The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-01
From the Boston Globe.

fTOm the bOSlOu 1ioDc'
 @HE present population of the
 (OD world is living in wonderful
 age. The history of the nine- teenth century is full of events which caused astonishment, yet things of an equally remarkable nature appear destined to mark even the first 20 years of the twentieth century. few wonderful achievements In this century are worthy of consideration.
 A few weeks ago the residents of Lon don were gazing in admiration at the movements of an aerial ship which f1oated gracefully over the thousands of build ings in that great metropolis, propelled at the rate of 20 miles an hour, but us voyage was limited to 8 total of about es miles, This aerial ship was constructed and owned by, the government, and Lon doners probably felt that in time of war they would be supplied with enough or such air craft for the purpose of obserV- ing the forces of an enemy as well as to drop explosives therefrom.
 Paris has been experimenting success fully for several yearts with similar air ships and the Frenchmen are far in ad- vance of the Britishers in this class of ex- periments.
 And now the United ststes comes to the front with balloons that are making record flights throughout the west soaring over the great lakes and even venturlng as far as Canadian territory. Flights or hundreds of miles in these American bal looms are becoming common now by real "sky pilots
 Our war department officials are ex- cusable for feeling highly elated over the remarkable success of these American balloon pilots. for 1t means that in time of war the United States will be up-to- date with any other power in this par ticular line. .
 Tn the last century bsllooning was looked upon as merely fascinating and dangerous amusement; now 1t IS pelng utilized for very important purposes.
 Aerial navigation may be in its infancy, but it's progress is destined to be so very rapid that the present generation will wit ness wonderful achievements in it.
 How many individuals of the last cen tury would have believed it possible for many thousands of words to be sent across the Atlantic ocean by wireless telegraphy in the carly years of this cen- tury? Yet this has been accomplished.
 What invention is there more wonder full than this same wireless system of telegraphy? IF seems impossible for any thing to excel it or even equal it, unless the submarine bell system of transmitting the sounds of bells under the water to warn vessels in time of fog can De eN- tended to permit of talking under the seas.
 Another wonderful achievement of this century is the enlargement of steam yes -sels It was thought once that ship built of iron or steel would sink. Now, however. there are iron and steel vessels afloat. over 700 feet long. which can cross the Atlantic in a few days. whereas sail ing vessels formerly might be two months or more going from one continent to the other Not content with crossing the Atlantic in fogr days and 20 hours. at- tempts will be made to further reduce that time. The tonnage of steamers is also being increased from 10000 to over 4o.G50 tons.
 Then there are the war vessels. Pre- vious to the conflict with Spain there was severe criticism because the white squadron had been built Now battle ships are being constructed, any one of which has armament 100 times more powerful than that of many of the yes sels constructed 10 years ago in the United States or elsewhere.
 In tue electrical world the number or inventions is unlimited and the most dis tingnshed electrician does not dare to prophecy any limit to them. In fact. 1t is felt that this century will witness even