The Romance of Modern Invention

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 302, 20 December 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Romance of Modern Invention

A BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,

The sun's rays thrown by the circular reflector on the boiler in the centre of the machine generates sufficient energy to pump water at the rate of 1400 gallons per minute. (From "The Romance of Modern Invention.")

*~-cg[ EW would characterise present-day civilisation, *_!_ffi)« with its a P arentl y P ro " saic ad J uncts of modern «,)fiOl*\» 0 inventions, as "romantic »" y et if those who sigh for tbe "good old days" would look at their own times with an unprejudiced eye they might see that romance is by no means a thing purely of the past, but is as yet with us—expressed by wireless telegraphy and liquid air, perhaps, but none the less existent.

ly revolving sensitive Aim. Though this "light point" moves at a tremendous rate, it inscribes perfectly legible words on the film, which are automatically developed and fixed in chemical baths. The specimen reproduced occupied only two seconds in transmission. The coal strike in America has led

Mr Archibald Williams, tbe author of "The Romance of Modern Invention" (published by Messrs C. Arthur Pearson), has seen his subject with the eye almost of a poet, in addition to that of a scientist.

He starts with what is, perhaps, a rather obvious example—wireless telegraphy—but it is none the less an excellent one. The idea of the electrical waves spreading themselves through space yet recording a message at one tiny spot only thousands of miles from their point of origin appeals to tbe most torpid imagination.

None the less striking, though comparatively little known, is the story related by him of the PollakVirag system of high-speed telegraphy. By this method ..05,000 words have been despatched in one hour — at the rate of 2580 words.a minute, or forty-three per second. The marvellous receiving instruments of this system can reproduce a message in the Morse code, or, more wonderful still, in ordinary legible handwriting. The latter is, it is true, considerably slower than tbe former, but its legibility more than compensates for the decrease in speed. Briefly, the explanation is this: A punched tape (shown with its corresponding written message which we reproduce from the book) passes through the instrument and influences the motions of a dancing mirror, which, in turn, focusses a point of light upon a rapid-

to considerable speculation as to \vhat will happen when the sun's energy stored up in our coal seams is no longer available in that form. Already a solution has been found and is in actual operation in America. Instead of waiting countless ages for the sun'-s heat to be stored in forests, and for the dead forests to be converted into coal, man can now obtain that orb's energy first hand by means of "sun catchers," or solar motors. In Arizona huge frames containing hundreds of mirrors are already in use, focussing tbe sun's rays upon boilers which supply the energy for pumping engines. The illustration (also from "The Romance of Modern Invention") gives a good idea of what a solar motor looks like. The author points out the tremendous possibilities of this device. A steamer might be driven across the Atlantic by the power contained in the sunlight which falls upon its decks. A battalion of solar motors in the Sahara could force up water (if it exists) from artesian wells sunk in its midst, and turn it into a fertile, corn-prodining province. Who shall say that science has no romantic side to it when the sun-scorched desert can be turned into a fertile plain by the same means that has caused its aridity? Another example comes from Europe. Russia has adopted "flying dra-g-ons" in her navy, a further instance of the romantic aspect of modern invention. These "dragons" are great aeroplanes or kites capable of lifting a man in the air. The rate at which the torpedo-boats move, is sufficient to keep a signalman supported by one of these curious kites high enough above the vessel to report the dispositions of an opposing fleet long before it has appeared above the horizon visible from the deck of the craft. i , !. : I

The latest contribution to naval science. These aeroplanes, attached to torpedo craft, support signalmen high up in the air who communncate the enemy's position by means of flag s.-.(From tbe "Illustrated London News." , •

Not many persons know perhaps of one fact mentioned in Mr Williams' book, and that is that electricity is now being- used to warm bed-quilts covering the chilled limhs of invalids. It serves to show to what an extent electricity can now be used for heating purposes. In all parts of the modern home the electric current may be made to do the work of clumsy coal and "stuffy" gasstoves. Electricity warms draughty passages, cooks the food, heats the bath water, and replaces matches iv the smoking room. Until the current can be applied at cheaper rates than prevail at present, however, its employment will be restricted to the abodes of the wealthy.

Many additional examples are adduced by the author to prove that science is by no .means a destroyer of romance, and one and all make most interesting reading. ,

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Written by photography in two seconds—the latest development of modern telegraphy. (From "The Romance of Modern Invention.")