The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-24 00:00:00

A BALLOON SURVEY TO ASSIST

LIVINGSTONE.

The following letter which has been sent to the Daily
News for publication may possibly result in usefulness
to the eminent explorer:—
• • •

`
Mr. Stsnley in his speech at Brighton reminded hearers
that in Central Africa there seen no railways, telegraphs,
orb This allusion to the aerial conveyance brought
to mind a suggestion of mine that the great explorer might,
nub little expense, he provided with the means of obtaining
a bird's-eye view of the country ; while as regards telegraphs
and railways, time and capital would he required for their
aid. Ifs parson intending to tmee the Thames from London
to ascertain if it opened into the Charonel were to do
so with a small primitive boat, and then drift or be driven
into the Medway—and it a second person wiser than the
first employed a optic. balloon, and got at once the infor-
mation he required—would not the latter be doing the right
sort of thing to economise lemur, expenditure, and health,
and moreover to arrive at the true source of the river's
. mouth? Allowing that .' granted" is the reply to my preposi-
tion, I will point out how this Is to be done in Africa. There Is
just one kind of balloon which is of very limited use for genet al
onjects,—that is to say, it can Only be uset on exceptional
o.easions. It has this advantage, however—lt requires
neither hydrogen, nor carburetted hydrogen, to inflate it,
hut simply expanded air produced by torch heat as burnt
innate or chopped wood will effect. The reason why this
no, died fire-balloon Is n.ot adapted for general t ur-
pores is, that it raises little weight In proportion to its
ladle, and if a fresh breeze prevail when its services are
required, it is next to impossible to hiS ite it. But to a
mall requiring only to raise himself, and in *.position to
"bide his time," that is to bring mit his balloon at a
favourable moment when the wind has lulled and • Mont-
emitter can be properly handled, then indeed this nowt of
I, thorn wouid answer ex tremely well, because most of the
practical objectior ato its use vanish. There can be no
doubt, also, that for military reconnoitring the tire-balloon
should be at the command of the engineers as well as the gas
bottom), in the event of opportunity serving ; but if it is
expected that balloons on Either principle can he called
into operation on any and every emergency, it is a great
mistake. Even gas balloons have no pretensions to defy
floc elements, ant they do not rej rice in very strong
winds. They havc, their uses notwithstanding. As to
fireballoons, they are wholly dependent on still weather :
but as it Is precisely this sort of atm,spheric condition
that Dr. livinestone coulot wait for, vol as the air In
those parte would he clear and admit of a vast extent of
view, I have no doubt that a tire-balloon would materially
ass:st the search, and loy proper instruetioes the Doctor
might be his own aeronaut, and convey sith him a balloon
e ul:eol to weigh no more than an ordinary bale of mer.
chandimo—l remain obediently yours,
Tottenham, Augn4 In. HENRY CoXWISLI.