"Jules Verne - In the Year 2889" - читать интересную книгу автора (Verne Jules)

continuous production of electricity without batteries or dynamos, of light
without combustion or incandescence, and for an unfailing supply of
mechanical
energy for the needs of industry.
Yes, the accumulator and the transformer have wrought all these wonders. And
can
we not to them also trace, indirectly, this latest wonder of all, the great
"Earth Chronicle" building on 253rd Avenue, which was dedicated the other
day?
If George Washington Smith, founder of the Manhattan "Chronicle", should come
back to life today, what would he think when told that this place of marble
and
gold belongs to his remote descendant, Fritz Napoleon Smith, who, after 30
generations, is owner of the same newpaper that his ancestor established!
For George Washington Smith's newspaper has lived generation after
generation,
now passing out of the family, anon coming back to it. When, 200 years ago,
the
political center of the United States was transferred from Washington to
Centropolis, the newspaper followed the government and assumed the name of
Earth
Chronicle. Unfortunately, it was unable to maintain itself at the high level
of
its name. Pressed on all sides by more modern rival journals, it was
continually
in danger of collapse. 20 years ago its subscription list contained but a few
hundred thousand names, and then Mr. Fritz Napoleon bought it for a mere
trifle,
and originated telephonic journalism.
Everyone is familiar with Fritz Napoleon Smith's system--a system made
possible
by the enormous development of telephony during the last hundred years.
Instead
of being printed, the Earth Chronicle is every morning spoken to subscribers,
who, from interesting conversations with reporters, statesmen and scientists,
learn the news of the day. Furthermore, each subscriber owns a phonograph,
and
to this instrument he leaves the task of gathering the news whenever he
happens
not to be in a mood to listen directly himself. As for purchasers of single
copies, they can at a nominal cost learn all that is in the paper of the day
at
any of the innumerable phonographs set up nearly everywhere.
Fritz Napoleon Smith's innovation galvanized the old newspaper. In the course
of
a few years the number of subscribers grew to 85,000,000 and Smith's wealth
went
on growing, till now it reaches the almost unimaginable figure of
$10,000,000,000. This lucky hit has enabled him to erect his new building, a
vast edifice with four facades, each 3250 feet in length, over which proudly