Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1889 — THE PROJECTED AIR SHIP. [ARTICLE]

THE PROJECTED AIR SHIP.

..} - : At the opening of th • second century of its existence as a .Government the Dfliv*! States has a National debt of -$1*672, ©sL667>l4,meludißg principal and interest. But there are available cash assets on hand sufficient to reduce the total debt to $1,157,282,578.71. There was 1619,990,915.65 cash in the Treasury, including in standard silver dollars. The total assets of the Government are placed at $726,476,667.53 and its present liabilities at $644,600,043 31, leaving a balance of $80,876,624.2? on the right side of the account. This showing is somewhat different from that or a century ago.

Canada iB meeting with a smaller share of success than the United States in dealing with the trust problem. The former is seeking to enact new legislation to meet the evil, wbile the latter, in the sugar combine case at leest, is attacking it by existing laws. The Sugar Trust has met with a reverse in the courts in New York, and while it has not been crippled as yet, it has lost its air of arrogance and jaunty self-con-fidence. There is a strong conviction in the minds of intelligent Americans that the “combines” can be regulated by the ordinary laws against conspiracies, whenever the gentlemen responsible for the enforcement of these laws condescend to perform their duties. The centennials of important events "connected with American independence are now all ended. A celebration of an occurrence, however, which has an especial interest for everybody on this Continent, and in which all the rest of the world even should have some concern, will take place about three years hence. The year 1892 will be the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, and the event will be observed by an Exposition at Washington, in which all the Governments of the Western Hemisphere are to be represented. Colnmbus may not have been the first civilized man to set foot on this Continent, but as he had the good sense and public spirit tonake his discovery known while the others didn’t, he is the man who is going to be honored.

Judge Cooley, Chairman of the In teretate Commerce Commission, announced net long ago that the time lor leniency with law-breaking railroad officials had passed, and that thenceforth the penalties incurred would be inflicted. As there had not been a single case of punishment since the Interstate Law was enacted, though the infractions were numerous, this indicated that a new order of things was to be instituted. It would seem now that the matter Is about to be tested. It has been ascertained that officials both on the Milwaukee and St. Paul and the Chicago and Northwestern roads have been granting favors to a certain coal merchant, who by these means has greatly enriched himself. The revelation is said to be a complete one, and as large transactions are involved the affair is tooimportant to be covered up.

What Might Happen on Its Succcssful Completion. —~ Fire and Water. The consequences of a successful issue to the undertaking would be so momentous that they can with difficulty be realized. The first result would unquestionably be to put an end to wars. To show how hopeless any military operations would be in a country defended by such weapons, we will suppose that Prince Biemarcn, after waiting until Dr. Bansset has, unknown to him, completed a few of his air ships, picked a quarrel with us on the pretext of a dispute about Samoa. War is declared suddenly after the German manner, and the military trains, which are said to stand ready packed, with the horses at hand for harnessing, in the German arsenals, are set in motion. The transports, which lie equipped for sea, are filled with men from the nearest garrison, and in a few hours au immense fore* .is on its way to invade America. About half way across \he Atlantic the fleet is met by one or two De Bausett air shipß, which sail about, far ont of reach of shot, and taking position in a leisurely manner, drop a 500 pound shell filled with explosive gelatine into the funnel of each, and having thus annihilated the expedition, proceed to Berlin to treat (he remaining portion of the hostile army in the same way. Of course it might be that the Germans would have the air ships first, and the war would be brought to a conclusion by the unconditional surrender of all the principal cities in the United States, ander the persuasion of a dynamite shell held suspended over each; bat it would be so easy to turn the tables at a moment’s notice that, after a few towns had been mutually blown np, the quarrel would be terminated by common consent In regard to passengers, the air ships, i! they prqved practicable at all, would offer each immense advantages in point of safety, speed and comfort that they

would soon supersede all other conveyances for traveling long distances. It seems to us that the proposed speed of 100 miles an hour Would in practice be greatly exceeded. There would be no such obstacles to fast sailing in the air as are met with in ocean traveling, in the shape of waves, fogs and danger of collision. By keeping ships in the outward passage in the lower strata of the ■'■atg&spheie dud the 'in ward bound 'oner in the upper strata, serious collisions would be out of the question; and, provided the speed could be made to exceed that of the air currents as much as that of steamships exceeds that of the ocean currents, it is difficult to see what danger would remain of which travelers by well built and well managed air ships need be afraid.