a journey in other worlds-第4章
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sole cause of the seasons； since； owing to the eccentricity of
our orbit； the earth is actually fifteen hundred thousand miles
nearer the sun during our winter； in the northern hemisphere；
than in summer。 That there is no limit to a planet's
inclination； and that inclination is not essential； we have
astronomical proof。 Venus's axis is inclined to the plane of her
orbit seventy…five degrees； so that the arctic circle comes
within fifteen degrees of the equator； and the tropics also
extend to latitude seventy…five degrees； or within fifteen
degrees of the poles； producing great extremes of heat and cold。
〃Venus is made still more difficult of habitation by the fact
that she rotates on her axis in the same time that she revolves
about the sun； in the same way that the moon does about the
earth； so that one side must be perpetually frozen while the
other is parched。
〃In Uranus we see the axis tilted still further； so that the
arctic circle descends to the equator。 The most varied climate
must therefore prevail during its year； whose length exceeds
eighty…one of ours。
The axis of Mars is inclined about twenty…eight and two thirds
degrees to the plane of its orbit； consequently its seasons must
be very similar to ours； the extremes of heat and cold being
somewhat greater。
〃In Jupiter we have an illustration of a planet whose axis is
almost at right angles to the plane of its orbit； being inclined
but about a degree and a half。 The hypothetical inhabitants of
this majestic planet must therefore have perpetual summer at the
equator； eternal winter at the poles； and in the temperate
regions everlasting spring。 On account of the straightness of
the axis； however； even the polar inhabitantsif there are
anyare not oppressed by a six months' night； for all except
those at the VERY pole have a sunrise and a sunset every ten
hoursthe exact day being nine hours； fifty five minutes； and
twenty…eight seconds。 The warmth of the tropics is also tempered
by the high winds that must result from the rapid whirl on its
axis； every object at the equator being carried around by this at
the rate of 27；600 miles an hour； or over three thousand miles
farther than the earth's equator moves in twenty…four hours。
〃The inclination of the axis of our own planet has also
frequently considerably exceeded that of Mars； and again has been
but little greater than Jupiter's at least； this is by all odds
the most reasonable explanation of the numerous Glacial periods
through which our globe has passed； and of the recurring mild
spells； probably lasting thousands of years； in which elephants；
mastodons； and other semi…tropical vertebrates roamed in Siberia；
some of which died so recently that their flesh； preserved by the
cold； has been devoured by the dogs of modern explorers。
〃It is not to be supposed that the inclining of the axes of
Jupiter； Venus； the Earth； and the other planets； is now fixed；
in some cases it is known to be changing。 As long ago as 1890；
Major…Gen。 A。 W。 Drayson； of the British Army； showed； in a work
entitled Untrodden Ground in Astronomy and Geology； that； as a
result of the second rotation of the earth； the inclination of
its axis was changing； it having been 23@ 28' 23〃 on January 1；
1750； 23@ 27' 55。3〃 on January 1； 1800； and 23@ 27' 30。9〃 on
January 1； 1850； and by calculation one hundred and ten years ago
showed that in 1900 （one hundred years ago） it would be 23@ 27'
08。8〃。 This natural straightening is； of course； going on； and
we are merely about to anticipate it。 When this improvement was
mooted； all agreed that the EXTREMES of heat and cold could well
be spared。 'Balance those of summer against those of winter by
partially straightening the axis； reduce the inclination from
twenty…three degrees； thirty minutes； to about fifteen degrees；
but let us stop there；' many said。 Before we had gone far；
however； we found it would be best to make the work complete。
This will reclaim and make productive the vast areas of Siberia
and the northern part of this continent； and will do much for the
antarctic regions； but there will still be change in temperature；
a wind blowing towards the equator will always be colder than one
blowing from it； while the slight eccentricity of the orbit will
supply enough change to awaken recollections of seasons in our
eternal spring。
〃The way to accomplish this is to increase the weight of the pole
leaving the sun； by increasing the amount of material there for
the sun to attract； and to lighten the pole approaching or
turning towards the sun； by removing some heavy substance from
it； and putting it preferably at the opposite pole。 This
shifting of ballast is most easily accomplished； as you will
readily perceive； by confining and removing water； which is
easily moved and has a considerable weight。 How we purpose to
apply these aqueous brakes to check the wabbling of the earth； by
means of the attraction of the sun； you will now see。
〃From Commander Fillmore； of the Arctic Shade and the Committee
on Bulkheads and Dams； I have just received the following by
cable telephone： 'The Arctic Ocean is now in condition to be
pumped out in summer and to have its average depth increased one
hundred feet by the dams in winter。 We have already fifty
million square yards of windmill turbine surface in position and
ready to move。 The cables bringing us currents from the dynamos
at Niagara Falls are connected with our motors； and those from
the tidal dynamos at the Bay of Fundy will be in contact when
this reaches you； at which moment the pumps will begin。 In
several of the landlocked gulfs and bays our system of confining
is so complete； that the surface of the water can be raised two
hundred feet above sea… level。 The polar bears will soon have to
use artificial ice。 Perhaps the cheers now ringing without may
reach you over the telephone。'〃
The audience became greatly interested； and when the end of the
telephone was applied to a microphone the room fairly rang with
exultant cheers； and those looking through a kintograph （visual
telegraph） terminating in a camera obscura on the shores of
Baffin Bay were able to see engineers and workmen waving and
throwing up their caps and falling into one another's arms in
ecstasies of delight。 When the excitement subsided； the
president continued：
〃Chairman Wetmore； of the Committee on Excavations and
Embankments in Wilkesland and the Antarctic Continent； reports：
'Two hundred and fifty thousand square miles are now hollowed out
and enclosed sufficiently to hold water to an average depth of
four hundred feet。 Every summer； when the basin is allowed to
drain； we can； if necessary； extend our reservoir； and shall have
the best season of the year for doing work until the earth has
permanent spring。 Though we have comparatively little water or
tidal power； the earth's crust is so thin at this latitude； on
account of the flattening； that by sinking our tubular boilers
and pipes to a depth of a few thousand feet we have secured so
terrific a volume of superheated steam that； in connection with
our wind turbines； we shall have no difficulty in raising half a
cubic mile of water a minute to our enclosure； which is but
little above sea…level； and into which； till the pressure
increases； we can fan or blow the water； so that it can be full
three weeks after our longest day； or； since the present
unimproved arrangement gives the indigenes but one day and night
a year； I will add the 21st day of December。
〃'We shall be able to find use for much of the potential energy
of the water in the reservoir when we allow it to escape in June；
in melting some of the accumulated polar ice…cap； thereby
decreasing still further the weight of this pole； in lighting and
warming ourselves until we get the sun's light and heat； in
extending the excavations； and in charging the storage batteries
of the ships at this end of the line。 Everything will be ready
when you signal 〃Raise water。〃'〃
〃Let me add parenthetically；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that this means
of obtaining power by steam boilers sunk to a great depth is muc
