The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-06-03
KELLY OUTDONE.
A Thermo-Electric Generator Ex-
pected to Work a Revolution in
TeIegraphy and Mechanics.

A Thermo-EIectric Generator Ex-
pected to Work Revolution in
TeIegraphy and Mechanics.
For about nine days now, says an In
dianapolis special to the Chicago Tribune,
a thermo-eIectric generator has been sup
plying a current Of electricity sufficient
to operate four wires, two to Louisville.
one to NATION, H., and one to Union
City, in this State-the total length of
the wire in operation exceeding 600 miles.
As to the machine itself, all that the OBJ
server sees is a copper boiler. of perhaps
twO-gallon capicity, mounted on the
frame of a sewing machine, Underneath
the boiler is a coal oil lamp which is
burning with about the flame used to
partially illuminate a sick room. 1t has
been burning continuously for eight days
and nights, except when being replenish-
ed, and had consumed less than 20 cents
worth Of oil In front of the boiler is
guage which marked 100 degrees Of heat.
Inside of the boiler were scraps of metal
protruding from white substance that
might be flour or plaster of paris. At
tached to the boiler is an automatic regu-
lator.
In response to questions as to the ma
ture of his discovery the inventor said
that it had long been known to scientists
d hat the juxtaposition of certain metals
q rould generate electricity, and that the
kocess of generation would be aCcelerat-
by the application Of heat. This
acknowledge had however. remained in
applicable to practicable purposes from
three causes-frst, the amount Of heat
required was so great as to cause rapid
fracture Of the combined metals, and
this rendered any machine previously in
vented shOrt-lived, and consequently ex-
pensive; second, the current of electricity
generated was uneven and unsteady;
third, the high degree of heat involved q
great expenditure for fuel. That he had
overcome the third difficulty was appar-
ent. That he had overcome the second
he held to be proved, for telegraphic ser
vice requires a perfectly uniform and
steady current of electricity, and this he
had maintained for nine days. Whether
the other obstacle had been overcome
was now being tested, and the test would
be continued for thirty days. If at the
end Of that time all is well with the lit
tie machine he will give demonstration
with one big enough to create something
like a revolution in the use of electricity.
At present he declines to expose the
combination of metals by which he has
secured these results. Telegraphing is
one of only a few uses to which the
thermO-generatOr can be applied. The
small apparatus now in use was made in
the presence of your correspondent to
operate an engine which would run a
swift sewing machine or keep the press
of country paper going, and furnish
light for half dozen electric lamps in
the bargain, all at cost of 10 cents a
week. A larger machine, it is said,
would run the elevator of a first-Class
hotel and light every room in the house
for quarter of a dollar. 1t could also
be used for propelling and lighting street
cars. In fact, its uses were boundess.
There is now only one question to
be solved before the success of the in
vention is determined. 1t is the one of
5uro biIitv