The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-26
Electricity in the Air
Harnessed By a Convict

honest mar in returning to his stripes
within the limit fixed, while his heart
was constantly drawing him to New
Orleans to see the devoted wife VIII,
was still faithful and loving. through
the time Of their enforced separation
He knew he could. at best, be with
her for a sorrowful brief visit, ami
must then esume his journey back
to the prison gates. and by that only
could he hold the confidence Of the
prison officials and preserve his own
self-resPect. and more a necessity
now that fortune seemed ready to
smile upon his eorts.
one can fancy how this Young man
ianored. without thought Of hunger
or sleep. in a strange city. without
acquaintance with n Of those who
might have aided him to meet the
of1cial requirement. Nevertheless. he
manared to throw together a crude
reproduction OF his original working
model. but when IT was exhibited to
the patent officials II failed to work,
because he had been unable to prop
erly magnetic an indispensable steel
cessful operation.
However. an inspection of the model
gave the examiners a better under
standi~- and opinion Of the inven-
tors claims, and they gained Il
shadoWy conception of the basic prin-
ciple which he had tried to explain
to their comprehension with no prev:-
u success.
Hastcns to Visit Wife.
The application was accepted and
registered and the glad-hearted in
ventor took thu first train for the
Crescent city. where his wife awaited
him. He spent two days with his
wife and was present TO report at the
Phoenix prison with q couple of DAYS
margin to his credit.
While in Washington Meyers had
drawings made in detail by expert
craftsmen for an apparatus which,
he claims, will supply a constant cur.
rent sufficient TO illuminate a city Of
100000 population.
Meyers outfit which, in some re-
spects. resembles a wireless plant,
is placed on a tower Of skeleton steel,
averaging 200 feet in height. This
structure carries a bell-shaped cap or
hood, at the back 81 which is fixed a
steel plate magnetized by a process
secret Of the inventor.
This hood Meyers calls an "ab-
rber," and 1t constitutes the cruz
of his invention. He claims that II
will collect or draw all the electricity
from any statum of the atmosphere.
but preferably from such strata as
are considerably elevated above the
ground, where there is less disturb
ance or disruption Of the airs strait
fcation.
Conveyed to Transformer.
This absorber is the sole mechan-
ism required TO attract and accunu-
late the electrical contents of the air
current in which it may be set to
work; the positive and negative ele.
ments Of the fluid gathering at oppo-
site electrodes or poles, and being
conducted by wires as fas as II ac-
cumulates in the absorber. down to a
"stepup" transformer. located on the
ground. Having passed through this
transformer. the electric fluid, now
changed into a direct" current, is
conducted, also by insulated wires, to
any Of the existing forms Of electric
lighting apparatus or to storage bat
teries. for use in motor vehicles or
tram cars. or directly to any electric
motor attached to machinery. 1t may
also be used for every purpose where
neat is required by passing the cur
rent through proper resistanc coils.
Meyers also emphatically claims
that his apparatus accumulates and
transmits a constant current. and
that his absorber will draw aerial
electricity as we'll by night as by day.
and that it will work In every condi-
ton and position where the wireless
is efficient.
Overcharge is Prevented.
Danger from surcharge of the ap-
paratus during electrical storms is
guarded against by means of a special
form of ~"arrester," somewhat like
those in use IN telegraph and tele-
phone lines. This appliance quietly
takes down into the ground all ex-
cess currents or accumulation Of the
fluid even during the most violent
atmospheric disturbances.
Meyers has found that the efficient
working OF the absorber or accumu-
lator is increased by fixing the ap-
paratus in a position to Inherent All
currents Moving between the mag
netic poles Of the earth. and, there
fore. he prefers to place the appar-
atus In a due north-and-south line.
Roy J. Meyers Is a native of Iowa.
where he was born thirty-three year.
ago. but he has been a restless bird
Of passage since his youth, and has
soJourned at brief periods in New
York. New Jersey. Illinois. Montana
and Arizona and in other states and
territories. Of whose names he does
not give account. The greater por-
ton OF his life was absorbed in work
upon and with electrical machinery
He was thus employed in Los Ange.
les by the Edison Electric company,
and 1t was then hat he made his first
lapse from honest courses. which
landed him in the penitentiary al
Folsom for a year. When he left that
prison he drifted to Arizona. and
became for a time assistant superin-
tendent Of the great Humbold,
snaelter, and later held a Job a,
Prescott.
Second Time Sent TO Prison.
He again yielded to temptation Al
the latter place. and forged and
cashed a check for $50. Leaving the
country. with detectives on his trail,
he was finally located and arrested
In New Orleans. where he had sue.
ceeded In marrying into a prominen,
family. whose name he never mon.
tions. Brought back to Arizona. his
trial and conviction swiftly followed