The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-11
4 VISION NOW.
But the Electrician Says 1t Will
Come True.
HIS WONDERFUL WORLD RUN By
AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

One Drawback Is That People AIustbe In
suIated-But They May Carry Pocket
Motors and Beat the Trolley Cars-Eve-
~ Mans Coat a Furnace.
(From the Philadelphia Times.)
"The wonders wrought through cleo
tricity'' said a well-known electric en-
gineer few days ago, "are, though great
enough to be scalled astounding, merely
to be compared to the opening of the first
pages of book, and book which IN
folds such startling facts that they test
the credibility of the reader. The posi-
bilities, yea the probabilities of the fu-
ture in the life of electric advancement
are so great that to contemplate them is
enough to make one's head whirl with
astonishment and awe. Active braius
are at work, the best inventive skill is
engaged in planning to meet necessity. l
have looked into the matter, and, with
the past as criterion, l can readily see
some of the improvements that the future
will unfold"
When asked what he expected to see
he replied: ''I9 would rather keep the
matter to myself, for I know my ideas
will be held up to ridicule, yet as yoa in
sist will tell you what think will
come to pass. In the near future, when
electricity has full sweep, our railroads
will all have to be elevated SO that there
will be no crossing them by persons or
vehicles. Then one may start from Phil
adelphia after breakfast and be shot over
to New York in time to do a full morn
ing's work, come back for his dinner,
return to New York, and in the evening
whisper through the all-connecting tele-
phone and tell his wife not to expect him
home for an hour later than his usual
time, as he has to meet friend in Wash
ington and accompany him to Chicago
before returning home. Why. sir, you
will be able to step on train here in the
morning, fly across to San Francisco,
spend several hours viewing the wonders
of the Yosemite Valley, take lunch in
Duluth on your return and get back home
in time to make a deposit in your bank
before it closes. Go? yes. indeed, it will
soon be go, indeed. In matters pertaining
ITO household affairs, the same advance
ment will he seen. One will be able not
only while sitting in his library or lying
on his bed to touch button and turn on
light, or regulate the temperature of
the house, but can also indicate to the
butcher, milkman, grocer or baker what
Sc da1 hG IF
He can also, by simply touching button
have his morning newspapers sent
through tubes, and from the village
tavern have his morning "eye-opener"
sent direct without the trouble of his 60
ing after it. There Will be no need of
heavy clothing when these things come,
overcoats and heavy wraps will be rele-
gated to the past, for they will be sup
planted by thin garments of finely woven
wire and asbestos, which, being charged
with electricity, will retain glowing
warmth in the coolest weather for forty
eight hours So thoroughly will every
thing be charged with tho subtitle fluid
that men, women and children will be
compelled to wear rubber soled shoes to
prevent their being fatally shocked while
walking the streets.
81 use the term walking when should
have said gliding, for we will then glide
instead Of walk. A novel attachment to
carry in ones pocket will put gait on
him. that would astonish our record
holding sprinters of the present day
Just now there is considerable talk of
pnsumatic-soled shoes. These will never
become popular until the pocket electric
motor is introduced Then the a1r-cush-
toned shoe soles will become a necessity
In my calculations or predictions, which
ever you please to call them, can readily
see what is approaching, and assure you,
sir, this is the browning of all other ages.
Take. for instance, our warships and the
latest improved implements of destruc-
tion to be used on land. They, notwith-
standing their immense cost, will fade
into insignificance when compared to
what will be brought into use by cleo
trioity. Imagine for moment Ian cleo
trio torpedo, charged and ready for ac.
ton, with nothing required but the
touching of q button to set it in motion.
Then set it flying through the air at the
rate of ninety miles second, guiding
itself by snicely arranged attachment
towards the target, and by the force OF