SHOWERS OF DYNAMITE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Issue XX, 20 June 1892, Page 2

SHOWERS OF DYNAMITE.

MB EDISON'S LATEST INVENTION.

A writer in the Speaker, describing a recent visit to Mr Edison, states that in reference to a possible war between the United States and Chili, ' but more particularly of the impending one between Germany and Russia, ' Mr Edison said : — ' I cannot understand why Governments waste their time with methods which are bo expensive and harmless. If I were the German Emperor I would take no chances in my trouble with the Czar. ' 1 How so ? ' said the interviewer.

•Well, I have been lately perfecting a little arrangement by which I can steer a ship automatically by means of the cotnpasa alone. The principle is very Binaple. I have the ship's head turned to the point of the compass 1 wish to steer. I then have a delicate electric guard on each side of this compass point, so that whenever the ship falls off to one stfe or the ether, the projectiou on the compass card interferes with the electric mechanism on one side or the other, which in its turn is in sympathy with the steering apparatus, th£t is adjusted so as to immediately bring it back to its true course. This arrangement is suitable for torpedoes of every description. ' The immediate practical value of this little thing lies in its power to st9er a projectile through the air. Ido not mean a baloon or a flying machine in the usual acceptance of the word. I have uo faith in a machine that leaves you at the mercy of the winds. People talk as though flying machines could copy nature — copy the movements of birds, fishes, and what not. Why, look at my phonograph — what is it but a piece of bheet iron ? *My flying-machine, ' continued Mr Edison, •is projected into space at any given angle, and carries an electric motor that drives it forward by means of revolving fanß at a given rate and for a given distance. I think that 50 miles can be covered.

' The experiments I have made lead me to think that I can carry on this machine 5001 b of explosive material, and drop it from aloft at any point I choose. Of course, I must allow for the state of the atmosphere, as one does with artillery ; but my experiments make me feel that I can come within 20 per cent of my object. ' 'For instance, ' said the inteniswer, ' suppose you h\i New York iv mind. ' * New York is 1 3 miles from where I stand — I will engage to drop every load of dynamite within the city limits from this point. ' Mr Edison's eyes twinkled as he said : — * I wish we could have a war here, so that I could develop this thing practically. The material is at hand, and I could place contracts with thousands of machine shops that could within a few days turn out all that would be required. ' ' But what would you do if you were Gre-man Emperor ? ' 1 1 should not do a thing till war was determined upon, in order to keep the matter a secret. And even then no one need know what is proposed, for while every machinist in the country might be employed upon parts of the machines, they could be fitted together I in the military depots. These machines are cheap and portable, and would be sent up over the advancing enemy to fall upon them like a shower of dynamite. Unlike war* balloons, there would be no profit in firing at them, for iv falling they would destroy those Wow.