The Grit-advocate., 1900-09-21

of interstellar flight. Do you really
believe that man will ever be able to
travel to Mars"
The question was asked OF Professor
Elmer Gates, of the Gates Laboratory,
Washington. d. c., and the professor
naturally smiled as he wheeled IN his
chair and leaned back to consider the
proposition.
Well, l should scarcely like to say
he could not" was the reply, after a
few moments hesitation. Aerial nav
igauon will be practical means OF
travel within ten years. 1t will re-
place all present modes Of Transports
ton 1t will turn the whole world into
single neighborhood. Distances will
be practically annihilated. There will
no longer be any necessity for railroads
or bridges, because aerial transporta-
ton will be extremely cheap, economi-
cal and far safer than any other form
Of travel. When the workman can live
several hundred miles from the work.
shop or store and go home to lunch he
will see the crowded cities gradually
spread out over the country. The mil
lions now spent on roads and bridges
will go to beautifying the earth's nat
nral landscape. The tops of houses
will be transferred into stations or
porch-like vestibules for the landing of
aerial vehicles, and light will be kept
burning on the housetop to guide the
aerial pilgrim. The great aerial high
ways Of travel will be along the lines
Joining the great cities Hill and noun
tain tops will become important sites
for residences. But aerial navigation
is to be accomplished by machine
such as has never before been suggest
ed to the public.
Nine Miles Minute.
Il have lately seen this new machine
1t has none of the contrivances-such
as balloon-envelopes, tapping wings,
aeroplanes. explosive motors, propel
lers. air or steam jets-which have fig
ured in airships heretofore. The in
vention is as yet II secret and it is be-
ing closely guarded. The machine is
now capable or propelling itself at any
speed up to 800 feet per second. 1t can
rise slowly from the ground and can
then support itself in the air without
moving. | have seen it start slowly
from this motionless position in the
air, move itself gradually forward, then
go fast. and then slowly settle down
upon the ground. 1t was capable of
lifting more than its own weight. 1t
was in no danger of falling and was
not affected by currents of wind. 1t
was simple and cheap.
Il believe that this machine solves
the problem of aerial navigation. In
one test 1t travelled at the speed Of one
mile in six and one-half seconds, or a
little over nine miles a minute. 1t
went two and half miles in straight
line toward cliff. which it struck.
Speeds greater than 200 miles an hour
would be high for practical purposes,
of course. The friction of the air would
heat a passenger compartment to an
unbearable degree.
Eleven Miles Straight Up
The general shape of this new ma
chine is that of two long drawn out
cones placed base to base. A model
Weighing but II ounces lately ascended
to the enormous height OF II miles, az
was authentically recorded by an ane-
roid barometer placed inside. This
was far above any height ever hereto
fore reached by mechanical device.
Yet the instrument came down within
one furlong OF the spot from which 1t
u.a aant nm With similar device