The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-03-24
chr lOeeklY Gnzette.



much stimulated BY repeated and partially
successful experiments with the electric light
IL likelyito be som fully satisfied BY seeing
that singularly beautiful and powerful APP
P~iicatipn of voltaic electricity brought into
permanent and profitable operation. II will
be recollceted that up to the present tim"
two serious obstacles have always opposed
themselves to the use Of this light as a
means Of Illumination; one being the diff
Guilty of obtaining a steady aud permanent
light, the other the great cost of the mate.
rails employed in its generation. These
tive difficulties have been at length gTappled
with by a young but already distinguished
man of science (Dr. Watson,) who by a
series of patient and highly philosophic ex-
%prriments, has attained certain results,
which, he has sanguine hopes, will ultimate
Is lead to the successful commercial appli.
cation Of the light to various purposes. The
uncertainty and pickering ofthe light being
caused by the gradual wearing away Of the
points of the electrodes, and the consequent
widening of the space through which the
fluid must pass, DR.. Watson has attempted
to obviate the difficulty, first by the employ
ment of a new and patented material in the
electrodes, which makes them less liable 10
wear in their incandescent state and Sec
ondly, by the action of a magnet placed in
the base Of the lamp, which by its altra ct
i've powers, restores any deviation which
may have taken place in tho relative posi-.
tons of the electricity under the influence
of the light.
By this invention the lamp is rendered
sclf-regulatipg or automatic, and the first
great difficulty, the Inconsistency Of the light,
is toa considerable extent rcmedied. The
light having thus been got into working or
der, the next point to be considered wss the
great commercial question Of cost, as until
the invention could practically be made to
pay, there was little hope OF its being brought
into general application. Wllhou, entering
into any detailed technical explanation, il
will be sufficient to state that this end is at
-tlined by the substitution OF cheaper metal
lie plates in the construction Of the batteries,
and the employment Of such chemicals in
the generation ofthe electric fluid, as shall,
having 6rst performed their Illuminating
duties, undergo such changes in their own
forms as TO become articles OF considerable
commercial value ard ready sale. For the
plates the inventor has substituted cast iron
and platinized lead TO- the moro expensive
m~etuls-silver, copper and pIntinn ; and an
idca ofthe saving here effected may be form
cd from the fact, that whercas a single plato
Of platina cost E3, one of pIatinized lead or
east iron eau be made for II. For exciting
agents OF electrolytes, as they are called, the
patentee employs in one battery prussiate
OF potash, which by the galvanic process is
converted in those valuable articles Of com.
merce, Prussian blue and uItra-marine. In
another battery, which is excited by nitro
sulphuric acid, he gets. with tho addition Of
bichromate Of potash, tho wcll.known color
for carriage builders, chrome yellow, and by
ehSSANI NhEhiNboA LotubJuulIOU UU RCID req,
tho third primary color, having thaS, it is
almost needkss to add. Obtained the bases
of almost all the pigments used In the use.
full or decorative arts.
The advantage which ia expected from
these discoveries is, that the commercial
value Of these products Of voltaic action will
completely cover the cost of manufacture,
and leave tho light itself u clear and unbar.
rassed source Of profit. The value of all
these Improvements was tested by nm cxhi-
ton Of their results at tho patentee's labora-
tory, at Wandswo-th, to a circle Of both sci.
entifc and commercial gentlemen. A largo
apartment was steadily and beautifully iilu.
minated by the light Tor several hours, and
much interest was excited by the mode In
which, at regular interva s, the regulating
operation OF the magnets was brought to
bear upon the electrodes. The Illuminating
process was pronounced to bo completely
satisfactory; producing, as il did, a perfect
and brilliant daylight. In another apart
ment the chromatic products were exhibited,
and were much commented for their brill.
fancy and truth Of tints, 30 that both results
namely the production Of a steady aud
continuous light, and a costless exciting
agent, may be said to be attained; provided
that tho debtor and creditor account which
the patentees exhibit will ultimately bear
tho test Of a rigorous commercial application.
GRowLiNo!-We take tho following i,cu.
from the Washington correspondence of the
New York Herald, without, however, offer.
ing any opinion ~ to their reliablenes.. It
is enough to know that they are colla,cd by
Democratic agents for al urnal which hsa
been complimented az tho head. Q the Dem.
ocratic press:
"Thc friends Of Gen. Cass are In trouble
aimee his departure. Some hive left in de.
spair. In fact the elements of insurrection
are at work, and predictions are p entirul Of
an early break down of the Cabinet. Things
look squaIIy; but those in the confidence Of
Gen. Pierce suy he expected it-that he is
perfectly cool, and, with bic. course marked
out, is prepared to disband bis Cabinet, or
dismiss a rebellous faction, ut a moments
notice. lie will be President at all haz,
ards
"The Barnburner- caucus broke IN in n
row last night, (I0th,) there being quite a
NCRna hat uon HraaNaa. T....-- -