RENOVATING ALL THINGS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3136, 7 March 1879, Page 4

RENOVATING ALL THINGS.

A discovery is reported by a newspaper of Chicago to have been made by a Mr Stempel, of that city, which eclipses not only the electric light, but telephones, and all the other inventions of'the day. Mr Stempel proposes not only to light, but also to heat and furnish water power for the whole of the United States by one immense and magnificent scheme. His proposition is that the 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, heat, and power for the use of man. 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 oft 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 basin full of water. Smaller gates in the wall 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 thefelectrical machines from which it is proposed to generate sufficient electricity to furnish the entire coutitry with light, heat, and motive power. The cost will, it is estimated, exceed 2,000,000 dollars; and Mr Stemple* proposed to bring the 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." '■■',