Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-05

of them state that it is their honest opin.
ion that he has actually discovered q self
sustaining motion. -
@ THE MACHINE. $3.50
The rocking lever, or beam, of Mr.
Wckham's device, as previously stated,
looks quite like the walking beam of an
ordinary steamer The latter. however,
are always shaped after the form of nm
elongated diamond, while the upper arm
of this new lever is quite straight, the
lever being bent at sharp angles three or
four times. The balls which are placed
inside are only partially filed with mer.
curry. This mineral has the peculiar
quality of losing its centre of gravity
quicker even than water, and, like water
is ever seeking its own level.
The balls, once set in motion, roll down
the interior of the hollow beam in a vain
search after permanent level. for no
sooner do they reach the lower end than
than the mercury in the spokes of the
main wheel overcomes their weight. the
beam is forced up, and the balls are
again impelled in THEN onward rush. on
" to be caught by the valve that is forced
open from without, and pushed into the
upper beam, or lever, ready to DO bus.
tied along upon their never ending route.
A delcately adjusted weight and an
ingeniousy worked brake are attached
to the machine and serve to regulate its
nicely of motion and speed, but it is in
the hollow spokes and beams, and the
untiring balls Of quicksilver that the
mysterious power lies.
SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE REASONED
AWAY.
OF course there are shrewd and sci
entific people without! number who, from
even the meagre description fforded,
will be enabled TO sit down ut once and
by the most conclusive Of reasoning
show that the device is a failure. and
that it cannot work. But they will have
to concede one point, and that is, That il
does work.
For seven long months has that little
beam moved steadily up and down, and
the ma:r wheel has ground out its so
regular revolutions a minute, and the
minor cogs have been driven faster still,
and the tiny brake has controlled the
motions of the whole, and diminutive
governor" regulating them ali.
The most astute logic under heaven
canno: prove two aud two are not four,
and all tho reasoning upon the face OF
the earth cannot do away with the fact
that Mr.. Wickham's invention has thus
far done what is clained for it.
TIE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IMPLI.
GATED.
1t is not in this city alone, however.
that the inherent truth of this discovery
has been established. Chicago is sharp.
but for arguments sake il will be- admit
ted that Chicago has been swindled. -
What then must the world think when
it becomes known that the United States
Government is virtually pledged to the
claims Of this invention?
Mr.. Wickham pu; in his application
for patent Endorsed by Senator or
two, The models were examined in the
morning, and in the afternoon the full
papers handed to him. Inventors who
have waited for from two to ten months
for the decision in their cases, will under
stand the valne of the above announce
ment. But this was not all. Mr.. Wick
ham claimed to have discovered a self
sustaining power, operated in a certain
manner. and les claims were altowed at
once. The laws of the United States
require that all claims shall be backed up
by ''working model" and say that If it
is not forthcoming the claims s not es
tabIished. The model in this case was
ready, and then the commissioners of
patents took it upon themselves to see
that the necessary documents were made
out Immediately, and now the govern
ment of the country has either given its
sanction to principle of perpetual motion
or else it has fastened to openly approve
a palpable fraud.
THE AVAILABILITY OF THE INVENTION
One of the first questions that is sure
to be asked is: Ii in case this machine
does really furnish its own motive pow.
or, can any practical result be attained |?
To this interrogation Mr.. Wickbsm has
but two answers: Future experiments
and the labors Of more experienced me.
chanics must decide the question. That
is the first. The second is that be hon.
estly and truly believes il can furnish ex
ira force. As proof that a superfu-
Gus power exists in the invention, its dis.
coverer points to the fact that it turns its
own governor; and also to the point
that be has already attached light
pump TO the machine, and that the pump
worked. He does not, however. claim
for certainty that he has found power
that will either be useful in saving a
plank or weaving a gossamer bit of lace.
but he thinks that he can do anything
with bis machine that can be done with
any other known motor.
ITS MONEY VALUE.
The government of most of the lead
ing nations, have for many years had
standing rewards ready for the discovery
of machine that would furnish its own
motive power.
They have scoffeed at the very idea
of the thing, and have shown with the