The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-06-12

1877 feet several months ago, the average of fall
of one degree in temperature to every 800 feet or
altitude fairly we'll maintained.
Moreover, in all these flights, when the men
had passed above the four-me level and had risen
beyond the screen of atmospheric particles which
snake "sky," they entered the stratum in which
absolute silence reigned and in which vision was
remarkably clarified.
The armament above became almost black, que
to the absence of light refractiOn; the stars were
easily visible, even in brightest day, and the colo
was terrible and intense.
But in each instance certain phenomena were
observed. which brings up the next question of i'm
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
pcrature 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 pFn-
ciple of increasing cold cease to function at an
altitude of from six eight miles above the EARTH
but that exactly the opposite occurs and from
there up it constantly grows warmer.
Sounding balloons with sef-recOrding nstru-
ments have been sent up to distance of seven
teen miles and have invariably confirmed this
discovery.
So them the situation presented to those who
are planning the Super Terrestrial and arranging
is this
They know-as, of course, do who are fairly
consistent readers of newspapers-the conditions
as they exist up to six 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 we get such
wintry storms as recently experienced, and where
the humble drama of rain, snow, sleet and weather
unfolds itself.
They know too that atmosphere" know
It. although in constantly thinning quality, ex-
tends above the weather strip to height OF
about twenty to thirty miles but beyond that
what?
II is here tfnat 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 as
sume a totally alien aspect meteors and shooting
stars will occasionally flash across the path and
the traveller will enter the boundary of "inflaB-
mable air. pure hydrogen.
Passing through this-always supposing of
course that it is not snufed out long before like
peanut shell under the foot of an elephant
the Sper Terrestrial will emerge into the stratum
of helium which earth is created from radium
and encountered in practical quantities only in
test tubes.
Then-but perhaps this is enough for the mo-
:nent. 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-
aae Of the Super Terrestrial need not be charted
further
"Proyision would of course, have to be made
for changed conditions Mr. Post concluded, in
touching on the mechanical necessities of the un-
dertaking "Of course, with the Ginning OF the
atmosphere the Super Terrestrial would encounter
less air resistance, and provided the propellers
we're adjusted to increase purchase. tremendous
speed would be attained.
THE propellers would reyolve much faster and
the craft would shoot ahead like a meteor.
"And it-that is the Super Terrestrial IL yo,
desire to c.ll IL that's the next thing on tbs
cards"