New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-05-14

l3I feet several months ago, the average of a fall
of one degree in temperature to every 300 feet OF
altitude was fairly well maintained.
Moreover, in all these flights, when the mer
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 relgned 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 10 conditions up
there and this is the subject of Inversion OF
temperature"
For n great many years man believed that tenn
peraturc invariably changed with altitude, and
that as height increased there was always IA cor
responding drop in the mercury.
NJ. de Bort proved that not only does the prin.
ciple of increasing cold cease TO function mt 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-recorling instru.
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 man on his greatest adventure in the air
Is this:
They know-as of course, do we who are fairly
consistent readers of newspapers-the conditions
as they exist up to six or seven miles. 1t is there
that nature plays the parts with which we nre
most familiar. There thunders roll, lightning
flashes, clouds gather and elements clash In never
ending strife. 1t is from there that we get such
wintry storms rs recently experienced. and where
the humble drama of rain, snow, sleet and weather
unfolds itself.
They know, too, that atmosphere" as we know
i, although In constantly thinning quality. ex-
tends above the weather strip" to n height of
about twenty TO thirty miles, but beyond that.
what?
IL 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 shave Of
drifting lice clouds" which for imaginative pur.
poses may be likened TO icebergs; the void will as
sumo "A totally alien aspect meteors and shooting
stars will occasionally flash across the path, and
the traveller will enter the boundary of 'infam-
mable air" or pure hydrogen.
Passing through this-alwnys supposing. Of
course. that it is not snuffed out long before like
n peanut shell under the foot Of an elephant
the Super Terrestrial will emerge into the stratum
Of hellum which on earth is created from radium
and encountered in practical quantities only in
tubes.
Then-but perhaps this is enough for the mo-
ment. Even the most voracious seeker of knowl-
edge as 10 what things are like up there" will
have been satisfied long ere this. and the first voy-
age of the Super Terrestrial need not be charted
further.
provision would. of course. have 10 be made
FOR changed conditions" Mr.. Post concluded. in !
.ouching on the mechanical necessities Of the un- :
o course, with the thinning of the
the Super Terrestrial would encounter {
ess air resistance. and provided the propellers !
we're adjusted 10 increase purchase, tremendous {
peed would be attained.
The propellers would revolve much faster and :
he craft would shoot ahead like a meteor. "
And it-that is. the Super Terrestrial. If Won :
lesire TO call 1t that's the next thing ON the :,
u