AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1879, Page 4

AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.

A dis'-oveirv is report?(l by a now*. p«per of Chicaao, iho Pall \Tnll Gazette stairs. " to Irivp been mod? by a Mr Stempe), of thnf, oily, wlioh calipees not only the electric liplit, but, telephones, phonograph?, and the other wonderful inventions of the duy. Mr Stempel proposes not only to light, but also to heat and furnish water for the whole of the United States by one immense and magnificent scheme. His proposition is that tides of the ocean can furnish a constant and unlimited power which can by friction be converted into any amount of electricity for the purpose of creating light, beat, and power for the use of miin. He proposes to build immense basins in the sea in the shallow water of an inlet near the shore where there are high floods. Two walls are to be built strong enough for the purpose. One will be built at the mouth of the inlet to shut off the sea, the other a certain distance apart, to divide the inlet into two basins. Each wall will have a floodgate, through which when open the sea can flow in. At high tide the floodgate nearest the land is shut. Six hours after, at ebb tide, the gate of the outer basin is closed and thus Mr Stempel will have one great baain full of water. Smaller gates in the wail of the first basin are then opened, and the water rushes through, turning as it runs a thousand turbine wheels, which in their turn keep in motion the electricel machines from which it is proposed to generate sufficient electricity to furnish the entire country with light, heat, and motive power. The cost will, it is eotimated, r.ot exceed 2 v 000,000,Q00J015., and Mr Stempel proposes to bring tha matter before Congress in its next session, and urge upon the Democrats •♦ to go in for this scheme, instead of paying the rebel debt and claims."