REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39 



state of activity or in a condition of neutralization ; and furthermore, 

 that all the original forces connected with our globe, as a general rule, 

 have assumed a state of permanent equilibrium, and that the crust of 

 the earth as a whole, with the exception of the comparatively exceed- 

 ingly small proportion, consisting of organic matter, such as coal, wood, 

 &c., is, as it were, a burnt slag, incapable of yielding power; that all 

 the motions and changes on its surface are due to actions from celestial 

 space, principally from the sun These are comprised under the heads 

 of wind-power, water-power, tide-power, and heat-power as developed 

 in the combustion of coal. Beside these there are no indications of 

 any other motive-powers. It is true, the heat of the interior of the 

 earth may hereafter be utilized — that wind,, water, and especially tide 

 power may also be more generally employed than at present. Great 

 improvements are possible also in the application of coal-power; the 

 present steam-engine is exceedingly wasteful of useful effect, and the 

 perfection of the air-engine is much to be desired. 



The application of the direct heat of the sun to produce motive energy 

 can scarcely ever compete with the indirect application of this power 

 through growing plants and the subsequent combustion of the fuel which 

 they furnish. 



All attempts to substitute electricity or magnetism for coal-power 

 must be unsuccessful, since these powers tend to an equilibrium from 

 which they can only be disturbed by the application of another power, 

 which is the equivalent of that which they can subsequently exhibit. 

 They are, however, with chemical attraction, &c, of great importance 

 as intermediate agents in the application of the power of heat as de- 

 rived from combustion. 



Science does not indicate in the slightest degree the possibility of the 

 discovery of a new primary power comparable with that of combustion, 

 as exhibited in the burning of coal. Whatever unknown powers may 

 exist in nature capable of doing work, must be in a state of neutraliza- 

 tion, otherwise they would manifest themselves spontaneously, and from 

 this state of neutralization or equilibrium they can only be released by 

 the action of an extraneous power of equivalent energy, and we 

 therefore do not hesitate to say that all declarations of the dis- 

 covery of a new power which is to supersede the use of coal as 

 a motive-power, have their origin in ignorance or deception, and 

 frequently in both. A man of some ingenuity in combining mechan- 

 ical elements, and having some indefinite scientific knowledge, imagines 

 it possible to obtain a certain result by a given combination of princi- 

 ples, and by long brooding over this subject, previous to experiment, at 

 length convinces himself of the certainty of the anticipated result. 

 Having thus deceived himself by his sophisms, he calls upon his neighr 

 bors to accept his conclusions as verified truths, and soon acquires the 

 notoriety of having made a discovery which is to change the civilization 



