that state
ment
Is the DR.. convinced by his visit that he saw a
brilliant light produced as described, capable of
Illuminating this City, and cheaply produced or
did he only see al amusing toy
Mr.. Paine Is incorrect IN attrlbutlng to the Com
mittee who visited Worcester and reported IN
fsvorably that they would not believe that hy-
drogen could acquire luminllerous quality by
passing through turpentine." That TACT has been
known for some years, and tested both In Paris
and London, and found 10 answer lchen the deliver
ing PIPE pras short. Then common air, nitrogen,
and even cArbonic acid, yielded brilliant light
when blown over naptha. But IN practice 1t can
not be adopted on the large scale, as such volatile
LIQUIDS are readily deposited irhea the pipes are
long; and whenever any OF Mr.. Paines gas has
the misfortune to travel two or three hundred
yards along frozen street, it viii be found minus
the turpentine when issuing from the JET
Mr.. Paine is IN error if he suPpoSes me an adj
yOcate for Gas Monopoly; | am for good and
cheap light ! believe we could have good coal
gas al q a thousand cubic feet, and resin gas tor
vastly less, if there were Gas Consumers Com.
pany started and we ought 70 have il. l have
ever been Of opinion that it is much the duty Of
a Corporation TO supply gas as water 1t is as
much q necessity to the city, and might De profit
able TO that body. II Mr.. Paines De cheaper
and better light, let US have it but while we
are waiting, perhaps Dr.. Doremus Will emerge
from behind the shield Of Mr.. Paine, and tell Us
what he saw at Worcester.
THOMAS ANTlsELL, N. D.