a journey in other worlds-第9章
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destination in considerably shorter time。
Some passengers and express packages still cross the Atlantic on
'spiders；' but most of these light cargoes go in a far pleasanter
and more rapid way。 The deep…displacement vessels； for heavy
freight； make little better speed than was made by the same class
a hundred years ago。 But they are also run entirely by
electricity； largely supplied by wind； and by the tide turning
their motors； which become dynamos while at anchor in any stream。
They therefore need no bulky boilers； engines； sails； or
coal…bunkers； and consequently can carry unprecedentedly large
cargoes with comparatively small crews。 The officers on the
bridge and the men in the crow's nestthe way to which is by a
ladder INSIDE the mast； to protect the climber from the
weatherare about all that is needed； while disablement is made
practically impossible； by having four screws； each with its own
set of automatically lubricating motors。
〃This change； like other labour…saving appliances； at first
resulted in laying off a good many men； the least satisfactory
being the first to go； but the increase in business was so great
that the intelligent men were soon reemployed as officers at
higher rates of pay and more interesting work than before； while
they as consumers were benefited as much as any one else by the
decreased cost of production and transportation。
〃With a view to facilitating interchange still further； our
Government has gradually completed the double coast…line that
Nature gave us in part。 This was done by connecting islands
separated from shore by navigable water； and leaving openings for
ingress and exit but a few hundred yards wide。 The breakwaters
required to do this were built with cribbing of incorrodible
metal； affixed to deeply driven metallic piles； and filled with
stones along coasts where they were found in abundance or excess。
This； while clearing many fields and improving them for
cultivation； provided just the needed material； since irregular
stones bind together firmly； and； while also insoluble； combine
considerable bulk with weight。 South of Hatteras； where stones
are scarce； the sand dredged from parts of the channel was filled
into the crib； the surface of which has a concave metallic cover；
a trough of still water being often the best barrier against the
passage of waves。 This double coast…line has been a great
benefit； and propelled vessels of moderate draught can range in
smooth water； carrying very full loads； from Labrador to the
Orinoco。 The exits are； of course； protected by a line of
cribbing a few hundred feet to seaward。
〃The rocks have been removed from all channels about New York and
other commercial centres； while the shallow places have been
dredged to a uniform depth。 This diminishes the dangers of
navigation and considerably decreases the speed with which the
tides rush through。 Where the obstructions consisted of reefs
surrounded by deep water； their removal with explosives was easy；
the shattered fragments being allowed to sink to the bottom and
remain there beneath the danger line。
〃Many other great works have also been completed。 The canals at
Nicaragua have been in operation many years； it having been found
best to have several sizes of locks； and to use the large ones
only for the passage of large vessels。 The improved Erie and
Champlain Canals also enable ships four hundred feet long to
reach New York from the Great Lakes via the Hudson River。
〃For flying； we have an aeroplane that came in when we devised a
suitable motor power。 This is obtained from very light
paper…cell batteries that combine some qualities of the primary
and secondary type； since they must first be charged from a
dynamo； after which they can supply full currents for one hundred
hoursenough to take them around the globewhile partly
consuming the elements in the cells。 The power is applied
through turbine screws； half of which are capable of propelling
the flat deck in its inclined position at sufficient speed to
prevent its falling。 The moving parts have ball bearings and
friction rollers； lubrication being secured automatically； when
required； by a supply of vaseline that melts if any part becomes
hot。 All the framing is of thin but very durable galvanized
aluminum； which has superseded steel for every purpose in which
weight is not an advantage； as in the permanent way on railways。
The air ships； whose length varies from fifty to five hundred
feet； have rudders for giving a vertical or a horizontal motion；
and several strengthening keels that prevent leeway when turning。
They are entirely on the principle of birds； maintaining
themselves mechanically； and differing thus from the unwieldy
balloon。 Starting as if on a circular railway； against the wind；
they rise to a considerable height； and then； shutting off the
batteries； coast down the aerial slope at a rate that sometimes
touches five hundred miles an hour。 When near the ground the
helmsman directs the prow upward； and； again turning on full
current； rushes up the slope at a speed that far exceeds the
eagle's； each drop of two miles serving to take the machine
twenty or thirty； though； if the pilot does not wish to soar； or
if there is a fair wind at a given height； he can remain in that
stratum of the atmosphere by moving horizontally。 He can also
maintain his elevation when moving very slowly； and though the
headway be entirely stopped； the descent is gradual on account of
the aeroplane's great spread； the batteries and motors being
secured to the under side of the deck。
〃The motors are so light that they develop two horse power for
every pound of their weight； while； to keep the frames thin； the
necessary power is obtained by terrific speed of the moving
parts； as though a steam engine； to avoid great pressure in its
cylinders； had a long stroke and ran at great piston speed；
which； however； is no disadvantage to the rotary motion of the
electric motor； there being no reciprocating cranks； etc。； that
must be started and stopped at each revolution。
〃To obviate the necessity of gearing to reduce the number of
revolutions to those possible for a large screw； this member is
made very small； and allowed to revolve three thousand times a
minute； so that the requisite power is obtained with great
simplicity of mechanism； which further decreases friction。 The
shafts； and even the wires connecting the batteries with the
motors； are made large and hollow。 Though the primary battery
pure and simple； as the result of great recent advances in
chemistry； seems to be again coming up； the best aeroplane
batteries are still of the combination… storage type。 These have
been so perfected that eight ounces of battery yield one horse
power for six hours； so that two pounds of battery will supply a
horse power for twenty…four hours； a small fifty…horse…power
aeroplane being therefore able to fly four days with a battery
weight of but four hundred pounds。
〃Limestone and clarified acid are the principal parts of these
batteries。 It was known long ago that there was about as much
imprisoned solar energy in limestone as in coal； but it was only
recently that we discovered this way of releasing and using it。
〃Common salt plays an important part in many of our chemical
reactions。 By combining it with limestone； and treating this
with acid jelly； we also get good results on raising to the
boiling…point。
〃However enjoyable the manly sport of yachting is on water； how
vastly more interesting and fascinating it is for a man to have a
yacht in which he can fly to Europe in one day； and with which
the exploration of tropical Africa or the regions about the poles
is mere child's play； while giving him so magnificent a
bird's…eye view！ Many seemingly insoluble problems are solved by
the advent of these birds。 Having as their halo the enforcement
of peace； they have in truth taken us a long step towards heaven；
and to the co…operation and higher civilization that followed we
shall owe much of the success of the great experiment on Mother
Earth now about to be tried。
〃Another
