Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-09-18
Gbe polpnesian.
ERICsSoN's CALORIC ENGINE.
From Hunts Magazine.

One hundred and twenty years before tn
1Christian era, a wheel, driven by Jet O
steam, revolved in the Egyptian capital
More than nineteen centuries succeeded
marking their deep burrows upon the broa'
face of creation, before this whirling to.
ripened into the mighty Steam Engine, nov
so familiar to our race. During this vas
period of time, sixty generations of men wer
born. and lived, and garnered for eternity
OF all the millions composing these genera
tions, no man had appeared ingenious enougl
to drive pistons to and fro with that vapor
which had turned the playful wheel in Alex
andria. That which now seems to have beer
its obvious application. nearly two thousant
years were consumed in finding out Ii re
quired but cylinder, piston to move with
in it, grasping crank, and with but few ant
simple contrivances beyond, the steam-en
gine was complete. That power which hat
created rotary motion, could produce re-
ciprocatine motion. To establish this nei
ther experiment nor scientific learning wa:
necessary; and if these had been required,
both could have been abundantly supplied
Great geniuses had appeared, and scattered
their rich gifts among men, and had passed
away; failing to accomplish that which Watt
finally completed. Human skill had multi
piled luxurIes, human invention had created
innumerable comforts; but still mankind were
as destitute of Motive Power as when the
Israelites journeyed from Egypt. At the end
of the eighteenth century this power appear
ed. AT lengthi it assumed form which enabled
it to drag heavy burdens upon land and sea;
and then, as the grim monster blew its hot
fho uln he's
contracted to half its former size.
In strength it was mightier than any NOV
ing thing, and in speed it rivaled the birds
of heaven 1t has become the strong carrier
and the feet racer. Glowing fires are IFS
food, and its sinews hot vapor. Its unearthly
shrek troubles the air, and its rolling tramp
shakes the earth. 1t impels huge ships over
wide seas; defying the hurricane and master
ing the Storm Ii digs the ore, blows the fur
mace, wields the heavy hammer, and turns the
spindle. 1t tolls in the workshop; it tolls in
mid ocean, and it tolls as it bounds along
upon its iron track, unchecked by its ponde-
rous train. 1t has traversed mighty waters,
walked upon dark and troubled seas, darted
through tunneled mountains, and coursed
along western wilds
Its years have been few. The nineteenth
century dawned upon its early infancy. and
the first half of that century closed upon Its
gigantic manhood. In this short period OF
time. it has stamped new and everlasting
characters upon the history of mankind. 1t
has accomplished grand, and we believe its
final destiny We think its end is at hand,
its mission nearly over. If 1t has been a
useful slave, it has also been costly and
dangerous one.
To prevent this danger, the most watchful
care the profoundest skill, have proved un-
avaiIing If the slaughter of our race.
caused by its bursting boilers could be pre-
scented to view. humanity would stand appall-
ed. Its course has been marked and IFS on
ward track strewn with margled bodies. OF
this the press, day by days tells an awful
story.
1t is time that this fierce and expensive,
though mighty bond-servant, should be re-
placed by one equally powerful, cheaper, and
less dangerous. The age is ripe for this
change The experience Of the last few
years has determined that steam cannot be
profitably used, for commercial purposes,
upon the ocean. For voyage of three
miles, a large portion of the freight
ing capacity of the ship is required for Goals
alone These, with the engine and huge
boilers, occupy part at least of that space,
which should be filed with merchandise
The expense of the coal consumed is enOr-
nous: but.this could be borne if it occupied
less room In proportion as the voyage Is
extended, does steam, as a motive power,
become more expensive; until finally, the en-
tire ship would be insufficient to contain the
fuel necessary to feed the engine. A steamer
of the Collins line consumes, we are INFORM
ed about one thousand tons OF coal tor voy-
age of three thousand miles. Double this
distance, and although the cost OF the coal is
but doubled, nearly the entire freighting room
of the steamer is absorbed by it, and her
power to earn freight is gone. Still increase
this distance, with no means to supply fuel
upon the route, and steam machinery be-
comes worse than useless. The broad Pa
cific cannot be traversed by it. Its rich
commerce invites the merchant ship, and re-
wards the navigator, but the steamer must
hug its shores, and cannot profitably explore
its ample bosom. 1t is the mission of man
TO hold the earth and its waters In subsection
by machinery. BY machinery he is destined
10 tighten the drudgery which at the dawn OF
creation fell upon his race. TO accomplish
his he has been endowed with genius and
inventive power; and where the force OF
thousand giants would be fruitless, these trI-
umphanty prevail. They gave to the world
steam as a motive power. 1t has proved IN
adequate to the wants Of men, destructive to
human life, and more costly than the inter-
,sts of commerce can sustain.
A new motive power is demanded, and II
he eyesight and the judgment can be relied
lpon it has appeared. tits the most sublime
levelopment of force ever seen in machinery!
/ is exerted by that life-giving, elastic fluid,
he atmosphere. 1t is drawn from that vast
magazine through which the Ightnings play.
md is supplied from that unseen element