Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-05-23
Mr.. Paine.s New Atmospheric Light.

Mr. Pafne's New Atmospheric Light.
| The Scientific American, commenting in a recent
number, upon notice Of Paine's atmospheric light
expresses the opinion that Mr. F. has been amusing us
with experiments in which the volatile hydro-car-
bons have been used for the purpose of deceivng
The editor of the American is undoubtedly yery wise
man, and can distinguish hawk from handsaw, in
clear days but we claim know little more concerning
what we see with our eyes, here in Worcester
than he can, sitting in his sancum in New York city.
AT the time we penned the article referred to, we
were not permitted to give any explanation of the ma
ture of the process, or the Scientific American might
have been saved the trouble aud odum of this last in
oirect thrust at Mr. Paine, through us. But we are
now permitted to state for its satisfaction, that the at
mosphere is passed cold, through simple apparatus
containing liquid that absorbs the nitrogen of the air.
leaving the oxygen ee then the pure oxygen is passed
through another fluid, by which it is caay and
rendered highly uminiterous. 1t is not as the Scen-
tine paper ntlmates, process of evaporation, for the
gas is conveyed to any distance without condense,
and no heat is required in the process of catayss.
The process is not like the passage of air through ben
zole or other fluid carbons according the process
well known to CHEMISTS for in such cases, the rapid
evaporation coos the liquids and then the luminous &C.
ton ceases;whe in this, the action is the through
any required length of pipe, any number of burners
Mr.. Paine has made acquainted with the materials
used in producing the astonishing results which we
have described, of converting atmospheric air into
purer and better gas than is furnished by any gas COM
pany in the United States; and from what we know of
heir cost, and what have seen of their consumption
IA the production of light, we think the expense of
light from common argand burner could not exceed
one mill SO per hour Mr.. Paine informs us that he
succeeded, two years since, in producing brilliant
light by his present process but on account of some
difficulty connected with the mechanical passage of the
air through the apparatus, and the occupation OF his
mind with other matters, he temporarily abandoned it,
But now, all difficulties obviated and the apparatus
is in complete and successful operation in different
places The apparatus for lighting large house, will
occupy but little room, scarcely more than large sized
gas metre Men of science, and gas company directors
have within few days, given the whole matter
thorough investigation, and far we believe that there
is but one opinion in regard the inventions viz: that
it is the one thing needed give SAFE unaiIing sup.
ply of light at merely nominal EXPENSE free from all
danger of explosion, and accessible to the use of ALL If
the editor of the Scientific American would take the
trouble to come TO Worcester, we think he would be
willing to acknowledge that there are some things in
this world not dreamed Of in his philosophy, and dis
continue his ungenerous cavs against Mr.. Paine