“Yes they have, and the south pole too,” he replied. “The first trip to the north pole was made from Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska. The party flew in a straight line from that point, in midsummer, north over the pole and continuing in almost the same direction to the south, reached Hammerfest in Norway a distance of 3,000 miles in forty hours without stopping. Parties have gone from Minneapolis by way of the north pole in an air line to the town of Tomsk in Siberia a distance of 5,500 miles, stopping at the pole twelve hours, and finishing the journey within four days. These trips have often been repeated and many similar ones made. It is possible to make the circuit of the earth in twelve days by means of relays at certain continental points and on some of the Pacific Islands; but it can also be made by rail and water with only four changes, two to rail and two to steamer in fifteen to seventeen days. Railroads run to Alaska reaching Bering Sea and the Pacific at several points, and are met by corresponding roads on the Russian side. The water carriage in summer is only across Bering Strait, but in winter on account of ice the passage is made further south and is longer.” “Why don’t they tunnel Bering Strait,” I inquired, “or bridge it?” “They will in the future tunnel it part way and build a dam or embankment the rest of the way,” he replied, “and utilize the enormous power of the current passing through there to drive the trains 1,000 miles on each side of the strait, but the time has not yet arrived. A bridge would not stay there, it would be swept away by the ice.” “Isn’t there danger of collision between these flying machines?” “Many fatal collisions took place when the flyers were first introduced. It was found necessary to regulate them by government supervision. The routes between all points have been carefully laid out and the going and returning paths separated by a wide and safe space. “You mentioned the abolition of war. I hardly see how it could be while there were any uncivilized nations on earth,” I observed.