The majority of these cities moved in harmony in a world-wide course, requiring about one year or four hundred of our days to complete a single circuit.  As was their prototype, so they were propelled by a series of motors and a splendid sail system.  At times the wind did the greater part of the work, and again the full force of the motors was required.

Let me ask you to get on board one of these cities, and take one year’s journey in a few minutes.

For instance, take one of the vehicle cities, composed of one hundred factory buildings and three thousand dwellings, all built of non-combustible materials.

The city is now in the harbor of a great port, and all the merchantmen who live nearest to this port have been informed that the vehicle city would arrive about midweek and remain four days.  What a busy time follows after the floating city is fastened to its moorings!  Inhabitants go on solid ground to do their trading.  Dealers make large purchases and place extensive orders.

It should be stated that the mail and telegraph systems between the continents and all these floating cities are well nigh perfect.  Fast lines of mail steamers follow one another around the same course pursued by these floating cities, and passengers can go to or from any of these moving abodes to any part of any continent whenever they wish; so that if a dealer wishes a vehicle of special design, he can send his order by mail to any one of the six vehicle cities and have it completed by the time the floating city arrives at his port.  If the community receiving the order cannot complete the work in time, the order is sent with one of the mail steamers to the next vehicle city in line.

The massive city starts its journey and in one day it floats to the coaling stations.  Here it takes on board an ample supply of fuel and proceeds along the regular course, making no stops until it reaches the mineral station where it takes a new supply of the various kinds of metals necessary for manufacturing and for all other purposes.

Then perchance it passes a city or two that is lying in dock for trade purposes.  The next stop will be at one of the several tropical stations where a fresh supply of fruits is purchased and a number of vehicles sold or delivered.

After this the city passes several apparel cities moored to an immense dock, taking on board large bales of a cotton-like substance used in making texture.

So continues the interesting journey along a safe route mapped out centuries before.  Storms arise, of course, but what harm can they do except to send the ponderous waves dashing against the bulwarks of the city and rock it gently, all of which becomes so familiar that no one thinks of these things as serious barriers to the floating-city life.

Perhaps in one tour of four hundred days thirty stops are made.  You may wonder how these huge floats are stopped and started.  This is accomplished by a series of border propellors which can be put into service at any time if speed is desired or contrary winds are encountered.