New-York tribune., 1896-05-15
Predicting ELECTRICITY CHE1PLY.

| A STARTLING STORY FROM BOSTON or 4 NEW
PRocEss-pR. JACQrEs's CARBON BATTERY.
Chemists ascertained many years ago exactly how
! 10 compute the amount OF energy stored in piece
! O, coal So much coal contained so much pure car
| bon \ given quantity OF the latter, combined with
as much oxygen as would take. would yield IL
| certain amount OF heat and this was equivalent TO
a given amour. OF power But II has never been
possible TO get. in actual practice, anything IKE the
theoretical energy especially II ordinary cornbus-
| ton under the boiler OF a steam engine was the
method OF conversion adopted. and the engine was
used TO run a dynamo Under these circumstances
with the most perfect apparatus obtainable II was
feasible to capture and utilize only from TO per
! cent OF the hidden possibilities OF the fuel
II has been perceived therefore. that a radically
different system must be pursued something
araloeous 70 a galvan'c battery. IN which cold
oxidation OF materials would occur. but In which
carbon should be used instead OF copper and zinc
was suggested and several elcctro-chcm!sts have
be~n working along that particular lre OF expert
rnen for severaiyears Every now and then some one
OF them believes and tells the world that he mas al
mos; or quite reached the goal toward when all
are striving About eighteen months ago. Tor IN
stance Dr. Borchers. German. declared that he
had devised carbon battery that yielded from % to
81 per cen: OF the power stored In the coal con-
sumed Subsequent results failed to justify his
claim. however.
The latest announcement OF success in tbs highly
important and revolutionary research comes from
Boston. Dr William w. Jacques. an electrician.
who pursued fis scientific studies In Johns Hopkins
University and In Europe ard who has for years
been conn eced with the Bell Telephone Company.
says that he has able 10 efficiency or
81 per cent from carbon battery. And Professor
Cross OF the department OF physics In the Massa-
chuset. institute OF Technology. and Professor
Rowland Of Johns Hopkins. Two weil-known
physicists are quoted by the Boston paperE as sub
starually confirming Dr. Jacquess story. which s.
therefore, entitled TO respectful attention. II not to
absolute confidence.
The essential part os the BOstonan's apparatus Is
an iron pot caustlc soda kept in molten state by the
| application Of gentle heat, stick OF carbon I'M
mersed IN the same. and Jet OF air forced into the
bottom OF the liquid through an Iron tube III
wires be led away from the iron pot and the carbon
stick and be connected current of electricity will
be found flowing In them. The oxygen OF part OF
the injected air IL Supposed 10 combine with the car
bon. producing carbonic acid. which escapes In
gaseous form. No solid residue or ashes result
from this combustion and no additional heat is de-
veoped theoretically. the union OF the oxygen and
carbon is accomplished not In direct way but an
Indirect. That Is TO say. the gas combines FIRST with
the ecctroyts. or soda. and the compound then
works on the carbon Bu; the soda undergoes no
permanent chemical change or deterioration. and
need not be renewed
been associated and put into operation the electric
current derived therefrom can he made TO perform
work OF any kind. In passing IL should be re-
marked that single cell gives what the electricians
call volume. amperes, but with low voltage
Ty employing enough cells however, and connect
ing them properly, any desired voltage can be
cured Dr jacques for instance, has taken 100 Iron
pots. each IL inches deep and lie inches In diam
eter arranged them In ten rows OF ten each
crate inclosed with brick. and wire from the
carbon OF every cell TO the pot OF the next one. In
this way he IL said 20 have operated thirty sixteen
candle power !ncandescent lamps for nearly nine
teen hours. with consumption In the pots OF only
eight pounds OF coal The current. being measured
IS amperes Dr. Jacques pronounces this result
about ten times as good as that obtained from an
ordinary steam engine and dynamo plant. Says
The Boston Herald"
1T may be we'll to consider the probable Industrial
effects OF this startling discovery. II Is not that
grew before but that ten units OF energy to be
derived from the same lump OF coal that furnishes
but now. and this at a greatly reduced first cost
for construction OF plant and FOR attendance there
Gated and costly. They are continually getting out
OF order. and require constant attention and fire.
quent repair. A l0D-horsc power electric plant OF
the usual type would be cheap $40 O1 and IL
must be suitably housed. with engine and boiler
rooms separate. There large amounts OF coal
to be handled ashes to be removed and disposed or
water to be paid for and endless supplies be pro-
vded. And the result In per cent OF the potential
energy OF the fuel Contrast with this a brick
structure ten or twelve feet square the base and
tanning caustic soda and the necessary carbon and
under them mild fire. And that is all The ter
mnals OF such generator yield the energy
the $1,000 plant with one-tenth the consumption
OF fuel and attendance reduced n minimum
That Is what the invention means"