the dominion of the air-第65章

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It　will　be　urged；　however；　that　for　purposes　of　exploration　some　form　of　dirigible　balloon　is　desirable；　and　we　have　already　had　proof　that　where　it　is　not　sought　to　combat　winds　strongly　opposed　to　their　course　such　air　ships　as　Santos…Dumont　or　Messrs。　Spencer　have　already　constructed　acquit　themselves　well；　and　it　requires　no　stretch　of　imagination　to　conceive　that　before　the　present　century　is　closed　many　great　gaps　in　the　map　of　the　world　will　have　been　filled　in　by　aerial　survey。

But；　leaving　the　balloon　to　its　proper　function；　we　turn　to　the　flying　machine　properly　so　called　with　more　sanguine　hopes　of　seeing　the　real　conquest　of　the　air　achieved。　　It　was　as　it　were　but　yesterday　when　the　air　ship；　unhampered　by　huge　globes　of　gas；　and　controlled　by　mechanical　means　alone；　was　first　fairly　tried；　yet　it　is　already　considered　by　those　best　able　to　judge　that　its　ultimate　success　is　assured。

This　success　rests　now　solely　in　the　hands　of　the　mechanical　engineer。　　He　must；　and　surely　can；　build　the　ship　of　such　strength　that　some　essential　part　does　not　at　the　critical　moment　break　down　or　carry　away。　　He　may　have　to　improve　his　motive　power；　and　here；　again；　we　do　not　doubt　his　cunning。　　Motor　engines；　self…contained　and　burning　liquid　fuel；　are　yet　in　their　infancy；　and　the　extraordinary　emulation　now　existing　in　their　production　puts　it　beyond　doubt　that　every　year　will　see　rapid　improvement　in　their　efficiency。

We　do　not　expect；　nor　do　we　desire；　that　the　world　may　see　the　fulfilment　of　the　poet's　dream；　〃Argosies　of　magic　sails〃　or　〃Airy　navies　grappling　in　the　central　blue。〃　　We　would　not　befog　our　vision　of　the　future　with　any　wild　imaginings；　seeking；　as　some　have　done；　to　see　in　the　electricity　or　other　hidden　power　of　heaven　the　means　for　its　subjugation　by　man；　but　it　is　far　from　unreasonable　to　hope　that　but　a　little　while　shall　pass；　and　we　shall　have　more　perfect　and　reliable　knowledge　of　the　tides　and　currents　in　the　vast　ocean　of　air；　and　when　that　day　may　have　come　then　it　may　be　claimed　that　the　grand　problem　of　aerial　navigation　will　be　already　solved。



End