Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-08
Picks Power From The Air.

Picks Power From The Air.
A remarkable scene took place in
the legislature Of Arizona this spring
when the lawmakers enthusiastically
voted for the parole of a certain con-
vict in the State penitentiary, grant
ing him a leave of absence for thirty
days and by means of private contri-
buttons raising a fund to defray his
expenses to Washington, ID. c., and
return.
The prisoner, Roy J. Meyers, is serv-
ing a three and a half year sentence,
but in spite Of the fact that he bears
the stigma of a convicted law breaker,
he has demonstrated that a convict
can be a useful member OF society.
During his i'm priSonment he perfect
ed an electrical device of such origin
al character as to arouse feelings OF
wonder and skepticism until experts
had seen it in actual operation. 1t is
a device to draw electricity from the
atmosphere for light and power, and
the thirty day parole was granted in
order that the inventor might protect
his rights through the patent office
at Washington.
With the acquiescence of the legis-
lature, Governor Hunt granted the
parole and the prisoner was allowed
to 20 free without any guard or any
assurance but his word of honor that
he would return. Two days before the
period had elapsed. Meyers again pre-,
sented himself before the governor,
having accomplished his mission, and
then returned to the peuitentiary at
Florence, where he continues to serve
his sentence.
This, in brief, is the picturesque
story which has called attention OF
the civilized world to a newly dis
covered electrical genius, and to an
other feature of the case which is OF
equal Importance and human interest
namely, the enlightened policy pur"
sued by our youngest State in It's
treatment of couvicts.
Meyers chance came when Govern
or George w. B. Hunt chose as super
intendent of the penitentiary at
Florence a man of very different type
from the political hanger-on who too
often fills such a position. "Big Bob
Sims was a business man of advanced
| views. and was chosen for the position
because of his knowledge of human
nature and bis executive ability.
One of the progressive steps he
took was to abolish the stripes in The
pe%nitentiary, and to adopt a much
less rigorous confinement of the in.
mates. The ''honor system" with the
cooperation of Governor Hunt, was
inaugurated.
Before entering the prison, Meyers
had already applied for various pa
tents, among them n for an i'm
proved trolley head which prevents
the trolley wheel from jumping the
wire. Meyers had a conference will
Superintendent Sims and Parole CLERK
Sanders, and it was to these gentle
men that the inventor first explained
the principles of his new device fol
securing electrical energy from the
air. The officials were willing to give
the man an opportunity to develop
his plan and a little wooden building
outside the walls vas turned over tt
Meyers and vas fitted up as a work
shop and a laboratory. The first de-
monstration of the new apparatu!
was made shortly thereafter, the cleo
tricity drawn from the atmosphere
being used to spark The gas engines O.
| the pump house, and although the de
vice was crude yet it did the work
and removed the doubts OF his friend:
Further development of the "absor
ber'' followed, and his second mode
was constructed, and developed eigh,
volts. From "Picks Power from the
Air. in November Technical Worlc
Magazine.