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Major…Gen。 A。 W。 Drayson； of the British Army； showed； in a work
entitled Untrodden Ground in Astronomy and Geology； that； as a
result of the second rotation of the earth； the inclination of
its axis was changing； it having been 23@ 28' 23〃 on January 1；
1750； 23@ 27' 55。3〃 on January 1； 1800； and 23@ 27' 30。9〃 on
January 1； 1850； and by calculation one hundred and ten years ago
showed that in 1900 （one hundred years ago） it would be 23@ 27'
08。8〃。 This natural straightening is； of course； going on； and
we are merely about to anticipate it。 When this improvement was
mooted； all agreed that the EXTREMES of heat and cold could well
be spared。 'Balance those of summer against those of winter by
partially straightening the axis； reduce the inclination from
twenty…three degrees； thirty minutes； to about fifteen degrees；
but let us stop there；' many said。 Before we had gone far；
however； we found it would be best to make the work complete。
This will reclaim and make productive the vast areas of Siberia
and the northern part of this continent； and will do much for the
antarctic regions； but there will still be change in temperature；
a wind blowing towards the equator will always be colder than one
blowing from it； while the slight eccentricity of the orbit will
supply enough change to awaken recollections of seasons in our
eternal spring。
〃The way to accomplish this is to increase the weight of the pole
leaving the sun； by increasing the amount of material there for
the sun to attract； and to lighten the pole approaching or
turning towards the sun； by removing some heavy substance from
it； and putting it preferably at the opposite pole。 This
shifting of ballast is most easily accomplished； as you will
readily perceive； by confining and removing water； which is
easily moved and has a considerable weight。 How we purpose to
apply these aqueous brakes to check the wabbling of the earth； by
means of the attraction of the sun； you will now see。
〃From Commander Fillmore； of the Arctic Shade and the Committee
on Bulkheads and Dams； I have just received the following by
cable telephone： 'The Arctic Ocean is now in condition to be
pumped out in summer and to have its average depth increased one
hundred feet by the dams in winter。 We have already fifty
million square yards of windmill turbine surface in position and
ready to move。 The cables bringing us currents from the dynamos
at Niagara Falls are connected with our motors； and those from
the tidal dynamos at the Bay of Fundy will be in contact when
this reaches you； at which moment the pumps will begin。 In
several of the landlocked gulfs and bays our system of confining
is so complete； that the surface of the water can be raised two
hundred feet above sea… level。 The polar bears will soon have to
use artificial ice。 Perhaps the cheers now ringing without may
reach you over the telephone。'〃
The audience became greatly interested； and when the end of the
telephone was applied to a microphone the room fairly rang with
exultant cheers； and those looking through a kintograph （visual
telegraph） terminating in a camera obscura on the shores of
Baffin Bay were able to see engineers and workmen waving and
throwing up their caps and falling into one another's arms in
ecstasies of delight。 When the excitement subsided； the
president continued：
〃Chairman Wetmore； of the Committee on Excavations and
Embankments in Wilkesland and the Antarctic Continent； reports：
'Two hundred and fifty thousand square miles are now hollowed out
and enclosed sufficiently to hold water to an average depth of
four hundred feet。 Every summer； when the basin is allowed to
drain； we can； if necessary； extend our reservoir； and shall have
the best season of the year for doing work until the earth has
permanent spring。 Though we have comparatively little water or
tidal power； the earth's crust is so thin at this latitude； on
account of the flattening； that by sinking our tubular boilers
and pipes to a depth of a few thousand feet we have secured so
terrific a volume of superheated steam that； in connection with
our wind turbines； we shall have no difficulty in raising half a
cubic mile of water a minute to our enclosure； which is but
little above sea…level； and into which； till the pressure
increases； we can fan or blow the water； so that it can be full
three weeks after our longest day； or； since the present
unimproved arrangement gives the indigenes but one day and night
a year； I will add the 21st day of December。
〃'We shall be able to find use for much of the potential energy
of the water in the reservoir when we allow it to escape in June；
in melting some of the accumulated polar ice…cap； thereby
decreasing still further the weight of this pole； in lighting and
warming ourselves until we get the sun's light and heat； in
extending the excavations； and in charging the storage batteries
of the ships at this end of the line。 Everything will be ready
when you signal 〃Raise water。〃'〃
〃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 I