Deputy assessor Bob Mollohan has been laid up for awhile with a
bad cold, which has left him almost speechless.
J.M. Bennett, Jake Bennett and Bob Hays spent a couple of days
at the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Ward Wright at the mouth of Laurel Creek.
Wade H. Stump, who had been home for some time on account of the
illness of his baby, has returned to his work near Shinnston. The baby is
improving in health.
Harmon Martin was over from Big Springs on Monday, looking after
business matters and laying in farm supplies.
Henry Barker, as tall and good natured as usual, was here
Saturday and Sunday, looking after some telephone interests.
Clyde Barnes is expected home soon from the U.S. Army, where he
has spent the last six years. He is now visiting in Columbus, Ohio.
Test pilot Joe Walker set a new speed record when he flew 2,150
miles per hour in the X-15 experimental aircraft. He was released from a B-52
bomber at 45,000 feet, and climbed to 78,000 feet in four minutes.
After the flight, Walker said there was no limit to the speed a
man could reach. He said he reached 2,150 miles per hour just as his fuel was
exhausted.
He said the only limit to the speeds man can attain is the
restrictions imposed on the construction and strength of the machine in which he
flies. He said he believes we will be able to escape the pull of gravity by
exceeding speeds of 25,000 miles per hour.
The significance of the tests of the X-15 is that it
demonstrates that practically any speed is attainable--if the frame of the
flying machine can stand the stress. It will only be a question of time before a
fuel is developed which will last longer than four minutes and before a
streamlined missile type of aircraft is developed which will be capable of
speeds of 5,000 to 10,000 miles per hour or even greater.