Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-31
KEEkY OUTDONE.
a Ahermo-Electrie Generator Expected
TO work a Revolution In TeIegraphy
and Mechanics,

a IhermO-Electric Generator E,xv,oo4.,
TO work Revolution In TeIeoranbv
and Mechanics.
FOR about nine days now, SAYS an In
dlanapolis special to the Chicago Tribxne.
thermo-electric generator has been SUM-
plying a current Of electricity sufficient to
operate four wires, two to Louisville.
one to Nation, ILL.,, and one
10 Union City, in this State-the total
length of the wire in operation exceeding
600 miles. AS to the machine itself all
that the observer sees is a copper boiler
Oh perhaps two-gallOn capacity,
mounted on the frame of a sewing
machine. Underneath the boiler is q
coal oil lamp which is burning with about
tne name used to partially illuminate a
SICK room. 1t has been burning continu-
Ously lot eight days and nights. except
when being replenished, and had con-
sumed less than 20 cents worth of oil. In
'front.' Of the boiler is gauge which marked
lOO degrees OF heat. Inside of the boiler
were scraps of metal protruding from
Whlte substance that might be -four or
plaster OF paris. Attached to the boiler
IS an automatic regulator.
IN response to questions as to the nature
OF his discovery the inventor said that il
had long been known to scientists that
the juxtapOsitiOn Of certain metals would
generate electricity, and that the process
OF generation would be accelerated bv the
application of heat. This knowledge had.
however, remained inapplicable to prac-
ucable purposes from three causes-irst,
the amount OF heat required was so great
as to cause rapid fracture of the com
bined metals, and this rendered anv ma
chine previously invented short-lived. and
consequently expensive; second, the cur
rent OF electricity generated was uneven
and unsteady; third. the high degree of
heat involved a great expendit1re for
tuel. That he had overcome the
third difhculty was apparent. That
he had overcome the second he held
to be proved, for telegraphic service re-
qulres perfectly uniform and steady
current OF electricity, and this he had
maintained Tor 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 tnat time all is well with the little ma
chine he viii give a demonstration with
one big enough to create something like a
revolution in the use of electricity. At
present he declines to expose the combi-
nation Of metals by which he has secured
these results. Telegraphlng is one of
only 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 a country paper going, and furnish
light for half dozen electric lamps in
the bargain, all at a cost of Is 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 dollar 1t could also be used for
propelling and lighting street cars. In
fact, its uses were bOundless. There is
now only one question to be solved be-
fore the success of the invention is de-
termined. 1t is the one of durability.