World Fed by Electricity to Defeat High Living Cost, Is Plan of Nikola Tesla

Harness Rays of Sun to Fertilize the Earth His Plan.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TELEGRAPH ALSO ASSURED.

By RUTH RAPHAEL.

Feed the world with electricity.

That is how Nikola Tesla, the "electrical wizard," plans to defeat the high cost of living and meet the demands of starving Europe.

It was Nikola Tesla who first solved the problem of transmitting power. He now declares that power can be turned to fertilizing the earth by harnessing the rays of the sun.

"I have found a way of applying the sun's energy to the soil, fertilizing it, avoiding the death of millions and giving greater strength to those who exist." was his astonishing and matter-of-fact statement, as he sat at his desk in his suite of offices at No. 8 West Fortieth street.

"By burning the nitrogen of the air I have turned it into a fertilizer.

"I have also invented a machine by which it is possible to create lakes and rivers in the desert.

"This should give to the world unlimited industrial resources. These inventions should enable the United States to give plenty of food to every one."

Utilize the Soil.

In answer to the question which has resounded throughout the nation until Washington pricked up Its ears, "How can we reduce the high cost of living?" Dr. Tesla declares: — "Increase the productivity of the soil."

To do this, he says, the soil must be fertilized by artificial means.

The question of food production resolves Itself, he says into the question, "How can we best fertilize the soil?"

How to produce the necessary nitrogen?

"That has for years been a problem which took a strong hold on the imagination of scientific men," said Dr. Tesla.

"And right here electricity comes to our aid.

"Through electricity many compounds of nitrogen may be manufactured all, over the world at a small cost and in any desired amount and by means of these compounds the soil can be fertilized and its productiveness increased.

Gives Cheap and Healthful Food.

"An abundance of cheap and healthful food may in this way be obtained.

"Of all the thousand evils which may be mentioned as weakening the race, the most important by far is the want of food, brought on by poverty, destitution and famine. 

"Yearly millions die for want of food, not only for absolute want, but for the lack of healthful nutriment.

"How to provide good and plentiful food is therefore the greatest question of the day."

Dr. Tesla discovered his theory some time ago before the pressing need for in- creased food production closed down, like a coffin lid, upon the world.

"Why was your discovery never used before?" I asked.

He smiled.

"What was it the poet said" he murmured. "Ah, yes — I wanted bread; they gave me a stone.

"The people", he added, "are slow to see the light."

It took some years, he explained, to convince them that talking across the ocean by wireless could be done.

"But now they are using my Invention the world over." he said, tasting the full joy of his own achievement, which he has lived to see immortalized.

Can See Thousands of Miles.

"I have also invented a machine which enables me to see you as clearly as I do now, thousands of miles away, even if you were sitting at the Antipodes.

"And why not? It simply transmits your likeness, as well as your speech."

"Why has it not been used?" I asked.

"It would take two years to build the machine," he replied; and, as I said before, people are slow in seeing the light.

"But telegraphing photography will come," he declared "and the idea will be developed without limit."

"Why not invent a cure to prevent Bolshevism?" I suggested, feeling that he surely must have some such machine tucked away in the right drawer of his desk.

"It is not necessary," he smiled. "All we need to do to prevent Bolshevism is to give the people horse sense, and to get horse sense one needs only to live in America to one year on one's own resources."

Although born in Austria Hungary, Dr. Tesla a naturalized citizen, having lived In America since 1884.

His conversation is tinged with a deep patriotism, although his definition of patriotism is "national, egotism."

Through his invention of transmitting electricity he claimed that he has "reduced the size of the earth to a pea," thereby reducing the possibilities of misunderstanding, which is bred by unfamiliarity.

Has Machine to End War.

He is the man who has invented a machine so deadly that it will "abolish war."

By the use of wireless control of automatic machines at a distance a whole city could be destroyed, he declared, and drew out from a sheaf of papers, a photograph of a machine deadly enough, he said, to wipe out the city of London.

"We will never be able to abolish wars by agreements among nations," he asserted. "Only by making war so destructive that it cannot be endured can we hope to establish a permanent world peace."

Asked to predict the future of electricity, the inventor replied:—

Operate Typewriter by Velee.

"We will soon have a typewriter electrically operated by the human voice. This will fill a long-felt want, as it will do away with the operator and save a great deal of time and labor in offices.

"We will also see many municipal improvements operated by electricity, such smoke annihilators, dust absorbers and accident preventers on streets, elevated roads and subways.

"Soon it will be practically impossible to contract disease germs or get hurt in the city, and we will have the people from the woods and country flocking to Broadway to rest up and get well."

Dr. Tesla predicted that in court proceedings, electric evidence will often decide the case.

Soon, he declared, It will be possible to flash any image formed in thought on a screen and render it visible at any place desired

He also forecasts that we will be "dry cleaned," which will be convenient and time saving, he tells us, and which will do away with the customary bath.

Very simple — just a question of throwing off the dust by electricity.

Invents While Talking.

"And what are you inventing now?" I asked the electrical dreamer.

"I couldn't tell you for a million dollars," he returned with a smile. "It will be worth that much to me."

"When do you work?," I questioned again.

"All the time," he answered. "While I have been talking to you, I have made two inventions."

"Did I suggest them?" I asked.

"Ah, I will not tell you," he laughed, "for then you would claim a share in the royalties."