Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-28
MECHANICAL FLIGHT.
There Is u Possibility That Mon VIII
PLY Through the Air before Long.

There Is u Possibility That Mon VIII
Ply Through the Air before Long.
Above Us Is the great aerial ocoan
stretching over all lands, and Offering
an always open way TO them, yet way
that has never yet been thus trodden
Can II DO that tho power we have always
lacked Is at last found. and that 1t only
remains 10 learn 10 guide in
Let me, in answering, compare the
case TO that which would present itself
II the actual ocean had never been ira
versed because IL was always covered
with fields Of thin ice, which gave way
under foot, which indeed permitted YES
sells 10 be launched and TO float, but
which compelled them TO move wherever
the ice drifted. Such vessels would re-
scmble our balloons, and DO OF as little
practical use; but now suppose we were
told, "The ice which has always been
your obstacle may be made your very
means Of transport, for you can glide
over tho thinnest ice, provided you only
glide fast enough, and experiments will
prove not only how fast you must 60 to
make the ice bear, but that IL is quite
within the limits Of your strength TO go
with the requisite speed
All this might DO true, and yet, II no
one had ever learned 10 skate, every trial
Of this really excellent plan would prob
ably end In disaster, as all past efforts 10
fly have done. Indeed, In our actual ex-
pericnce with the air, men have come to
the same kind Of wrong conclusion as
would have been reached In supposing
that the leo could not be traversed, be-
cause no one had tho strength 10 skate,
while tho truth would DO that man has
plenty Of strength 10 skate, but is not
born with the skill.
The simile IL defective 50 far as it sug
gests that man can sustain himself by
his unaided strength on calm air, which
believe TO be impracticable; but Il Is
the object OF experiments TO prove that
he has now the power 10 sustain himself
with the aid Of engines recently con-
structcd as soon as no has tho skill to
direct them.
If asked whether u method OF flight
will soon DO put in practice, l should
have TO repeat that what has preceded Is
matter Of demonstration, but that this
is matter Of opinion. Expressing then,
personal opinion only, should answer,
"Yes.' IL is hardly possible that tho
secondary difficulties will not be soon
conquered by tho skill Of our inventors
and engineers, whose attention Is al
ready beginning TO DO drawn TO the fact
that here is new field open to them,
and though l have not experimental fur
enough 10 say that the relations Of power
to weight established for small machines
will hold for indefinitely large ones, II Is
certain they do so hold, at any rate far
enough TO enable us to transport, at
speeds which mako us practically indie
pendent Of tho wind. weights much
greater than that Of man.
Progress is rapid now, especially in in
vention, and 1t Is possible-it seems TO
me even probable-that before the cen.
tury closes we shall SEQ this universal
road Of the all embracing air, which
recognizes none Of mans boundaries,
travelled in every direction. with an
effect on some Of tho conditions Of our
existence which will mark this among
all tho wonders the century has secn.-
s. =, Langley in Century.