The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-27
ISLANDS THAT
WILL FLOAT
An Invention OF Il Michigan Man
Makes Moving Archipelagoes one
ofthc Possibilities of the Future.


There have been many strange lnVen-
lions placed on record since me p"leAl
office was opened, but it is safe 10 say
that not one of them has been more OF
novelty than the invention that was
recently patented by Frank W.ffianaeEs'
q Michigan man. This enicely new loea'
which also promises to be popular one
is nothing less than an island tndl can
be moved from place to place hhe d
boat and that yet offers al the d." Val
tases of a genuine island.
According to the ideas OF Mr.. lahaers'
the great disadvantage OF an laiahu
that II always remains in the same place.
and the few genuine floating Islands taat
exist in the world are naturally unpleas-
ant places to visit when pleasure oii!s
is to be considered. In the case OF JUS
invention, however, everything is dllleieht,
and his floating islands VIII pe loeai
creations in every sense OF me "o.u;
In fact so certain is he that they VIII
need to be seen but once 10 peconle 49, 49,,
lar that he mas organized The Floatlns
island Company, and by next summer,
if NOT before, movable archipelagoes VIII
probably be one Of the features 10 the
list of summer enjoyments.
The plan of this remarkable invention,
as Outlined by Mr.. Flanders, speclhes
that the islands are to be SO constructed
that they will be safe in every sense OIL
the word. The platforms are TO De nlSsi ana
dry above the water. SO that no wave
can splash over, rock or otherwise dis
t,,rb them in any way. This platform VIII
ba foated above air-tight casks, which
will be SO arranged thai they will roll
upon the bottom of the lake or river
when they strike shallow water, or even
,,non dry land if it is found necessary 10
move them from one place TO another
AS these islands can be built OF any size.
i is believed that they will prove TO De
very desirable places from winch 70 slioot
or fish.
A PLEASANT SPOT.
Instead of sitting sill cramDed up in
boat on one Of the islands it will be
possible for a large number OF people TO
shoot or fish at their ease. and II the
island is built large enough to permit OF
the erection of a house upon 1t, notn1ns
could equal it as place IN Whsch 10
spend an afternoon or not summer
day. An island that is twelve by sixteen
feet in size will easily support twenty
ar more people, and while this is the
largest one that ne has yet constructed.
he is perfectly confident that they can
ha built of any size. Such an island as
this. however, would easily bear small
cabin and viii remain perfectly stable
even when the water is rolling quite
high. When the wind is not blowing too
hard it can easily be moved about with
row boat and can be anchored IN any
Mace desired, or, on the other hand, 1t
could be drawn into shallow water, after
which it would require no more than
two men to move it high and dry upon
the beach.
While it is not difficult to see that
such an invention would have more than
one advantage, there are countless ways
in which it could be put to good use, Tor
when the invention has been put upon the
market there will be practically no limit
to what can be done with it, For instance,
ii will then be possible for mil!ioaaires to
ncssess a movable archipelago, each ISL
and of which has its house and other
facilities for the comfort Of its infabi-
tants.
JTnon these islands the owner might
entertain his guests for weeks during the
summer At one time they could be an
chored off Newport, and If for any reason
that city by the sea became unpopular.
If would only be necessary TO be towed
without the least trouble to Bar Haroor
or any other fashionable resort by the
ocean.
OF course, such islands would not have
the speed of a steam yacht and yet they
would prove a popular adjunct 10 that
form of conveyance. In other words, the
Yacht could be used when speed was re-
ouired. and the island could be brought
into play at such times as comfort only
needed to be thought Of, while the fact
that they could be carried along with the
steam yacht from place to place makes
il possible to have them always at hand
when needed, an advantage not possessed
by the average island or natural con-
struction.
ALL WILL PROFIT.
According to the inventor, however, the
#njI,ionaire class is not the only one that
will profit by the new invention. Large
islands or extensive archipelagoes might
he beyond the means Of those whose purs-
es are not heavy. but as smaller islands
are to be constructed, a man Of limited
s means viii be able to possess himself Of