a journey in other worlds-第5章
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〃Let me add parenthetically；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that this means
of obtaining power by steam boilers sunk to a great depth is much
to be commended； for； though the amount of heat we can withdraw
is too small to have much effect； the farther towards the centre
our globe can be cooled the deeper will the water of the oceans
be able to penetratesince it is its conversion into steam that
prevents the water from working its way in fartherand the more
dry land we shall have。〃
〃You see；〃 the president continued； 〃the storage capacity at the
south pole is not quite as great as at the north； because it is
more difficult to excavate a basin than to close the exits of one
that already exists； which is what we have done in the arctic。
The work is also not so nearly complete； since it will not be
necessary to use the southern reservoir for storing weight for
six months； or until the south pole； which is now at its maximum
declination from the sun； is turned towards it and begins to move
away； then； by increasing the amount of matter there； and at the
same time lightening the north pole； and reversing the process
every six months； we decrease the speed at which the departing
pole leaves the sun and at which the approaching pole advances。
The north pole； we see； will be a somewhat more powerful lever
than the south for working the globe to a straight position； but
we may be sure that the latter； in connection with the former；
will be able to hold up its end。〃
＇The building here fairly shook with applause； so that； had the
arctic workers used the microphone； they might have heard in the
enthusiastic uproar a good counterpart of their own period。＇
〃I only regret；〃 the president continued； 〃that when we began
this work the most marvellous force yet discoveredapergywas
not sufficiently understood to be utilized； for it would have
eased our labours to the point of almost eliminating them。 But
we have this consolation： it was in connection with our work that
its applicability was discovered； so that had we and all others
postponed our great undertaking on the pretext of waiting for a
new force； apergy might have continued to lie dormant for
centuries。 With this force； obtained by simply blending negative
and positive electricity with electricity of the third element or
state； and charging a body sufficiently with this fluid；
gravitation is nullified or partly reversed； and the earth repels
the body with the same or greater power than that with which it
still attracts or attracted it； so that it may be suspended or
caused to move away into space。 Sic itur ad astra； we may say。
With this force and everlasting spring before us； what may we not
achieve？ We may some day be able to visit the planets； though
many may say that； since the axes of most of those we have
considered are more inclined than ours； they would rather stay
here。 'Blessed are they that shall inherit the earth；'〃 he went
on； turning a four…foot globe with its axis set vertically and at
right angles to a yellow globe labelled 〃Sun〃； and again waxing
eloquent； he added： 〃We are the instruments destined to bring
about the accomplishment of that prophecy； for never in the
history of the world has man reared so splendid a monument to his
own genius as he will in straightening the axis of the planet。
〃No one need henceforth be troubled by sudden change； and every
man can have perpetually the climate he desires。 Northern Europe
will again luxuriate in a climate that favoured the elephants
that roamed in northern Asia and Switzerland。 To produce these
animals and the food they need； it is not necessary to have great
heat； but merely to prevent great cold； half the summer's sun
being absorbed in melting the winter's accumulation of ice。
〃When the axis has reached a point at which it inclines but about
twelve degrees； it will become necessary to fill the antarctic
reservoir in June and the Arctic Ocean in December； in order to
check the straightening； since otherwise it might get beyond the
perpendicular and swing the other way。 When this motion is
completely arrested； I suggest that we blow up the Aleutian Isles
and enlarge Bering Strait； so as to allow what corresponds to the
Atlantic Gulf Stream in the Pacific to enter the Arctic
Archipelago； which I have calculated will raise the average
temperature of that entire region about thirty degrees； thereby
still further increasing the amount of available land。
〃Ocean currents； being the result of the prevailing winds； which
will be more regular than at present； can be counted upon to
continue practically as they are。 It may not be plain to you why
the trade winds do not blow towards the equator due south and
north； since the equator has much the same effect on air that a
stove has in the centre of a room； causing an ascending current
towards the ceiling； which moves off in straight lines in all
directions on reaching it； its place being taken by cold currents
moving in opposite directions along the floor。 Picture to
yourselves the ascending currents at the equator moving off to
the poles from which they came。 As they move north they are
continually coming to parts of the globe having smaller circles
of latitude than those they have left； and therefore not moved
forward as rapidly by the earth's daily rotation as the latitudes
nearer the equator。 The winds consequently run ahead of the
surface； and so move east of norththe earth turning towards the
eastwhile the heavier colder surface currents； rushing towards
the equator to take the place of the ascending column； coming
from regions where the surface whirls comparatively slowly to
those where it is rotating faster； are continually left behind；
and so move southwest； while south of the equator a corresponding
motion results。 Though this is not the most exact explanation；
it may serve to make the action clear。 I will add； that if any
one prefers a colder or a warmer climate than that of the place
in which he lives； he need only go north or south for an hour；
or； if he prefers his own latitude； he can rise a few thousand
feet in the air； or descend to one of the worked…out coal…mines
which are now used as sanitariums； and secure his object by a
slight change of altitude。 Let us speed the departure of racking
changes and extremes of climate； and prepare to welcome what we
believe prevails in paradisenamely； everlasting spring。〃
Appended to the address was the report of the Government
Examining Committee； which ran： 〃We have critically examined the
Terrestrial Axis Straightening Company's figures and
calculations； also its statements involving natural philosophy；
physics； and astronomy； all of which we find correct； and hereby
approve。
＇Signed＇ 〃For the Committee：
〃HENRY CHELMSFORD CORTLANDT；
〃Chairman。〃
The Board of Directors having ratified the acts of its officers；
and passed congratulatory resolutions； the meeting adjourned sine
die。
CHAPTER IV。
PROF。 CORTLANDT'S HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE WORLD
IN A。 D。 2000。
Prof。 Cortlandt； preparing a history of the times at the
beginning of the great terrestrial and astronomical change； wrote
as follows： 〃This periodA。D。 2000is by far the most
wonderful the world has as yet seen。 The advance in scientific
knowledge and attainment within the memory； of the present
generation has been so stupendous that it completely overshadows
all that has preceded。 All times in history and all periods of
the world have been remarkable for some distinctive or
characteristic trait。 The feature of the period of Louis XIV was
the splendour of the court and the centralization of power in
Paris。 The year 1789 marked the decline of the power of courts
and the evolution of government by the people。 So； by the spread
of republican ideas and the great advance in science； education
has become universal； for women as well as for men； and this is
more than ever a mechanical age。
〃With increased knowledge we are constantly coming to realize how
little we really know； and are also
