The times., 1897-04-15
Aerial Navigation.

| Ever since mechanical invention began
man has been trying to fly. The problem
OF aerial navigation, of perpetual motion
and of the transinutation of metals oc-
cupied the philosophers of the middle
ages. and the Investigators OF the later
centuries, and are now occupying the
| cranks of the present day OF these three
problems, thesfirst is the only one capable
OF solution. The everlasting laws of ma
ture are against the other two.
The myriads of winged creatures in the
animal kingdom abundantly prove that it
is possible to fly, if the motive power
be sufficiently strong and the surface Of
the wings sufficiently large TO support the
body. To accomplish this, the motive
as nearly without weight as possible
Steam is therefore impracticable, on ac-
count of the fuel which would be re
quired Human strength has been proved
insufficient, even with the assistance of
mechanical devices. The nearest that any
one has come to flying, until the mys-
terious airship developments in the West.
was the balloon, and this was very un-
satisfactory, because there was no motive
power and therefore no control of the
balloon was possible It was at the mercy
OF unknown air currents, and, though in
teresting as scientific phenomenon, was
of no use.to the masses of the people
The use of electricity as motive power
has given us force with comparatively
little weight Of apparatus, force which
could be depended upon to propei the ma
chine, and at the same time to furnish
heat and light-two Indispensable things
IN aerial travel. Why, then, should not
machine be Invented which should combine
the lighJness of the balloon with the live
illness OF the trolley, and be capable OF di-
rection at the VIII of the occupant? Evil
IDENTIFY this is feasible, and il looks very
much as if somebody had done it.
Until within day or two, the mysterious
airship which started somewhere in Cali
fornia and has been gradually coming east
ward, was regarded more as a joke than
anything else 1t was the legitimate sue
cessor Of the sea serpent Bat it BOW ap-
pears that not only has It's mysteriousl light
been seen by large number OF people in
various parts OF the Middle West, but that
Al,r,tu
whatever the shortcomings OF the snap
shot camera may be, it never takes any
thing that does not exist. 1t does not
have illusions or 1ags- And it says that
the airship is.
The new invention is described as cigar
shaped, with two broad wings, and rudder
shaped like birds tail 1t is modelled
very much On the plan of dragon-fly,
whose aerial movements surpass those of
a bird in swiftness and dexterity. The
frame WORK is said to be of aluminium. the
lightest of metals, and also a modern
discovery. The man in control sits in the
middle of the framew work, and guides the
machine, sweeping round and round in
gradually descending spiral when he wishes
to alight, after the manner of some birds
Who the inventor is has not yet been
fully decided. An Omaha man in nlen-
toned and also California society It's
doubtful whether, as has been widely
limited, this discovery VIII revolutionize
and sociology. The epowerefilying
will be a tremendous thing, but it is going
to be an expensive power for a good many
hundred years yet, and attended with more
risk than most people care to assume The
thing Which will be Most changed by such
"a invention will be the method of warfare
IL spies San hover about it in the clouds,
and if airy nSyies may be sent to drop
loaded shells into tho midst OF the enemy's
perhaps war VIII be attended with
SO many horrors as TO be altogether abol- |
ished. Each nation will be too much at
the mercy of the other.