The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-05

IN showing its inimitablo adapta-
tions to it's purpose, and it's al
most infinite capabilities as an instru-
ment, or tool
There is no doubt that many of the
most ingenious and effective mechan-
zeal inventions that have ever been
made arc based upon, and wero probab-
y suggested by, tho wonderful capaci-
ties of the human hand and fingers. In
vcntions have been able to follow
these hints from the structure of the
hand because, by daily use all the va
rious functions of its different parts
are perfectly understood
The wing Of bird is as marvellous
an instrument as the hand Of man,
and if its action could be as easily com
pretended. il would show us very quick
ly the best way to construct a flying
machine. Unfortunately, since we were
not born with wings, there are many
things about them which are mysteries
to us.
Inventors well understand this fact,
and special studies Of the wings Of
birds are being made for the purpose of
getting moro light upon their action, in
order that the knowledge thus acquired
may be applied to the Improvement of
aeroplanes.
Messrs. Housay and Magnan of the
Paris Sorbonne, have, with this oh,
ject in view, investigated the flight of
different species. They have discov-
cred many very interesting facts, which
may serve to guide the inventors Of
future aeroplanes.
One thing that they have found out,
which greatly surprised them, is that
the ratio Of the motive power of birds
to the supporting surface of the body
and wings varies inversely instead Of
directly. This means that if the sup
porting surface is large the motive
power is proportionately small, and If
the supporting surface is small the mo-
tive power Is proportionately large.
Or to put it in different words, the
larger the wing surface the smaller the
motive power, and vice versa.
This fact may prove Of great use,
for hitherto it has been assumed BY
the makers of aeroplanes that the best
flying machine must be that having
the most powerful motor and at the
same time the greatest lifting power
per unit Of surface. Exactly the oppo.
site relation is found among birds The
best flyers have. by far, the feeblest
motive powers and carry the smallest
weight per unit Of surface.
Direct comparison has shown that If
an aeroplanc of thirty feet spread, and
carrying about four pounds per square
foot. is reduced homologously. or part
by part to the dimensions of bird of
thrce feet spread, III can carry weight
OF only about two-fifths OF pound
per square foot of surface Now, no
bird is anything like so inefficient as
that.
It becomes evident. then. that the wing
OF the bird depends for its power upon
something else besides area. The eIe-
ments that must be taken into account
Il NHl,i i.l, ~ a,,1tt tt,Iz
fully comprehend. are the quality of the
feathers. the stiffness OF the supporting
ribs. their elasticity. and other unknown
circumstances. which, It is suggested
may depend upon Authorization OF the
bird, that is, upon It's mode of noursh-
ment and digestion which, in turn, af-
fects IT'S nervous and muscular systems.
Probably n complete comprehension OF
the mechanism OF flight Of a single bird.
such as the gull would place in our
hands tho means OF making a flying ma
produced. The full secret OF the bird be-
ing discovered. we might be able to imi-
tate It. But that secret remains
hidden.
Not long ago I stood on the deck of
steamer IN Plymouth harbor. and with
a number Of intelligent men, who we're
as interested as myself; watched the
flight of hundreds OF guls. which came
so close TINT the movements of their
eyes were plainly visible. 1t was an ex-
hibition OF natures magic as wonderful
turned, descended. rose, Increased and
decreased their speed, by slight tipplngs
Of their wings and changes OF balance
only occasionally Tapping their wings for
n few seconds. and It actually seemed to
the observer as If they did all this by
mere exercise OF the Will, as we some
times imagine ourselves flying In our
dreams. One would have said that they
possessed some source or kind OF energy
unknown to us. When the steamer
moved Oft they followed. and without
tho least apparent exertion. and often
without any visible movement OF wing
kept abreast OF It, outstripped II and
sailed all around 1t. Without single
flap OF Its wings gull would suddenly
double It's speed.
Nobody could how It did e. In
visible air currents probably play n part
in the phenomenon. but that is not all
The secret also lies partly in the struc-
| ture and action OF the feathers and In
| the control OF the bird over the curvs-
| ture Of Its wing surfaces.
| Existing aeroplanes are a good begin
ming. but only q beginning, ard before
| they can be perfected We must carry
| them through n course OF evolution re-
sembling that which the birds have un-
| dergone during the long ages that have
| elapsed since their reptilian ancestors first
developed wings and learned TO fly
Pain in Back and Rheumatism