The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-20
AN ELECTRIC THEORY
Or. GROSS EXPLAINS THE USE or
HIS MACHINE.
10 Wishes to Capture and Utilize the
Electrical Fluid-His Object L. to Get
Centrifugal Force Exceeding That of
the Earth He Uses Kitea.

Electrical Fluid-His Object IL to Get
. Centrifugal Force Exceeding That of
the Earth He Uses Kitea.
DIR. William NJ. Gross of Gillespie,
Ills, believes that his electrical ma
chine, which has been tested at the
Laclede Gas, Light and Power COM
pany s plant at the foot of Mound street,
will revolutionize the methods OF pro-
ducing electric power.
Primarily DIR. Gross is at war with
the schools. The scholastic idea Ia that
electricity is static force. DIR. Gross
holds that it is induced. He advances
arguments in behalf Of his theory that
electricians laugh at, but do not refute.
| Some of the tests made by DR.. Gross
| and his associates by means OF kites have
| been successful in small degree. 9th
ers will follow and it is expected that
| by March | IL will be known whether
the Gillespie doctor or the practical cleo
tricians are right
| DR.. Gross is manifestly Of thoughtful
habit, almost 80 years old, bald, gray
bearded and strong of frame. He is the
| leading practitioner in the Gillespie
neighborhood and has a local reputation
as mathematician. No man in the
community stands higher
| His hackers in his electrical invention
are John II. Eilers of Gillespie and
Frank Friede and William Brandt of
Mount Olive, Ills. They are men Of
means, amply able to stand the expense
Of the experiments. Their Endorsement
of his theory tells better than words Of
the faith that is reposed in him. Still
there is division of sentiment in Gill
lespie, many of DIR. Gross neighbors be-
lieving, with the electricians, that his
idea is chimerical.
| DR.. Gross recently discussed his theo-
ry. He said:
"My purpose is to capture and utilize
the earth seeking electricity. I am in
opposition to the schools in believing
that electrical force is induced and not
static. l do not pretend to be an electri.
clan. Time will tell whether I am q
scientist
1.-THE earth and its atmosphere are
the armature, and that portion of space
between the earth and the sun is the
electro magnet of natures grand dy-
namo electric machine. The sun is shin
ing on one-half of the earth all the
time. Its rays are vertical ON some por
ton of the earth all the time. The space
between the earth and the sun is heavily
charged with electricity. Currents Of
this electricity are induced out of space
by the revolutions Of the earth from
west to east.
"In accordance with the rule of elec-
trio currents they pass in opposite d.
rections, going from east to west. This
is in obedience to the law, interpreted by
, LEM more than 60 years ago, that in
duced currents Of electricity always 60
in opposite directions to the electric
magnetic force producing the current.
These currents are brought down to and
through the earth's centrifugal force.
This force tends from the center toward
the east. The current tends from the
east and to the center of the earth.
, When the center becomes surcharged,
the current flows off at about the seven
| tieth parallel, producing the north and
; south winds.
~ will say nothing about the con-
struction of my machine, but my object
is to get "a centrifugal force exceeding
that of the earth. Getting that, be-
lieve can induce the electrical force
, that is in space
''That is the kernel Of my idea.
1.-THE earth travels 1875 miles min
, ute. My machine must go faster than
this in order to induce the electricity
J want.
II am not quite satisfied with the re-
!, suits attained. We got decided cur
rent, but curiously enough the strongest
flow was from an altitude Of only 100
: feet. The men handling the kites then
had to put OH rubber gloves.
II got my idea in 1895. 1t came from
the discovery that the earth was full of
electricity, resulting from experiments
with the ground wire Of a telephone.
lay down and thought earnestly of how
l could capture the earth's electricity.
1t came to me like fash if / could
, overcome the earths centrifugal force
} could utilize the electricity it induces.
, That is what my machine is intended to
D do. Whether it will do it or not re-
mains to be seen. st. Louis Post Dis
match