The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-06

is not far distant when set of society will be es-
tablished here on the most modern plan.
Party organizations have at last taken place
the democracy taking the lead The wings will
follow, and after while each party will be raj
he'd under their respective chiefs and.banners The
United States is great country, the Herald is a
great paper, and everything is great which comes
from CALIFoRSIA.
Analysis OF Paine's New Gas Light.
The following letter appeared in one of the Bos.
ton papers Of Saturday -
Mr.. EDITOR
Having been favored, in company with Mr.
Huse, Of this city, Mr. Ames, of Springfield, and
Mr. Merrck, President of the gas compiny of that
city, with view of Mr.. Paine's apparatus for pro-
ducing light from water, and of witnessing the
whole machinery in operation, as well as Grating
II myself, yield TO the advice of friends in giving
publicity to my observations Although | have
been more or less conversant with chemistry and
chemical experiments for the past eight years, yet
let not be supposed that consider myself deeply
write upon subject SO full of mysteries and appa-
rent contradictions as Mr.. Paine's light This
article lie not intended exclusively for the scientific
but for the general reader and shall endeavor
give such explanations of the apparatus used by
Mr.. Paine thai all can understand IT,
Mr.. Paine claims, among other thiags, to have
discovered a means of increasing the power Of a
megneto-electric machine 10 such an extent that
he can decompose water rapidly with il that he.
can take jar Of water, and, by means of the cleo
uicity induced by this machine, can convert the
whole Of il into hydrogen gas, without the produc-
ton OF any oxygen whatever. lie claims, also,
that by changing the electrical poles, he an con-
vert the whole OF the jar of water into gas,
without producing any ny drogen. That, after pro-
ducing the hydrogen as above, and passing il
through spirits OF turpentlne II becomes catalized,
and then Will burn with clear and brilliant flame;
and this tco, without any loss to the turpentine by
the passage Of the gas through it. Ia regard to
light indie aendent Of the other applications OF the
power, Mr. Paine claims to have discovered
r.1sf.
at cost infinitely less than any mode now in
operation.
The above are startling propostions-can Mr..
Pane demonstrate them by practical experiments
ne object OF this article Is describe the appard-
tus used, ana the result Of the experiments they
appeared TO me. shall not advance or defend any
theory.
Before giving the result Of the experiments, let
me describe the apparatus. This consists Of four
pieces, all placed upon pine table shelf and in
no way connected with anything else.
First.-A common Magnetic Electric machine,
consisting Of two permanent horse shoe magnets
about twelve inches long. These were placed
horizontally on a mahogany frame, about four
inches aIart, one being placed above the other.
Between the ends OF these magnets were pair Of
helicss. and these so attached TO wheel above,
that they could be set into a rapid rotary motion
The peculiar construction of these belices, from
which The immensely increased pow er is said to be
obtained, | will hereafter describe.
Second "A large open mouth glass jar, clpape
Of holding twelve quarts This was little more
than kali filled with water. eve tasted the water
10 satisfy ourtelves that II was water) Within
this Ier was placed a common bell. glass, open at
the bottom, and reaching within four inches of the
bottom Of the large jar The top of the bell glass
was closed tightly with brass cap, which ex-
tndt over y, 20 az TO res upon the sides Of the
outer jar. Passing through the cap OF the bell
glass were t~o wires, viii IN extended down nearly
TO the bot,cm of the bellglass, and these termi.
N a circular metalc b x, one and half
inches long. snc uas men IN dlameter; THIS box
was hollow, aud perforated w. siiaii NOES IA tne
upper part. The electrodes, or points NJ eShnecuon
between the poles, were in this box The water in
the jar ana bell glass reached some Elk inches
above the electrodes.
Third-A quart glass jar, half filled with spirits
Of turp.ntine. a tube or gas-pipe passed from the
top Of the bell glass (aboye meniioned) and into
this jar Of turpentine terminating at the bottom OF
the turpenitpe. From the cap which covered the
jar a turpeDtine, another lube or gasppe passed 10
q JET or burner, about twelve inches from the jar.
Fourth.--A common glass lumber half filled
with water.
The above comprised all the apparatus used by
Mr. Paine, with the exception OF three wires, or
rather fiat strips OF copper, by which he connected
the mspne elecinc machine with the jar OF water
The wiIes were connected IN the following pecu.
liar manner - The end Of one wire was screwed to
The negative pole Of the magnetic machine and
he other end, TO the fret OF the wives coming up
from the electrodes through the top OF the belt
2 asC. second wire was screwed TO the positive
lole Of the magnetic machine, with the other end
10 TTfutfUR IN the HthfS OF wafer dtONe HtnIlOut1s
The third wire was screwed 10 the bell glass, or
aihsr the second wire, which passes through II
rom The electrodes within, an terminating IN the
ame glas 81 water, although the wires IN the glass
nd not touch each other. have sfosen o. these
ss wires-thty were not wires, but merely thin
.ifigs a copper having the appearance OF being
Cled out from wire.
Now for the operation Of the machinery. Mr..
Paine comm enCsd turning the wheel in the mag
b. To electro machine, and all looked TO the
sss arise from the electrodes in the Jar OF water-
but no gas appeared. Mr.. Paine surpfsed-we
we're al surprised. Az ength Mr. Ames discovered
hat enc ~ the wires, or copper rihands, had been
detached, az had not been screwed on to the wire
a The top Of The bslglass. This being corrected,
kr Pane aeain con me need turning the machine,
Ind instantly large bubbles Of gas arose from the
lectrC des, and hlled the jar an less than minute
tier taking out a stopper from the bell glass, and
allowing ysrel jars toll ~ gas To escape, N order
10 exJel he common air and prevent an explosion,
bese were stopped, md the gas forced on through
10 the let tr burner. Between the Jar Of water
y here the gas was generated, and the jar 81 tur-
lebtine, jet istucd from the ppe This was lighted
and proved TO be hyingen gas. The flame, ~
front ~ window, was 60 pale that II could not be
perceived. We could see 1t by placing dark body
behind H. While this was burning the gas was
lcfcta along through the turpentine 10 the other
buntr A Bsme was applied to THE, and bril-
Here were two flames burning 81 the same time,
from the same gas-the irst, before passing through
the tutpentine, burning with pale, almost imper-
CeYtibe Hght-the sscond, after passing through
the turTfntDs, burning With light superior 10 any
sss that ever saw before. When the magnetic
machine was STOPPED, not a bubble OF sas would
syTe.r in The jar, and the lights went out. This
fsaIl machine generated gas enough to supply a
dem burners, any one o. which, | should think.
~ fci, nj 10 lisht room.
Now, il will naturally be asked, "CoUld not this
tft nsudous electrical power WHICH decomposed
he water be obtained from some other source than
tn. unspnstic machine - This question occurred
II, + h, fore Jaw the operations and dee rmined,
~ gotsiblc. u satisfy mytef upon the subject j,
tE,I,ar, With Mr. Paiue's fuli permiss on, ex-
rlrr.athe tst.t could easily see that no wires
at y..stt,itd re s'sss isr ~ tnrpentne. or the
.te.#t 80 vBtst. fAcrpt IL twp connected with
d. ufErttc b. chibe r paH, thrrtufe, 10
A. E..t 4 MsctiGe Ina: my stesuoa vas