The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-20
SOME srrcuLATIoNs.

been solved, the air conquered and the fowls of the air beaten at their own game. To hear some of them. or to read what they say, one would come to the conclusion that a way has at last been found to overcome all diff ficuities. and that nothing is needed but to construct the vessels and go. We have not yet come to an agreement with these predictions. for as we have always argued. an airship of any con- struction must encounter difficulties and dangers which earth travellers are safe from. and some of which cannot be provided or guarded against.
 Assuming however, that the most optimistic believers in aviation are justified in their hopes and predictions. and that man will soon be able to navigate the air as he wills, the sub ject opens up some interesting specu- lations. possibilities and probabilities. forsthat matter. In his recent record breaking experiment. orrville Wright kept what he considers an accurate record of his speed and he sets 1t down at about forty miles an hour. If this was done on circle it is fair to assume that with an improved machine and on a straight line one can keep up an average speed of forty miles an hour
 Just think what this portends Most readers of fiction have read Jules verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and have admired the ingen- uity displayed in the construction of the story, for his traveller had to cross land and water and to encounter all sorts of difficulties, obstacles and de- lays, so that the achievement was a really remarkable one. With a flying machine making an average of forty miles an hour the circumnavigation of the globe--if that Is the correct term would be accomplished in about twenty-five days, or less than one third the time consumed by Verne's hero. The traveller or adventurer in thIs instance would at all times be above and beyond the Instructions and obstacles in the way of the earth and water traveller. and could keep up a continuous voyage without cessation or hindrance until he landed back at the starting place. All this. of course, assuming that his machine was at all times under control.
 But there is another wide. field of speculation open in this connection. As we all know, generations of daring adventurers have been making fruit less and often disastrous efforts to reach the North Pole. Even now Com; mander Peary is engaged in what may be a death struggle for the much, de- sired object and may neyer return.l If he fails or succeeds rpaay months, of. suffering and .pFivation afe ksfore him. and it may be that he will never again be seen or heard of. The journey is over extensive waters. across unk nown lands and over dangerous and treach- erous fields of ice and snow. If d trip to the Pole and a safe return can be successfully accomplished it will be at such cost of time. money and en- durance as will render 1t of little real beneft to the world.
 It will be widely different with a successful airship. Even if the navi- gator should start from Washington or New York and travel with the speed made by Wright 1t would require only a few days to reach the desired point, but that would not be necessary. By going as far North in a ship as can be safely done, and starting from there the trip could be made in ten or twelve hours. as a little calculation will show. All will be so different when air navi- gation is assured. It will be but short while until we will have The North Polar Ar Line chartered. or The Polar Express Company in operation and regular schedules arranged and the dates of arrival and departure at either end carefully arranged and printed in the newspapers. Then there will be books printed. illustrated with views | of the scenery, and of course some en- terprising person or persons will es- tablish Polar hotels for the entertain ment of guests. Then. instead of go- ing to the springs or seashore for the summer those who have the price and the courage will go to the Pole where they can get all the coolness they want.
 Is not this a bright and alluring prospect? Of course, until the first successful trip Is made we cannot tell just what may be found up there. It may be a region of eternal ice and snow which no human means can make desirable or inhabitable. or 1t may be a region of modified tempera- ture where human beings can dwell in comfort. Then again 1t may be an entirely different country that will be found. More than one student and in-