The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-25

In the previous pa per was ueIHoHstrdteu
the fact that although car, or any other
body, was, by its two transverse motions or
movements, virtually moving in the
diagonal of parallelogram as the geomet-
rical resultant of its composite motions,
yet the actual cause of the motion was not
along that diagonal resultant.
The confounding of cause and effect is
the most fertile source of error in science as
well as daily life, and it requires the ut
most discriminating vigilance to discover
the true cause.
There is always but one true cause, while
there are an infinite number of falsehoods
in every case.
In general the most striking condolences
are taken for the true causes; 80 we find
that if an earthquake occurs while Sambo
is robbing hencoop the impression left
on Sambo's mind is that the cause of the
earthquake is in some way connected with
his predatory visit.
So the earlier scientists discovered that
the more perfect the vacuum the higher
the water would rise, and they ascribed
the cause to the power of vacuum. And
in the search for the cause of gravitation
Newton found that the resultant force was
in the direction of the radius VICTOR join
ing the center of the planet and the sun,
and he naturally concluded that the suns
attraction on the planet and the planets
attraction Or the sun was the true cause
of the elliptical motion of the planet.
Now l find that Newton in this supposi-
ton was just as much mistaken as if he,
seeing power-house situated at the end
OF the resultant of two transverse motions,
ascribed the cause of the motion to the
power house, or the engine In the power
house, all of which we have already shown
TO be gratuitous assumption merely and
might or might not be the true cause. /
must acknowledge that Newton's cause of
gravitation has been the orthodox doctrine
in science for over 200 years, and although
1t is acknowledged on every hand as being
most philosophical doctrine, yet, as it
seems to meet all the requirements of
astronomy, it will be very difficult to dis
place it.
Still we know that the Ptolemaic theory
OF the sun and stars revolving around the
earth daily was an orthodox doctrine and
considered equally impregnable for over
400 years.
We also know that Sir Isaac Newton's
corpuscular theory of light was also con-
sdered orthodox for $50 years, and seemed
to explain the numerous conditions which
light could be made to undergo and yet,
because it could not explain one small dis
crepancy, that of the fact that two rays OF
light can be made TO produce darkness, 1t
was forever reegated to the realms OF IN
nocuous desuetude.
So the same thing will happen to the
false theory of attraction, because 1T cam
not explain why projectlle with horl-
zontal velocity in vacuum does not fall
vertically the same distance in second as
it would do if at rest.
That is the rock on which attraction
will be shipwrecked. And even now the
popes and prelates of science are trembling
in their shoes.
They dare not test the truth of this dis
covery, although few simple experiments
in a vacuum would forever settle the
matter.
They prefer to talk and talk and point to
what this theory has already done.
But if they will make the tests have
placed before them they will not only find
that the mutual attraction OF matter is
delusion, but they will also find what the
true cause is; and then they will perceive
that the wonders which were ascribed to
the fallen monarch were really due to his
successor, and more and yet greater Won
ders will follow when once the true cause
is thoroughly known and fully recognized.
1t is very big subject, this OF gravl-
tation, to solve in newspaper article.
but as | have already presented the matter
through the proper channels, and cannot
possibly get the professors of the State Uni
versity to make move toward the veritl-
cation of this great scientific truth, l am
determined to arouse public opinion on
the subject ana force the university
authorities to utilize the resources of that
great popular institution in proving the
truth of the matter.
If this scientific dogma of attraction is
an error and falsehood, why should it be
taught as true science to the rising genera
ton?
If the discovery and complete vertical
ton of the true cause will give this State
and the university the foremost position
in the world of science, why should little
effort not be made to accomplish that re-
suit?
The experiments I have sketched out
will only take two professors one month
with the apparatus they have now In their
laboratories to fully test the whole matter.
And / can safely say that II the Lick
Observatory has brought this State some
honor and renown, the complete yerltca-
ton of this, the greatest and most import
ant of all the constitutional principles OF
nature, will bring to this State and its uni
versity thousand times more.
1t requires no extra expense on the part
OF the university. They have both the talent
and the instruments, and all that is re-
quired is the willingness and the effort, to
place themselves on the very highest PIN
nacie of the world fame.
Although as a scientist it would not
matter to me which university first veriiles
and establishes this great scientific truth,
yet must acknowledge that it would give
me great personal qualification to see Cali
fornia (the worlds baby leading In the
foremost van of science, and so becoming
land of pilgrimage to all succeeding genera
tions.
We will now attempt to give popular
description of the new theory of gravlta-
ton:
First then we prove the old theory OF
attraction to be wrong because we have
found that the stone does not fall or is not
attracted toward the center of the earth
with the same force when it is moving in a
line at right angles to the line OF gravity;
that we are certain of, and that kills the
theory of attraction.
Second-We find by experiment that a
body in motion if struck transversely by
another body in motion, so that the hrst
body receives an additional quantity OF
energy, the then resultant motion OF the
first body will be curvilinear, and we can
prove that such resultant Is caused by
kinetic stability and the persistence OF en-
ercV