The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-04
THE STORY OF
H YEAR 1909
1t Played No neonsequenfIal
Part in The Worlds
History.
By WILLIS G. BRIGGS.

be lOf no
Hastings or Mukden. no overtime"
of a worldwide empire turning the
destiny Of the human race. However,
it has played no l~nconsequentlal part
in the worlds progress.
A correct perspective is essential
before one can weigh passing events.
That viewpoint is a lhat
history is but the portrayal Of the
grand march of humanity from saw
agery to a glorious millennium, de-
signed by q Supreme Being. we can
not calculate the distance yet to be
traversed before h goal is attained
but, looking back over the rugged
pathWay. strewn with the pillage OF
wars, stained by the blood Of heroes
and martyrs, illuminated by the
achievements of scientists and discoV-
erers, we can in a measure the
value of current events. True lhat
We can catch but a glance at one
small section of the great panorama
which began unfolding with the dawn
of creation. However limited our OBJ
servation we may be sure that our day
is playing it's part in the mighty strug-
gle which shall never cease untll
truth and justice cover the earth even
as the waters V the sea.
In surveying the happenings of the
year let US do so with absolute con-
iuCllS III SIS i1io 1oNoAJ
h significant features Of our period
In general are three-fold; first, the
humiliation of distance and the bind
ing together of all the earth by CON-
mercial ties; second the spread OF a
spirit of fraternity or brotherhood as
SHOWN by philanthropy, the speedy
esponse in case of natural calan1ltles
and the marvellous fervOr Of Christian
missions; third, the reimbursement Of
governmental and political theories
to suit new social and industrial con-
ditions as demonstrated in the spread
of socialistic ideas, national oversight
or control of corporations and the
adoption Of new functions by the
State. Without attempting to classify
each event under these headings, yet
II is necessary that one keep his gem
eral perspective constantly in mind.
Exploration and Invention.
The conquest of the air deserves
first rank in exploration and inven-
ton the past year. In July Louis
Eleriot in his monoplane crossed the
English hanne in 1 hour Il minutes
and 40 seconds, an6 brought to the
English mind a realization Of the pos
sibilities Of invasion by air vessels.
The Wright brothers afforded practi-
cal demonstrations Of their aerOplanes
until a company has been organized
and Wright aeroplanes are manufac-
tured for sale. These daring aerial
n~avigators were accorded a great re-
ception in their native city of Day
ton, Ohio. after their European tri-
umph. They then made successful
flights at Fort Meyer, Va; one flight
lasting an hour and 20 minutes.
and in another flight last August q
passenger was carried over a ten mile
curse at the speed Of AZ miles an
hour.
In the meet at Reims, France, Hen
ry Farman in his biplane flew 11S
miles in three hours. winning a So
600 prize, and the worlds record.
Again he made in an aeroplane HTS
miles in three hours, four minutes and
Sc seconds; This was followed
by his October triumph in England,
when he won the $4,000 prize for the
longest flight. His last record in No
vember showed a flight of IA miles
in -four hours, six minutes and 20 sec
onds. Meanwhile the daring aviator
Glenn H. Curtiss, after first winning
the Scientific American cup, surpassed
that record by making 12.42 miles in
Is minutes SO seconds. In October
Count Lambert, in a Wright aero
plane, circled the Tiffel tower at a
height of 1900 feet. However,, last
month. Hubert Latham, in France, as
cended 1900 feet in an acceptance. Be
fore these two performances Orville
Wright had the worlds recor with
an ascent in September Of 765 feet
The record flight in duration in al
aeroplane is two hours, 81 minutes
and Is seconds made by Roger Som
mer in France
Count Zeppelin, in Germany contin
ues remarkable demonstrations with
his dirigible balloon, making one tril
of 900 miles and again covering 22(
miles at q miles an hour. Lieutenant
Nina in italy broke the worlds bal
loon record for altitude when he as.
-cended seven miles. In October az
American, Edgar Mix. won the Cor
DON n cup at Zurich, covering
COS miles in his balloon.
Two fatal accidents have been re.
corded; one in a flight at Fort Meyer
and the other when the French wa,
balloon, La Republique, was wrecke,
in the air, killing three persons. TIL
development of aerial navigation ha.
raised some interesting legal questions
France is the first government to i'm
pose a duty or balloons landing from
foreign SOIL While English courts ar;
wrestling With the question whethe,