The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-02-14
The World to Be Fair
ly Astonished.
Detailed Statement of Its
Marvels.
Some Tremendous Results Already
Attained and Greater Still Antici-
pated by the Government.

stands on the bleak shores of WilletS
Point, with which experiments as
told by the Herald, have been tried
by its constructor, Colonel William Il
King, commandant of the post, will,
when the weather is propitious, again
be subjected to tests that are likely
TO bring astonishing results.
When Professor Joseph Henry con-
eeived the idea Of making magnet
out Of a piece Of soft iron by wrap
| ping it with a botten wire through
which a current Of electricity is
passed, he little thought that one of
his intimate friends would construct
on his plan the largest electric mag
aet Of the century and one capable of
sxerting pull Of $4,000 pounds. Yet
such is the fact, and such is the mag
net now at Willets Point
| Until within the last year no one,
except the visionary gentleman who
originally told the arabian Nights"
story and described the great load
stone that drew the nails out of ap-
preaching ships, ever thought of con-
structing a magnet that would hold
| Itwenty-four tons. Though the mag
net constructed by Colonel King can
not draw the nails from approaching
ships nor defect their compasSes at a
distance Of six miles-as has been de-
cleared it could dot can do aston
ishing things through its silent and
mysterious power, and it is expected
that future experiments will still more
manifest it's capabilities.
Think Of a magnet seventeen feet
kong, four feet in diameter and weigh
ing fifty-fve thousand pounds. Such
ID the great instrument as it stands
today on it's carriage, looking like a
huge cannon wrapped to keep it
from the cold. And it is a huge cam
non resting on it's carriage, and point
hg out over Long Island Sound. 1t is
also wrapped, but not to protect it
from the cold, but to transform it into
q magnet. This covering is more than
ten miles of insulated copper wire,
wound Layer on layer around it.
When the great weight of twenty
four tons was held, the magnet was
doubled by the addition of another
cannon connected with the first by
underlying iron plates; thus the mag
net was made to have it's two poles.
as is Usual with the small ones seen
On telegraphic instruments. For the
purpose of the additional intended
experiments the magnet is DOW re-
auced to the one cannon, ffteen-inch
Rodman gun.
4 ITS WONDERFUL POWER.
This piece of ordnance is like its
nate standing near, except for the
change made by the wrapping. Pieces
Of iron held at the muZZle of either
are effected alike, but start the dyna-
mos and allow current of electricity
TO make the circuit of the miles of
wire about the cannon, until twenty
Eve amperes are registered and then
observe the result. The magnetic
power perceptibly reaches a distance
Of two hundred feet, for at that point
J 1t will defect the needle of a compass
three degrees At the distance of
seventy feet from its muzzle it's power
Ia equal to the earth's magnetism, for
there the needle is detected forty five
degrees.
Iron in contact with the magnet is
held in spite Of the effort of the
strongest man to remove it. All iron
within it's magnetic field becomes
nagnetized, and five cannon balls,
each weighing 325 pounds, are held
suspended from its muzzle, one cling
tns to the other. Iron chains hanging
near became rigid, and a swinging
block few feet off, by reason of its
suspended iron hook, was drawn to
the magnet and held against all effort
Of the workmen to remove it. The
heaviest erowbar brought near will
at once fly to the magnet, and drag
with it the strongest man if he per-
dsts in clinging to it.
As magnetic force cannot be in
sulated, but manifests itself through
sll substances, even though they be
the best known non-conductors of
Electricity, a man can stand in front
Of the magnet and its mysterious force
acts through his body without dim
mutton or without in any way affect
ing him. With his back to the muz-
zle of the magnetic cannon he may
place iron spikes on his chest, and
they will be held there by the mag
net, and if placed with the ends to-
ward him they are held in that posi-
ton, giving him the appearance of a
human iron quilted porcupine.
One interesting feature in the ex-
perimentS so far as conducted is the
location of the neutral point, or the
point in the electric field where the
magnet exerts no force. This point is
on the axis of the magnet extended
and six inches from the muzzle. A
piece of iron-a tack, for instance
held at this point is not affected by
the magnet. IF between the muzzle
and this point it is repelled; if beyond
this point it is attracted.
WHY THE EXPERIMENTS.
Why has this monster magnet been
constructed, and why the preliminary
experiments and the more elaborate
ones that are to follow? Simply for
the purpose of learning what the re-.
suits will be, without a preconceived
idea Of their practical application. In
other words for science or the gaining
of knowledge that it may be system
atized. It is the purpose of Colonel
King to practically test all of the the
ories that have grown out of expert
ments with small electro magnets,
from the time of Professor Henry,
when he experimental with his bonnet
wire. down to today. This he has
been doing. With. his great magnet
! he has been able to demonstrate many
,cOnnlt1aifna that have rested In theory