“No! that would be too heavy. I have better than that to offer.” “What then?” asked the major. “Aluminum!” replied Barbicane. “Aluminum?” cried his three colleagues in chorus. “Unquestionably, my friends. This valuable metal possesses the whiteness of silver, the indestructibility of gold, the tenacity of iron, the fusibility of copper, the lightness of glass. It is easily wrought, is very widely distributed, forming the base of most of the rocks, is three times lighter than iron, and seems to have been created for the express purpose of furnishing us with the material for our projectile.” “But, my dear president,” said the major, “is not the cost price of aluminum extremely high?” “It was so at its first discovery, but it has fallen now to nine dollars a pound.” “But still, nine dollars a pound!” replied the major, who was not willing readily to give in; “even that is an enormous price.” “Undoubtedly, my dear major; but not beyond our reach.” “What will the projectile weigh then?” asked Morgan. “Here is the result of my calculations,” replied Barbicane. “A shot of 108 inches in diameter, and twelve inches in thickness, would weigh, in cast-iron, 67,440 pounds; cast in aluminum, its weight will be reduced to 19,250 pounds.” “Capital!” cried the major; “but do you know that, at nine dollars a pound, this projectile will cost—” “One hundred and seventy-three thousand and fifty dollars ($173,050). I know it quite well. But fear not, my friends; the money will not be wanting for our enterprise. I will answer for it. Now what say you to aluminum, gentlemen?” “Adopted!” replied the three members of the committee. So ended the first meeting. The question of the projectile was definitely settled. CHAPTER VIII. HISTORY OF THE CANNON The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors. Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a
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