Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-22

that he has made. He declares that
many Of the accepted beliefs Of sclen-
lists are wrong. He has become con-
vlnced that astronomers have been
called gravtation has n character
wholly different from that ascribed to
1t by the Newtonlan theory.
This Is go revolutionary. 80 ire
mendous an upturning Of accepted be-
liefs that IL arouscs only n smile of
turbed. lie says that his new illumi-
nant ls the first result of his theories
| and a demonstration of their truth.
He ls writing book about his re-
searches, and of this YOU shall read
| later.
First II is interesting to know some
thing Of the man himself and how he
| came to discover the new light He Is
| forty years old and was born In Ohio.
| He Is sef-cducated. He has lived in
| Logansport for several years and in
| Indiana the greater part of his life
| He has model shop and is known as
mechanic OF rare skill and as a student
| as well. From his early youth he has
| found no pleasure In the recrcations
| that attract men. His days have been
| passed In work and experiment, his
| nights In delving into scientific works.
He has made several inventions which
yield him n comfortable income.
About five years ago an order for
half dozen representations Of the
solar system was sent to him. He set
to work to build an exact model show
ing the movements OF the planets about
the sun. This led him to study astron-
omy and physics very carefully. Doubt
entered his mind and further study and
experiment led him to believe that the
attraction which is called gravitation
~ n force vastly different and acting
In a manner not yet grasped by scien-
lists.
From his conclusions he began to
draw further deductions as to at
fractions and repulsious, finally decid-
Ing that there was no such thing as
atomic affinity or cohesion of molecules.
Starting from this viewpoint he be-
gan series OF experiments both rn.-
chanical and chemical. and finally
stumbled upon the new light. Nickum
was not elated with his discovery. He
had no great confidence in Il at first,
He did not accept II as real discovery
of practical Importance until he had
put 1t to the test. Each development
was more and more extraordinary He
was finally convinced that he had
found new illuminant
This was three years ago. Since
then he has worked night and day to
bring the idea to state of practical
perfection; He has worked in absolute
secrecy. Years ago Nickum had an
unfortunate experience with an inven-
tion. 1t taught him caution. He ex- 4
tended his laboratory to twice It's for
fner size. He took every precaution to
Keep out intruders. He went to liv,.
over the workshop. An idea OF the
application of this inventor can he
gained when 1t is said that for weeks
nj a time he has not been in the open
air. At long intervals he appears upon
the streets of the town hurrying T.,
perform some urgent business He is
Jealous OF every minute that Keeps him
from his work.
The book upon which Mr.. Nickum IL
working is entitled. Mature Unfolded,"
and in 1t he endeavors to substantiate
the following seven fundamental propo-
sitions of physical science:
''First-That all matter is of one
kind.
'second-That there is but one kind
of power.
"rhird-That atoms singly or atoms
In mass are not endowed with the
power of attraction.
"Fourth-That atoms singly or atoms
In mass are not endowed with the
quality called affinity.
"Fifth--That there Is no such SUBJ
stance as the intangible, Understandable
something called ether. which is sup
posed to invade and permeate space.
'Sixth-That the supposed atmos-
pheric pressure of something like fif-
teen pounds to the square inch is not
less than ninety pounds to the square
inch or thereabouts.
Scientific men," he says, ''have been
cropping about in the darkness for
long time. The progress of thought
has been in the direction of unity of
matter and unity of force. 1 believe
that all kinds of matter are composed of
one kind of atoms in various forms
and all energy or force is but the vari-
Gus manifestations of one original
movement given to matter by the
Creator.
There are no different kinds of
adhesion. cohesion, capillary atdac-
ton, growth, electricity, &C., are not
separate kinds Of forces, but different
manifestations of the same force. and
that force Is the imperishable continue
alton of the original movement to mat
ter given by the Creator. We may
call it power, force, energy or what
not; 1t makes no difference. I say
Creator because / take no middle
ground. being entirely unable to COM
prehend how an adverse view can find
Judgment in nationality"
The World further explains the the
cries of the inventor. as follows;
"Nickum substitutes for all the forces
-cOntSlOT, uuHeslon, ETdNlthtiDn .illu
the Ikea force pushing particles into
juxtaposition. and he calls 1t vibration.
In this 1t viii be seen that he accepts
the Tesla theory that vibration in
cludes all force. According to Nickum,
the atoms, in varying sizes, with differ
ent vibration rates, form the different
kinds of matter known to our senses.
The force itself. in different forms.
makes heat, light, electricity. gravi
tation and the other forms of energy.
Thus one force and one kind of matter,
both originally implanted by the Gre
ator. account for the whole universe.
He believes that light is the result
of n high period of vibration in moving
atoms. The larger the atoms the
faster they must be forced to vibrate.
and the more power required to get
up the speed required to produce light; !
the smaller the atoms the easier 1t IL
to produce light with them. The in
ventor says that PHOSPHORUS has the
smallest atoms, and Is therefore the
easiest to make light with. 1t is sup
posed that this substance in certain
compounds is used In his vacuum
lamps"
How much Of the foregoing is ''yel-
low Journalism" and how much of 1t
Is pure science. no one but savant
could tell, and he might not be able to |
draw the lines accurately. But there |
is an air of plauslbility running
through the description OF the alleged |
invention and the theories of the in