The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-06
A NEW MOTIVE POWER.
Gas as a Substitute for steam In Running
Engines.
~PhlladeIrhia Press.

Philadelr hia Press.
John 4. Dysart, an inventor Of wonderful
genius, was recently interviewed by a reporter,
to whom be gave an inkling of some wonderful
possibilities in the future. He lives at Shippens-
vile, Clarion cuunty, and within the past three
years has received patents on fourteen inven-
tions, most of which are for use with natural
and artificial gas lie has already spent much
time in the natural gas regions of pennsylvania,
making the uses, resources and improvements
of the wonderful fuel u special study. He be
lleves the adaptability of the mysterious fluid is
capable of vast possibilities not yet dreamed OF.
Being led into conversation upon this subject, he
remarked:
''rhere is no reason why it cannot be used for
motive power he SAID. Compare its ire
mendous force with that of steam. and it is won
derful. In cities 1T could be piped into the cylin-
ders of stationary engines, and would run them
just at we'll as steam. Up at my workshop, in
Clarion county, L frequently attach my natural
gas pipe to my steam pump, and it operates 1t
successfully.
Other gases are capable of use for motive
power, he continued. Recently l constructed
a model railroad in my house, and had built
for it a little locomotive. | generated a certain
kind Of gas, and, with tho laboratory in the en-
CINE cab, applied the fuel successfully.
That locomotive ran like a top. OF course,
it was only on o small scale. but l could
have done the same with any large loco
motive. Had | the time to perfect my work,
three months later | should have had a gas
laboratory in the cab of a freight locomotive.
Would such a locomotive haul a train of carsl
Well. | should say it would. By my process |
would have been able to produce a pressure of
! 900 pounds in FIVE minutes. Of course, you
ur derstand it was not a gas to burn that | had,
but u gas generated for the purpose of power
only. That pressure would be sufficient to pull
the heaviest freight train. A man of inventive
mind has to contend with a great difficulty, and
that IS when he Is at work on one contrlvance or
studying out some one idea others will suggest
themselve, and in them he sees something new
to lead him off his original idea. That is how l
happened to let my locomotive run down.
You have no idea of inventing a rival to
Keoly's motor, have your suggested the repor-
ter.
mot at all" replied Mr.. Dysart, but have
paid some little attention to a theory that Think
throws keely's idea far into the shade. Let me
tell You about it A few years ago, when 1
lived in Ohio, | was visited by Prof. Tice, the
noted weather prophet. He found much inter
est in a collection of some 5000 mineral speci-
mems which 1 have, and while talking about
them exhibited to me n twig OF the Usage orange
plant. 1t vas perfectly white and shriveled.
He had taken it from IA hedge in Illinois. in a re
gion that had been swept by terrible thunder
storms and tornadoes. / asked how the thing
was whitened and shriveled up, and his
explanation was that the whole Usage
orange hedge mad been left in that condition, the
lightning entering the plants, expanding the sap,
bursting the branches and leaving them sapless.
The dead plants were not injured, there being no
sap to affect.
THE circumstance started a train of inquiry
IN my mind. Investigating the subject, | found
that the power of water is capable of being ex-
banded some BAT parts by electricity. Now,
there is my theory in a nutshell. Instead of
generating steam in a locomotive or stationary
engine, introduce q powerful electric disturb
ance in the water and you will have a motive
vastly greater than steam. 1t will require
deep study, for years, perhaps, to strike just
the right amount of each element to bring
together. At first your force would be too
powerful or too weak. Tho man who finds the
medium will make a fortune. / am going to
devote some more of my time to it in the flu
tura -