New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-19
remain, Sirs, yours respectfully,
JAMES J. MAPEs.
NEWARK, J., Monday, Aug Is. 1851

NEWARK, n. j., Monday, Aug is. 1851.
F H. u, Esq.-Dear SIR On behalf OF j.
T. D, Esq and others, as per your request, VS.
tied Washington and have examined the Electro
Magnetic Engine invented by DR.. Page. In fairness
TO Dr. Page and in illustration OF the differences ex
listing between his machine and all others bearing
the same name, IT may be proper to state maj my
conyleions for many years had been that natural
laws existed which would render the use OF Electro
Magnetism as a source Of power impractcaole. MT
Davenport and others had constructed engines, all
of which had examined, and IN every case, had
found the real motive force so nconSderable as to
render them valueless, while multiplication OF
such machines would ne1tralize each ether II III
close proximity
whe or other retaining power, and after running
for a space of five minutes, was invited to try my
strength by stopping ihem which, IN some cases, !
was unable TO do. Thus, machine which could
furnish motive force of pound at each reyoiu-
ton revolving once per second, " ould require at
the end Of FIVE minutes power OF 800 pounds 10 ar
rest Its motion. And, therefore ITS real mechanical
value by casual observer would be over estimated
The real value of such force however, might be less
than the continued action OF the onethousandth
part Of horse power As these contTlvances pre-
yous TO that inv en,ea by DR.. Page depended upon
the attractive force OF Electro Magnets, therefore
constructed single Electro Magnet which would
sustain a weight Of 500 pounds. but the weight re-
Quied TO be brought within le5th OF an inch OF the
face of the Magnet before 1t would be attracted TO
It's face When the time necessary 10 cause this
Magnet 10 nt go taken into account, 1t proved
10 exert a continued force of less than the one
thousandih Of horse power nd hence 10 be value
less The introduction OF large number of these
Magnets m the same room, or attached 70 the same
machine had long been decided as lmpractlcaole,
as their influences would neutrsZe eacn other, and
hence as before remarked L expected to find the
engine proposed by Or. Page as one OF the many
cblmeras OF the day.
DIR Page exhibited his machine wPh the utmost
fraukness and during the whole investigation he
evidently controlled the sangune feelings OF the IN
yentor TO give full value TO each objection offered.
did he in any instance object TO the fairness OF
tests proposed.
The hrst Machine shown was a pile OF Helices,
having an inner opening of about II inches dame
ter, anu supported on frame. Immediately below
this III er opening a rod OF iron, weighing $50
hounds The wire from the battery was connected
with the lower helix, and the rod immediately rose
from the floor and entered the opening IN helix No.
l. leaving conceniric space between Itself and the
inner surface OF the helix. The attachment
then made 10 helix No. ., and the rod Immediately
rose, and without dropping al all az the change OF
connection In this way, the connection changed
to each helix IN turn, until the 3j0b. rod proruced
aboye the heheeS. DR.. Page then stood on the top
Of The rod, hch not only sustained his weight, n
ado liiOn TO its own, but he pushed with his HANDS
against the ceiling, increasing the downward press
ure on the rod, which was only acted upon as
powerful spring would have been affected but still
maintaining rs perpendicular position concen.Sc 10
the inner surface OF the hehces. held an Ion rod
in NY hand. and touched It's end the upper end Of
the sustained rod | could 10, de:aca II oy pulling
or Jerking and could only alter lis position 10
cause ,Ee ahhultl space 10 become eccentric lhstedo
OF concoDtflc. The instant the battery was dlScon-
Deced, the suspended rod fell 10 the floor with Its
full force.
THIS experiment clearly illustrated that If the wire
from the Battery thould be passed rapidly up AID
down the OUTSIDE Of the helices alternate the
connection With each helice that the inner rod,
weighing $50 pounds, would perform similar travel,
and that shackle bar lche1 from this osclilaing
rod, and TO crank would convert tins reciprocatlag
motion into continuous one, and with A power
equal 10 the weight of Or. Page. (sho had stood
On the rcd multiplied by The velocity orravei This
machine was called Jumper" and py this name
we viii refer 10 r. We were next shown A larysr
Jumper The helices Of which weighed eight nun
dTed pounds, and the rod five hundred and twenty.
SIX pounds. On the rod beng confined and the Bat
ieTY attached. the helces rose the rod aud when
tnt Sc were supposied and The 700 set free II per
iofIuec all the phenomena Observable in the Smaller
Jumper but fairly and funny illustrating tha, the
amount Of power increased 10 at least a Greet pro
portion With the increase of size, and clearly a,,ar