The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-05-14

1s7 feet several months ago. the average of fall
OF one degree in temperature to every 800 feet OF
altitude fairly well maintained
Moreover I'm all these flights, when the men
had passed above the four-mile level and had risen
beyond the screen of atmospheric particles which
make our "Sky.' they entered the stratum in which
absolute silence reigned and In which vision was
remarkably clarified.
The armament above became almost black. due
to the absence of light refraction; the stars were
easily visible. even in brightest day. and the cold
was terrible and intense.
But In each instance certain phenomena were
observed. which brings up the next question of Inn
portance to the inquirer as to conditions up
there" and this is the subject of Inversion OF
temperature"
For great many years man believed that tenn
perature invariably changed with altitude, and
that as height Increased there was always cor
responding drop in the mercury.
Nj. de Bort proved that not only does the prirS
ciple of increasing cold cease to function an
altitude OF from six to eight miles above the EARTH
but that exactly the opposite occurs and from
there up it constantly grows warmer
Sounding balloons with self-recording nstru-
ments have been sent up to distance of seven
teen miles and have Invariably confirmed this
discovery.
So then, the situation presented to those who
are planning the Super Terrestrial and arranging
to launch on his greatest adventure in the air
is this:
They know-as, of course, do who fairly
consistent readers of newspapers-the conditions
they exist up to six seven miles. 1t Is there
that nature plays the parts with which we are
most familiar There thunders roll, lightning
flashes, clouds gather and elements clash in never
ending strife. 1t is from there that get such
wintry recently experienced. and where
the humble drama of rain, snow sleet and weather
unfolds itself.
They know, too that atmosphere" as we know
it. although in constantly thinning quality.
tends above the weather strip to height of
about twenty to thirty miles, but beyond that
what?
1t is here that real difficulties will begin. and
the Super Terrestrial will encounter Its greatest
obstacles-provided, of course. that long before
that bourn is reached the presumptuous craft has
not been destroyed.
Here new dangers will appear in the shape of
drifting .ice clouds" which for Imaginative pur-
noses may be likened to icebergs; the void will
sumo totally alien aspect meteors and shooting
stars will occasionally fash across the path. and
the traveller will enter the boundary Of "infiam
mable air." or pure hydrogen.
Passing through ths-always supposing. of
course that 1t is not snufed out long before like
a peanut shell under the foot of elephant
the Super Terrestrial will emerge into the stratum
of helium which on earth is created from radium
and encountered in practical quantities only in
test tubes.
Then-but perhaps this is enough for the
ment Even the most voracious seeker of knowl-
edge as to "what things like up there" will
have been satisfied long this, and the first voy
age of the Super Terrestrial need not be charted
further.
"Provision would. of course have TO be made
for changed conditions" Mr. Post concluded. in
touching the mechanical necessities Of the
dertaking. "Of course, with the thinning of the
atmosphere the Super Terrestrial would encounter
less air resistance. and provided the propeilers
were adjusted to increase purchase. tremendous
speed would be attained
1.-The propellers would revolve much faster and
the craft would shoot ahead like meteor.
And it-that is the Super Terrestrial, III you
desire to call 1t. that's the next thing on the
cardS"