The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-04-29

said: s'Switch number one controls the cur
rent that charges the metal base. When
electrically charged this metal base becomes
repelling magnet that repells the earth.
Now, this repelling force is so powerful that
the metal base and all upon it is repealed
from the ground, the strength of the cleo
determining the altitude, which may be any
height up to ten thousand feet.
''Switch number two charges the direc-
ton magnets. Here at front you see our
steering board, lettered exactly like mar
iners compass, This swinging lever is the
controller of the direction we wish to ira
vel. This lever produces variations of the
electrical vibrations of the current of cleo
trictiy flowing through the direction
magnets. These currents of varying vibra-
tions in the magnet attract electrical cur
rents of the atmosphere which, as the
compass shows, is strongest at the pole of
the earth. Varying degrees of currental
strength are found radiating from the E.
quator. 1t is on these currents that we
depend not only for our direction but for
our varying speeds. These explanations
cover the principle on which our airships
are controlled. We have made electricity
attract or repel from whatsoever we
wish. You have noticed how the magnet
attracts bits of steel and iron. Well,
science has gone ahead on the same prin-
ciple, turning the metal base of our air.
ship into magnet and utilizing the electri-
cal energy of the earth and atmosphere to
move that magnet from place to place.
Really, it is all so very simple that l can-
not understand why it was not done ages
ago. l shall be glad to explain further at
some future time. Just now shall have to
ask you to excuse me as we are about to
fly
found my friend Charles waiting for
me just outside the pilot house. We step
ped from the airship to the station platform
and watched the great airship as it swiftly
and silently scared upward and away.
"Truly that is great invention" said
l, turning to Charles after the airship had
become a speck in the distance. ''No
wonder the railroads with their dusty, ill
smelling coaches had to CO."
We strolled about the station for some
time and then Charles suggested that we
continue on our tour. We left the station
and were soon gliding smoothly on our
way while l sat lost in thought, revolving
over and over the strange sights l had wit
messed in less than twenty-four short hours.
Down in the manufacturing district we
passed great manufactures echoing and re-
echoing with loud sounds of frenzied indus
try. Everywhere we went in this district l
noted the absence of smoking chimneys
that speak of the presence of great batteries
of steam boilers and grimy faced fireman. l
kept silent as long as possible and then
questioned Charles as to what became of all
the smoke.
"Smoke!" exclaimed he, ''What smoker"
"Why the smoke from the fires under the
steam boilers replied.
ooh, | see," answered he, 81 keep for
getting that you ale unfamiliar with our
advancement in engineering. Well, there is
no smoke to make away with. All our ma.
chinery is run by electricity which is drawn
from the earth and atmosphere by electrical
machines named attractors. These attract
ors accumulate the electricity by the use of
specially designed magnets which discharge
the current gathered into storage batteries.
From the storage batteries the current is
sent direct to the motors in the factories by
wireless. By this process electrical energy is
furnished at a cost far below that furnished
by dynamos and generators. Steam is used
states where coal is plentiful. However, it is
tricity will supercede steam even in those
states, for they are coming to the realiza-
ton that electricity is cheaper for heating
and power than steam.
We drew up in front of building which
he said was the gun club headquarters.
Charles introduced me to several of his
friends and then sent for gun. This gun
was of quite the same appearance as the
army rifles of 1915. The barrel was some
what longer and insulated with rubber and
fibre covering. The targets on the firing
ground were about 200 yards from the firing
line. Charles raised the gun to his shoulder,
telling me to keep my eye on the target.
Suddenly saw a flash of fire illuminate
the target and then heard sharp report.
Turning to Charles asked what made the
flash of fire and the report on the target.
"That," said he, 'was caused by the
shot fired. hit the target.
''But heard no report from your gum"
l cried, amazed. GLOW could yon fire and
not hear it?''
Charles laughed long and loudly. "These
rifles said he, ''shoot electricity and no
report is heard until the target is hit
"Where do you get the electricity from?"
l asked.
'That also is sent to the gun by wire
less," he answered. 'These rifles are as
deadly as lightning for they contain the
same power. They were invented by gen.
Jus who took stock of the damage caused
by a stroke of lightning. He saw that cleo
trcty was sent out by wireless and he be-
gan to work upon rifle that would fire
electricity with power equal to that of
lightning. He was nearly fifteen years per-
fecting his invention. 1t is needless to say
that the lightning gum as it was first
named, brought about revolution in war
fare. Men would stand up and fight against
shot and shell, battleship would fight battle
ship, and the hosts of the air fight one
against the other, but none was willing to
fight against the lightning. A mediating
congress was organized in the interest of
universal peace and, the disarmament of
nations speedily followed. All information
al complications are now passed upon and
settled by this mediatlng congress, and the
bloody field of battle is thing of the