The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-14
LET US ALL FLUTTER.
THIS WE MAY DO If WE ARE NOT YET
READY TO FLY.

Gus OF applying IL.
Two generations ago and long before
man generally was contont to moyo in
futs. Thon he began to move on rails, and
civilized mankind has certainly aud per-
manently hecn elevated thereby. From
ruts to rails is n vast improvement. But
It's about time to begin now to think Of
another move-it's time to begin to think
OF soaring; and If wei. O., you-are afraid
to soar, then let us mt least try to flutter.
liz on Mars there dwells u race superior
to man, who, among other superior nppli-
ances, have also superior telescopes, they
will be apt to believe that the many bicy-
clists rushing around everywhere are poor
torrestrians franticnlly and vainly endeav-
oring to fly-it really looks that way from
distance, ut least to observers who have
seen old hons and other heavy birds strug
Cling to rise over n fence or wall. And If
tho Mars chaps think SO, they are near to
truth.
For tho success of the bicycle has stimu-
lated effort to perfect the motorcycle or
horsoless carriage. This effort will sooner
or later extend to tho application Of aero
propellers, and the application Of the aero
propellers In any department Of transpor-
tatlon Will even moro surely lead to me-
ohanical flight. O., practical mechanical
flight.
In Franco the motorcycle, or horseless
carriage, has already become fixture, and
its general use in this country, as pleas
ure vehicle at least, is only n question of
time. May we then get such excellent roads
as Franco can boast of, and may it stimu-
late us to surpass French and German and
English motocycloS-make tho European
invention fluttcr, SO to speak.
There is exceeding crudity in the pros
ent methods of applying propulsive force
TO road vehicles by mechanical means, II
is applied through cog wheel, chain or
band on one of the axles Of tho wagon
wheels. Therein lies the crudity. 1t is not
applied on the rims Of the wheel, because
that could be done only at tho expense of
speed, and there is no speed to spare.
One con easily form u correct idea of
the vast difference In tho amount of force
required respectively in tho two cases.
Just try to move buggy or other light
vehicle by exerting your force while catch
ing hold OF the spokcs near the axle, and
next exert your force while grabbing the
tcllies. No additional scientific explana-
ton will then DO wanted Hence it must
BIO Of high importance to find some propel-
ling device which operates on tho rim of
the wheel instead Of on it's axle, while yet
permitting tho attainment of high speed.
The reader understands without scien-
tiflc explanation, that extraneous push or
pull cxcrtcd horizontally on n vehicle
preferably Mt right angles to the axlcs-
operates, SO to speak, through the rim of
tho wheels. Theoretically such extransous
propulsion by mechanical means is posi-
bio by two lnethods-with propellers trans
hitting force through the resistance Of
the surface over which the vehicle passes.
and with propellers operating by force
transmitted through the resistance of tho
air. Tho first of these two methods opens
vast fold for fanciful devices, but it is
hardly rational to suppose that anything
practical will BIO achieved herein; ut least,
those best qualified seem to have abandon
cd, perhaps never entertained, hope of suo-
cess in that quarter. Tho second method,
however, Is certainly applicable to largo
extent.
Even many intelligent people are puz-
zled by tho expressions pounds of pull"
and pounds of push, frequently occur
ring In trcatises ON locomotives, etc. It's
an easy one, though. If you push or pull
tho hook of n spring balance so that tho
indicator marks five pounds, you exert a
push or pull OF five pounds, of course.
Sec?
Well, according to tho above, ono pound
of pull will start II pounds placed on
wheels resting on rails and will move
over 100 pounds when tho vehicle has &C.
CURED momentum. This appears in accord
with tho statement made long ago and of
ten that pull or push of ono pound will
propel 20 pounds over n fairly good, say
mncadamizod, road.
Now let us consider somo hgures-fg-
urcs which it happens don't lie. Mr.. Hi
ram 5. Maxim has on exhibition at Bex-
ley, Kent England, two propellers oper-
ating on tho air which Mt different times
have developed "a push of 2, 600 pounds. A
pull of 1000 pounds would propel load
of 200, 600 pounds over tho rails at n speed
of IL miles an hour or n load of 80, 600
pounds over n macadamiZed road. 1t does
lot matter how much money and steam
were expended to obtain the now famous
1000 pound pull-at first it suffices to
have incontrovortible assurance that such
tremendous pull altogether is obtainable
by operating solely on what so many peo-
pic still lazily believe to be wholly unre-
sisting air.
AT different times mention has been
made of tho theoretical possibility-tho
automatically administrative possibility
of obtaining ten times moro propelling
force in the air than is obtained by tho use
of the screw propellers such as are ON
ployed by Mr.. Maxim, or, say, 30 pounds
of push OF pull per horsepower. A push
of 80 pounds would move ], $50 pounds-a
wagon, motor or riders-over n good road.
An aeropropelled motorcycle is possible,
say theoretically possible. Hence, let us try
to flutter.
Let it be understood, however, that such
an aeropropeller certainly requires too
muon room TO permit it to travel through
city streets. But it would be available on
open country roads, for rapid transit across
our vast prairies-aye even across tho i'm
mensc Sahara. Let those who will flutter