The Washington times., 1903-02-08
CHAPTER VI.
The Enterprise InauguTated.

The orator was interrupted here 10y a /
tremendous round Of applause The au-
dfence had suddenly seen his meaning, F!
and it came upon them with double Of /
feet after their previous experience, /
first Of disappointed hopes. and then Of
dizzy heights where they could only
strain their eyes in a vain attempt to
follow science. They did not yet see how
he was going to carry out his scheme, !
but that it was feasible was evident, md
they had every confidence in the young
astronomer. Silence being at length re-
stored. Norbert continued:
Gauss calculates the force of the
terrestrial magnet tn equal that OF ; 4Gt
trillion bars of magnetized soft iron
weighing each an English pound There
are strong reasons for deeming fhis
figure much too high. But we viii follow
out his calculation. I find that S,464
rillion pounds OF soft iron would be
equal to mass of metal 1000 Yards
high and 1913. 500 acres in area.
This would be the size of an artificial
magnet equal to the earth in power tt
would be long and costly proceeding
to construct such magnet. But the. e
is no apparent necessity that il should
be so powerful One Of less intensity
could sufficiently disturb the forces that
hold the moon Of. Given the perturba-
tion that the simple passing of a planet
can cause, it follows that an extra mag
net representing only the thousandth
part Of the earth's magnetism must be
able to influence such a little globe as
the moon.
Now, according 10 the above cal
culation, this artificial magnet, whose
intensity would be but thousandth of
the earth current would constitute q
mass of 100 yards high. and /. 235 acres
in extent, or 1000 yards high and 1885
acres in extent.
But magnet of this size would cost
a great deal, something like 800, 900 600.
Men would not mind paying this sum for
the expenses Of a more or less stupid
war. and indeed the annual military ex-
penses OF Europe exceed It; but they
would look twice before investing it at
one time in a commercial enterprise for
the general good. So we must manage
/ to make our magnet at a reduced price.
/ Fortunately, nature can herself fur
nish US with the requisite material in
the shape of pyrites Of iron. It is
found in most countries. and would cost
us only the labor of mining it. I pro
/ pose that an artificial mountain OF iron
pyrites shall constitute our magnet. We
will erect it in q land that abounds with
pyrites. and so save needless carriage.
In this way We shall make an electro
magnet of the required strength for
about e4OOO 600, not quite quar-
ter OF our working capital This. Of
course. is only one part Of the expenses.
We shall still have 10 procure the
Idynamos and the requisite motive power,
but $50, 900 will, I think. cover all ex-
Penses.
! What is such a sum compared with
the results It viii effect? We have
quite sufficient money. and more than
we need, If we only use il rightly. Such.
gentlemen. is the outline Of my plan.
It's details will be easily settled. The
/ frst is TO secure our field Of action. It
should lie in country easy Of &C
cess, rich in pyrites but poor in sgri-
culture, so that We may get the soil for
next TO nothing Il would be well also
II its civilization be at a low ebb. We
should be less likely to be interfered
with II our object were not understood.
Should you think fit. gentlemen, to ap-
prove OF the general outline Of my
plan. I viii hold myself entirely at your
disposal as regards its application and
the preIimiRaries-
VIII you take the management -
asked a shareholder
"ll3hBiy- on me CCOt4tloHr ItpIleu
Norbert Mauny, that have perfect
freedom OF action in technical matters
and am assisted in financial questions
by committee"
The meeting was so clearly unanimous
in its assent TO this proposition that
Lord Randolph made no attempt TO stem
the current. and. addressing the share
holders. he said:
4 put the first article 10 the vote.
substituting the name OF Norbert Nanny
for }har Of he original promoters Of
the scheme"
You have no right TO do So" cried
Wagner, livid with rage. 1t would be
a fraud. a robbery"