AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 45D 



in the steam engine, we employ more generally, it being a more accessible 

 and constant source of power than Gravity. It is independent of local cir- 

 cumstances and of climatic influences, or changes of the season. Electricity 

 is not yet fully broken to the harness, but there is no reason why an agent 

 capable of such mighty effects in nature should not become a great source 

 of economical power ; but this is in the future. 



. The Chairman stated that England employs three-fourths of all the 

 economic motors in the world, but Niagara falls alone could supply twice 

 the power now utilized in the world. 



Mr. Seeley considered it important to seek some means of rendering 

 electric power available for plowing. The steam engine though so perfect 

 is too heavy for soft ground, but if the immense stores of- electricity, 

 proved by Faraday and others to exist in the air, earth and water, could be 

 utilized for this one purpose, it would immortalize the inventor and benefit 

 mankind. Power can obviously be generated artificially from coai, through 

 the agency of heat, more cheaply than from zinc through electricity, for 

 6 lbs. of coal yield as much heat as 22 lbs. of zinc, and the quantity of 

 oxygen they combine with respectively, is a measure of the power they can 

 yield. 



Mr. Stetson. — Steam power is not in my opinion more economical than 

 water power, on the contrary water power is the cheapest form that power 

 can be had in. In some factories warm water is wanted for special uses ; 

 the addition of a little more heat converts the water into steam, which is 

 thus used to utilize heat that would otherwise be lost. The Nia^-ara water 

 power is not so situated that it can be employed to much advantage now, 

 whatever it maybe when the country is more densely peopled. The power 

 exerted by the waves of the ocean, too, is enormous, but it is irregular and 

 unavailable. The air engine might be mentioned in addition to the steam 

 engine as a means of employing heat. Though it was unsuccessful in 1853, 

 it is now said to be a success for light work. The bi-sulphuret of carbon 

 engine, also, is worthy of further examination. Another means of utilizing 

 heat was Professor Soloman's carbonic acid engine. The ether engine, in 

 which ether took the place of water, bel')ngs to the same head, for it also 

 depended upon heat, and the low temperature at which the ether vaporizes 

 was expected to give great economy. 



Dr. Vanderweyde. — I may add to the list Dr. Drake's explosion engine, 

 exhibited at a recent fair. One part of gas was mixed with eight parts of 

 air, and the mixture was exploded "by an electric spark. This engine should 

 be looked into more. Of the other engine it maybe said that the packings 

 could never be kept tight, Niagara is certainly not equal in power to all 

 the engines in the world. Its power might be utilized by canals and pipes 

 leading it to points where it is wanted. 



Mr. Stetson. — Water can never be introduced economically into cities as 

 a source of power. The steam engine is far more economical. The high, 

 bridge costs annually in interest on the first cost, $70,000, which would 



