New-York tribune., 1901-05-26

perhaps discover methods which will ultimately
result IN converting these natural forces into aru-
fetal power. What Will be accomplished in this
direction is still beyond my ability TO foreteu
This story Of tharnessirg the Aurora II has
been expressed has been grossly exaggerated.
Some Of the credulous. for instance, imagine
that ship is loaded with dynamos. which viii
be erected at the North Pole, and which VIII thus
draw into themselves powerful currents Of cleo
tricity from the axis OF the earth. Others have
speculated in other ways. Now. have never at
any time proposed the OF powerhouses or other
mechanical devices tending to harness the North
ern Lights or otherwise designed TO control these
supposed electrical forces OF the earth True. l
have proposed the Of dynamos on board the
steamer for Illuminating purposes; but they are to
be run by steam or gasolene. and not by the
Aurora Borealis. We had such set Of dynamos
on a former expedition, and they proved Of great
utility. --- -,,.,,,-, ,r,
Nevertheless, 1t may be our good fortune 10
learn some great truth respecting the earths cur
rents which viii hasten the time when men can
convert them 10 their own uses. shall make a
particular study OF the Northern Lights. You may
Judge OF nv interest IN the subject from the fact
that studied th ese phenomena on former expect
ton during two long arctic nights
Mr Baldwin then went TO say that in watch
ing the vast displays Of color the long. thin, shoot
ing srrear,ers of fire sometimes diffused and some
dimes traversed with lines, he had clearly estab-
ushed in his own mind that these manifestations
were demonstration Of gigantic electric FORCES
Continuing, he said
If man has already learned to control electrical
force in other places why should he not be able to
convert IL TO his own use where il manifests such
great intensity Future observations, such as we
are ranning Will show that gresat electrical cur
rents flow through space from pole TO pole ana the
earth is Immersed in these currents
The rrobabe results attending the fulflment CT
the utilization Of such forces open the door 20 a
lively play Of the imagination. one OF the HIsl
questions likely t. be asked Is, VIII MI bA4o"lh
i,,cx from The sky forever one Of the most beau
tiful Of natures exhibitions?" But TO those VINO
fear sucb a catastrophe it may be pointed OUT
hat even If the conversion OF the "l4d ire scene
u the arctic skies into the ugly Inechai4sih u
storage batteries and dynamos is a still greater
rerversion of the beauty Of nature than the sluic
ing OF Niagara into turbine pots neVertheess Tue
material benefits that man might obtain "o4lo pe
,roor,rsratlv greater Accordingly, those VINO re
gf,in ga'T siT- t5at the Aurora Boreaiis although
poetic and inspiring sight 10 lne
he Fcsouirnaus and although IT'S ulsaPPs1 inrg
TnipbT work them some Inconvenience on, on long lons
s5sf tbsnselVes 10 new conditions by laying by
more bIubler illuminatiye pur s;,;5 1rse
oI-ebt not 10 be compared anyway, with the IN IN
measurable benefits that w9oIo an brothers of the
,s o1 4sar instance 1t is said that should the
Northern Lights systen nna4y Of New-York city
people Would enjoy the illumination n te sle1e oe
he Arcttc zone has done in half hundred years
Room FOR NEW SOCIETY
II would appear then, that IN the controse.sy .I
between the sentimentalists. who argue that the
Aurora is too splendid creation 70 DC S.t ues
into sertno commercial ends and the fratefiailSts'
who do not believe that anything shoulo 80 10
,as-s ,ba former are ignoniniously routed from
Of yieW Doubtless. Decau5e
Nj F3sIdvyin's plans have not become "loeIs -
knoUn or because IL is yet 100 eAIls o
formaliv announced itself IN oppoSluon ~
socSeIv will be formed almost goes "ltilout &C.,
- NJ ,,,rrher of "anti" societies Is not 40"
TOO large IN Is said, TO be unHlih1E 70 a a.
other ardent fellow into the foo " ie ,,-~-e
il would probably be known az l.e III .socIetV for
PoresIfs Conversion Society OF ING - cioTGd
fbe Preservation OF the Northern lAsfits .Iar
William Jennings Bryan be adfaltleu - ltgI,
shin as some think likely, the 0Iasar
Ironically term itself 'The Ahli-iNNAi'
s1ecliation however. IS rife as 10 the ieSai
,t'se FaiSUin ~ successful IN reachIIIg tno
North Pole and IN harnessin8 the q, is a we'll
known and universal law that the o"I.Si % -
estose o,frs from the centre or the cart W
The heavens and fnfinitun. MI Sai1WIh "i1, arae1
cornneJIea 10 buy up the entire Arctic Zoe ~. 80
~ o. tste Ia the Northern Lights Ihose " no PH
foreb ,1ts argument TO be so sure u ~ 80
fFe. sou ,lfs fs the reason the arctlc l-
such well known real estate osaiet Sonnanv 10
ler fe president OF the Realty Trust Noihpatss
back MIN Others however, say tnat even zS..i
Mr. Zieeier be willing TO buy all the Idnu u-i s
under the Northern Lights IL wouio ps eA 90 ~
Aurora al certain shifts far TO tne soueH q
ward Even this last mentioned $500
overcorne II further argued that MI. .iSs -
vouis have on his hands great NUMBER OF ualis
are s,t,se Instituted by Esquimaus, who "ouiu
be dcDrfyed OF the easement or nght - g.,
However great may be the dlHculties, poLi -
reaching the pole and in utilizing 1ts eiecliic'''