166 Prof. Page on Electro-Magnetism as a Moving Power. 



The rotary form of the engine has not yet been tested, although it 

 possesses advantages not to be found in any form of the recipro- 

 cating engine. There are some obvious disadvantages attending its 

 construction ; but it is hoped that they will be outweighed, more 

 especially as this form of the engine will occupy less than one-half 

 the room required for the reciprocating form*. 



It would seem very desirable that the investigation thus begun, 

 and so far successfully conducted, should be carried at least beyond 

 an uncertain issue, and that every important point should be settled, 



* The following notice of Prof Page's experiments is from the Daily 

 National Intelligencer of September 1 1 . 



Dr. Page's method is pecuhfu' and entirely new, and distinct from every 

 other hitherto tried; and therein lies the som-ce of his success. Instead 

 of going upon beaten tracks, which, though seemingly fair, he was per- 

 suaded would not reach the desired end, he marked out an entirely new 

 one. One great difference between his and other plans, as I imderstand it 

 to be, is this : In all former electro-magnetic machines, the power is made 

 up of a series of impulses, while in this, which he styles an axial machine, 

 or engine, the power is uniform and continuous ; and it is just as easy to 

 make a reciprocating engine of twentj'-fonr feet stroke as one of two feet, 

 hke that already constructed and recently exhibited. 



I saw at the laboratory of Dr. Page, a rotary axial engine, which he 

 thinks may, in many cases, supersede the reciprocating. It is really a 

 cmious machine ; and looking at this, and all his wonderfid residts, it ap- 

 pears as if we had just entered upon a new a?ra in science and art, promising 

 revolutions in social life and business pm-suits as miraculous to the people 

 of the day as have been those effected by the steam-engine and the mag- 

 netic telegraph. * * * 



In order to show that there was something like power, he loaded down 

 the engine, placed the crank at half- stroke, and then a hook over the end 

 of the crank, to which hook was attached a long rope. Thi'ee of the 

 strongest men of the party then took hold of the rope, two of them having 

 their feet braced. The three men could not start the engine a hair^ 

 breadth. Four of the men then took hold, and they moved the crank two 

 inches, where it stuck fast. The power was then let on, and the engine 

 started, and made a speed of ninety revolutions in a minute. By taking 

 off foiu-teeu pounds from the end of his friction-brake, the engine made 110 

 revolutions ])er minute. Professor Page stated that this was not testing 

 the power of the engine, but it showed that what four men could but just 

 move through two inches, the engine earned through one-fifth of a mile, 

 and that, too, in one minute. Understand that, from the change in the 

 position of the crank, the power of four men could go no further than 

 the two inches. 



Professor Page expects to make a trial upon a raihoad soon. He has 

 sufficient jjower now to make a demonstration, but is not s.atisfied with it. 

 He would be glad to make the first trip with fifteen to twenty horse power. 

 It is, however, in navigation that he expects the greatest benefits from this 

 invention, smd I would like to see the project carried out of an engine and 

 magnetic boat (not steum-ho&t) of 100 horse power. This would settle the 

 question, and enable the world to enter upon the benefits of the discovery, 

 or satisfy mankind that the power cannot be made available for " loco- 

 motion or navigation;" and thus arrest the further sacrifice of mind and 

 means, in endeavoiu-s to find that which (if it caimot be secured by e 

 present plan) does not probably exist. 



