The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-12-26
A Wonderful Discovery.

A number Of the New York Daily Graphic of the
latter part Of November, contains an account Of a
machine now in process Of construction in Philadel-
phia, which, if the claims Of its inventor prove to be
within the bounds Of its capabilities, will awaken the
interest Of every civilized man on the globe and mark
q new era in human progress. We compile the lead
ing features of the statement. The machine has
been constructed at considerable expense, and after
nearly fourteen years Of repeated trial and failure.
This machine is nothing more nor less than a contriv-
ance for the application Of an alleged new motor-a
new principle Of motive power as far superior to
steam as steam was superior to wind and water power.
What this principle is. as yet remains a secret known
only to the inventor, and as such would naturally be
entitled to all the ineredulity that has invariably at
tached to exorbitant claims of q similar character.
There are, however, certain tatements made con-
corning it which will soon be easily susceptible Of
proof or disproof, as well as certain names reported
as connected with it that win compel the respectful
attention Of the public. Wealthy and well-known
firms in New York and Philadelphia are said to have
advanced considerable sums Of money to further the
construction Of the machine on condition of receiving
the exclusive right to dispose Of it in certain pre-
scribed territories. The new apparatus is in the
house of the inventor, ]. W. Kelley. Master street,
Philadelphia, jealousy guarded. 1t is so nearly
completed to his satisfaction that a model for deposit
in the Patent Office at Washington has been begun
and will soon be finished. 4
Mr.. Kelley asserts that with only two gallonsfof
water he would be able to draw q train of cars from
Philadelphia to San Francisco and back again. The
water, it is stated, would be used over and over,
something as steam is utilized in a condensing engine.
Incredible as this claim is, the inventor further de-
clares that he obtains this vast power without the use
Of fuel, without the use of electricity or magnetic
currents. A conclusion naturally arrived at when it
is stated that nc. fuel is used is that the power is OBJ
tanned by the decomposition of the water and the
rapid disengagenent of hydrogen or oxygen, or of
both these gases The assertion that no chemicals or
electrical currents are used is supposed to be made to
overthrow this inference. The utilization of force
derived from the evolution OF gases is no new idea,
and the only reason that it has not been employed is
the fact that the consumption Of the necessary sub
stances has been found to be more costly than con-
sumption of coal in generating an equal amount of
force by means Of steam.
But the most marvellous statement is yet to be
made. Ar. Kelley claims that by the machine now
at his residence he has developed the enormous press
ure of seven Thousand pounds to the square inch !!
When it is remembered that steam boilers are only
subjected to a strain of from thirty to perhaps two
hundred pounds to the square inch, according to the
purposes for which they are constructed, a proper
sense Of this leap upwards to seven thousand pounds
will be realized. With this power at his command,
unencumbered with q corresponding cost and weight
of metal, mans complete conquest over nature would
seem to be q thing of the near future. .geEI
Before INDUCING in speculations upon the value of
such q discovery, it is rather in order to consider
what grounds there are for believing that it has really
been made. These grounds, SO far, it must be con-
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inventor and his friends. But these statements are
made by men, (says the Graphic correspondent who
certainly do not lack intelligence, and in the face Of
the fact that if false the lapse of a few weeks will
render them the laughing stock of the community.
On the 10th of November, a test of the apparatus was
made in the presence of ten gentlemen, three Of
whom were experts. One of these was a Chief Engi-
neer in the u. s. Navy, and the other two practical
Engineers. All who were present are of course very
reticent as to what took place, but all claim TO be
perfectly well assured by what they saw Of the sue
cess of the discovery. It is claimed that no one
knows the principle upon which the machine has
been constructed except the inventor. Its shape is
not revealed, but it was capable of holding about
gallons Of water. Those present were in
vited to taste the water in order to show that no
chemicals had been used. Then Mr.. Kelley poured
in a quantity Of the water from the bydrant and
closed up the opening. "InstantAneOusly,' to use
the words Of those present, {" there was developed q
pressure of 1000 pounds This pressure was
by a safety-valve apparatus with a proper
leverage. Mr.. Kelley says the power generated is
inc -haustible, and will be supplied as fast as it can
be used in q cylinder. The fact that it has been
made to operate a steam-engine makes it certain, Of
course, that the expansive force is due either to 4 va
por or a gas
Should this apparatus prove able to accomplish all
is claimed for il by its inventor, it is impossible
% overestimate the benefits to be derived. Its cheap
would Danish coal from the railroads, steam
,oats and manufactures. Further inventions in the
Of mechanical action into heat would
ven render coal unnecessary for fuel. A feet Of
ailing vessels is now employed in carrying coal TO
tations on the route of the Pacific Mail steamers ply
ng between San Francisco and China, because 1t is
nahifesuy undesirable to load down the steamers
coal at the expense of freight. All the steamers (
n the ocean would be lightened Of the material pOr-
ion Of their cargOes, and at the same time could be
lriven with a speed whose only limit would be the
taunchness of the vessels themselves. Mountains ]
ould be tunneled and hills leveled with the new I
over at an expense that would now seem triaing. I
n war, irOnclads, relieved Of the weight and weak G
appertaining to boilers and coal-bunkers, could s
c made absolutely inTulnerable, and a; the same I
inc their speed and efficiency as rams could be won