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are several reasons。 Since every discovery or advance in
knowledge increases our chance of obtaining more； it becomes
cumulative； and our progress is in geometric instead of
arithmetical ratio。 Public interest and general appreciation of
the value of time have also effectively assisted progress。 At
the beginning of each year the President； the Governors of the
States； and the Mayors of cities publish a prospectus of the
great improvements needed； contemplated； and under way within
their jurisdictionit may be planning a new boulevard； a new
park； or an improved system of sewers； and at the year's end they
issue a resume of everything completed； and the progress in
everything else； and though there is usually a great difference
between the results hoped for and those attained； the effect is
good。 The newspapers publish at length the recommendations of
the Executives； and also the results obtained； and keep up public
interest in all important matters。
〃Free to delve in the allurement and fascination of science；
emancipated man goes on subduing Nature； as his Maker said he
should； and turning her giant forces to his service in his
constant struggle to rise and become more like Him who gave the
commandments and showed him how he should go。
〃Notwithstanding our strides in material progress； we are not
entirely content。 As the requirements of the animal become fully
supplied； we feel a need for something else。 Some say this is
like a child that cries for the moon； but others believe it the
awakening and craving of our souls。 The historian narrates but
the signs of the times； and strives to efface himself； yet there
is clearly a void； becoming yearly more apparent； which
materialism cannot fill。 Is it some new subtle force for which
we sigh； or would we commune with spirits？ There is； so far as
we can see； no limit to our journey； and I will add； in closing；
that； with the exception of religion； we have most to hope from
science。〃
CHAPTER VI。
FAR…REACHING PLANS。
Knowing that the rectification of the earth's axis was
satisfactorily begun； and that each year would show an increasing
improvement in climate； many of the delegates； after hearing
Bearwarden's speech； set out for their homes。 Those from the
valley of the Amazon and the eastern coast of South America
boarded a lightning express that rushed them to Key West at the
rate of three hundred miles an hour。 The railroad had six
tracks； two for through passengers； two for locals； and two for
freight。 There they took a 〃water…spider；〃 six hundred feet long
by three hundred in width； the deck of which was one hundred feet
above the surface； which carried them over the water at the rate
of a mile a minute； around the eastern end of Cuba； through
Windward Passage； and so to the South American mainland； where
they continued their journey by rail。
The Siberian and Russian delegates； who； of course； felt a keen
interest in the company's proceedings； took a magnetic
double…ender car to Bering Strait。 It was eighteen feet high；
one hundred and fifty feet long； and had two stories。 The upper；
with a toughened glass dome running the entire length； descended
to within three feet of the floor； and afforded an unobstructed
view of the rushing scenery。 The rails on which it ran were ten
feet apart； the wheels being beyond the sides； like those of a
carriage； and fitted with ball bearings to ridged axles。 The
car's flexibility allowed it to follow slight irregularities in
the track； while the free； independent wheels gave it a great
advantage in rounding curves over cars with wheels and axle in
one casting； in which one must slip while traversing a greater or
smaller arc than the other； except when the slope of the tread
and the centrifugal force happen to correspond exactly。 The fact
of having its supports outside instead of underneath； while
increasing its stability； also enabled the lower floor to come
much nearer the ground； while still the wheels were large。
Arriving in just twenty hours； they ran across on an electric
ferry…boat； capable of carrying several dozen cars； to East Cape；
Siberia； and then； by running as far north as possible； had a
short cut to Europe。
The Patagonians went by the all…rail Intercontinental Line；
without change of cars； making the run of ten thousand miles in
forty hours。 The Australians entered a flying machine； and were
soon out of sight； while the Central Americans and members from
other States of the Union returned for the most part in their
mechanical phaetons。
〃A prospective improvement in travelling；〃 said Bearwarden； as he
and his friends watched the crowd disperse； 〃will be when we can
rise beyond the limits of the atmosphere； wait till the earth
revolves beneath us； and descend in twelve hours on the other
side。〃
〃True；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃but then we can travel westward only；
and shall have to make a complete circuit when we wish to go
east。〃
A few days later there was a knock at President Bearwarden's
door； while he was seated at his desk looking over some papers
and other matters。 Taking his foot from a partly opened desk
drawer where it had been resting； he placed it upon the handle of
a handsome brass…mounted bellows； which proved to be
articulating； for； as he pressed； it called lustily； 〃Come in！〃
The door opened； and in walked Secretary of State Stillman；
Secretary of the Navy Deepwaters； who was himself an old sailor；
Dr。 Cortlandt； Ayrault。 Vice…President Dumby； of the T。 A。 S。
Co。； and two of the company's directors。
〃Good…morning；〃 said Bearwarden； as he shook hands with his
visitors。 〃Charmed to see you。〃
〃That's a great invention；〃 said Secretary Stillman； examining
the bellows。 〃We must get Congress to make an appropriation for
its introduction in the department buildings in Washington。 You
have no idea how it dries my throat to be all the time shouting；
'Come in！'〃
〃Do you know； Bearwarden；〃 said Secretary Deepwaters； 〃I'm afraid
when we have this millennium of climate every one will be so well
satisfied that our friend here （pointing to Secretary Stillman
with his thumb） will have nothing to do。〃
〃I have sometimes thought some of the excitement will be gone；
and the struggle of the 'survival of the fittest' will become
less problematical；〃 said Bearwarden。
〃The earth seems destined to have a calm old age；〃 said
Cortlandt； 〃unless we can look to the Cabinet to prevent it。〃
〃This world will soon be a dull place。 I wish we could leave it
for a change；〃 said Ayrault。 〃I don't mean forever； of course；
but just as people have grown tired of remaining like plants in
the places in which they grew。 Alan has been a caterpillar for
untold ages； can he not become the butterfly？〃
〃Since we have found out how to straighten the axis；〃 said
Deepwaters； 〃might we not go one better； and improve the orbit as
well？increase the difference between aphelion and perihelion；
and give those that still like a changing climate a chance； while
incidentally we should see more of the worldI mean the solar
systemand； by enlarging the parallax； be able to measure the
distance of a greater number of fixed stars。 Put your helm hard
down and shout 'Hard…a…lee！' You see； there is nothing simpler。
You keep her off now； and six months hence you let her luff。〃
〃That's an idea！〃 said Bearwarden。 〃Our orbit could be enough
like that of a comet to cross the orbits of both Venus and Mars；
and the climatic extremes would not be inconvenient。 The whole
earth being simultaneously warmed or cooled； there would be no
equinoctials or storms resulting from changes on one part of the
surface from intense heat to intense cold； every part would have
a twelve…hour day and night； and none would be turned towards or
from the sun for six months at a time； for； however eccentric the
orbit； we should keep the axis absolutely straight。 At
perihelion there would simply be increased evaporation and clouds
near the equator； which would shield those regions from the sun；
only to disappear again as the earth receded。
〃The only trouble；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃is that we should have no
fulcrum。 Straightening the axis is simple enough； for we have
the attraction of the sun with which to work； and we have but to
increase it at one end while decreasing it at the other； and
change this as the poles change their inclination towards the
sun； to bring it about。 If a comet with a sufficiently large
head would but come along and retard us； or opportunely give us a
pull； or if we could increase the attraction of the other planets
for us； or decrease it at times； it might be done。 If the force；
the control of which was discovered too late to help us
straighten the axis； could be applied on a sufficiently large
scale； if apergy〃
〃I have it！〃 exclaimed Ayrault； jumping up。 〃Apergy will do it。
We can build an airtight projectile； hermetically seal ourselves
within； and charge it in such a way that it will be repelled by
the magnetism of the earth； and it will be forced from it with
equal or greater violence tha