The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-13
Ico1sspens.ncs New Yo.k Herald ]


ToNAwASDA, N. Y, Aug. 81, 1858.
A remarkable and extraordinary discovery has
taken place in this small town that bids fair from
its nature 70 accomplish great revolution IN tel.
egraphy, and in fact in all existing systems OF
Communication. The discoverer, Mr.. j. II. Mower,
has allowed me to furnish the following account
of his experiments and aspirations, which is his
first disclosure of his important secret:
A young man of modest mien and unpretending
exterior came TO this town about three years since
and took lodgings in sn humble farm house, distant
about five miles from the village, appearing osten-
sibly as a student. He was then twenty.three
years Of age and is therefore now twenty six.
There, with q moderate fortune for an unmarried
man. he read and considered the theories OF every
author extant on the subject Of electricity, with
view 10 grasp its own Unborn conception, and lay
his results before mankind.
Armed for this purpose with ample funds, he
provided himself with Volta Ralvanic battery and
double plate electrical machine, with all the
necessary friction-prOducing substances and me-
tallic agents, prepared to make the most extern
sive experiments in his. Obscure retreat. bis OPP
eratons went on without any remarkable discov
cries for a year when he was engaged 10 chemi.
reach. with the object TO discover its quantitive
and qualitive magnetism. Ii was then about the
time that the Atlantic cable 10 its incipient
stages of success, and by way of diversion he
turned his attention 10 electricity as communi-
eating agent and subjected it 10 minute examina-
ton 10 this direction. He noted the enormous ex-
penditure that was made in laying the Atlantic
cable, and sought TO obtain some cheap and desr-
able conductor. Every thing that was susceptible
of high degree of electricity was brought into
requisition, and he continued his investigations
for upward of six months. he then, having ex.
hsusted all magnetic concrete bodies, resorted to
the electricity of Franklin, lightning, electricity
too, in its most powerful and dangerous form.
From time to time, as nature afforded, he sought
20 mould il to bis use By different combinations.
He used substance of high conductabiity, and
received the lightning and discharged il into water
He observed the decomposition of the water by
this powerful chemical agent, and resolved, by ar
tifcal means, 10 generate q current great in in
tensity and profcse in quantity feax never per.
formed before, and the want of which the scien-
tifc world has always deplOred as the only car
which shuts out exact inquiry from its wonted do
main.
To this end, By curious and ingenious method
| of uniting the Voltsic pile Of great producing
mower with an electric machine of his own con
| struction and Of too intricate q character to be
| described here fluid of astonishing qualities was
emitted possessing all the desirable requisites to
| quick and thorough decomposition Of water
| II now became necessary TO test the efficacy Of
this combination for purposes Of communication
| and accordingly reservoir twenty-five feet long
and six feet deep was built, and the different por
| tions Of the apparatus were immersed. series
| of experiments showed that succession Of dis
| tinct electrical shocks would. without regard "a
| external Influences, decompose the water in a
| straight line Of transmission ct a uniform depth
from the surface, separating the water into III
/ constituent elements. oxygen and hydrogen, from
one end of the reservoir 10 the other. The trans
| mission was instsntaneo1s-so quick In fact thai
its transit could not be measured by the smallest
J division Of time. Having thus far been success