Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-05-16
Navigating the Atmosphere.

eronant OF Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hitherto
We have had scraps of informora,ion from En-
cyclop@dias and Magazines, relating to the art,
but here we have Book on the subject, written
by one who has made many arial voyages, and
who relates his own adventures. 1t embraces
full history of the subject, commencing with the
ancient artificial flying pigeon Of Archylus, the
Greek, and ending with the most recent expert
ments
The subject of navigating the air has occupied
the attention of many eminent men in almost ev
cry age of the worlds history, but it was not until
recent period that any success was promised to
an art which warmed the imagination of Bacon,
and engaged the attention of the sober Bishop of
Chester. In 1882 there lived a, ancient Avignon
in France, two brothers, young men, named Ste-
phen and Joseph Montgolfer, who, being of an in
genious turn ofmind, conceived the project of send
ing up small balloons inflated with rari6ed air, and
by many experiments they discovered that as they
enlarged their balloons, their ascending power be-
ing their size, until they constructed one of a ca
pacity of $4,000 cubic feet, and with it they sent
up some animals in basket. The voyage was
successful, and this induced them to construct one
of gigantic dimension, viz, "a feet high and AZ in
diameter. With this balloon brave and cool
Frenchman named M. Pilatre de Rozier, volun-
,eered to make voyage two or three hundred
feet high, the balloon being secured by long cords
to the earth. He made several ascents, and on
the 2lst May, 1888, he, along with the Marquis
d'Arandes made the first free ascent into the eri-
al regions, rising to the height of 5000 feet, and
made succnssful excursion over Paris, and finally
landed few miles from where they started
This formed an epoch in the history of aeral nav
igation, and the fame of the Montgol6ers soon
though hydrogen gas was discovered long before
the Montgolfers made their balloon, and its utili-
ty to the purposes Of erial navigation had been pre-
viousy suggested, yet il was never really applied
for that purpose, except for experiment in the ec
ture room; but no sooner was the success of the
Montgolier balloon spread abroad, than the vr-
tues of hydrogen became apparent, and it was
firmly believed BY many at that time, that balloons
would soon be as common as crows. Napoleon
frightened many an English matron, when he
to cross the channel with his Boulogne
army in balloons. Blu; his paper walls" never
ventured to battle Old Englands wooden wallis"
nor does it appear that we are any nearer to ga
system" Of serial navigation at the present day,
than they were then. l. is the opinion of Mr.
Wise, however, that 6alloonng is about half CEN
tury ahead of the age and if the spirit Of mechan-
ical progress keeps pace with the onward march
Of intellect, he says, our children will travel to
any par. of the globe without the inconvenience of
smoke, sparks and sea Sickness and at the rate of
one hundred miles per hour
1t would indeed be glorious thing if we could
career through the regions above at such a rate,
out our dreams are far more moderate than those
of friend Wise. We would be content with ten
niles hour, only let US have the wings,
an independent pair. Then, when like Jeremiah
If old, we were troubled in mind and sighed for
he wings of a dove to Ay away and begone. "to
lodge in some vast Wilderness" all that we
would have to do, would be to mount and be off,
{ over mountain and sea-" Such things would be
7ery pleasant-everybody would be rejoced if
such things could be done, and many strong argu.
nents may be used respecting the probability of
uch things being yet accomplished, bu, not, in our
opinion, safely, conveniently nor economically, by
my "eral vessel" that we have ever yet seen. the |
opinion of nronauts to the contrary notwiths,and-
ng.
The "revoloidalspindle," of Robjohn, which was
q the course of construction at Hoboken, and
which was to be propelled with two small steam
ngines, some time this summer, has been sadly
amaged by the late tornado. lfthis be the means
preventing the balloon from enjoying her eri-
fight by steam, we will regret it exceedingly.
Mr.. Wise has made great number of success
II arial voyages. and his book is one Of the most
aluable ever publshed-and is of great service
, science as historical and scientific work on
10 construction Of balloons, and the manner Of
ayigating them. There is one prominent and
seful fact brought to light, viz, that balooning is
conseruator of health,-@rial navigation cured {
IT, Wise of disease ofthe lungs and chtonic dis
epsia, and he is confident that it would be ofgreat
enefit to invalids. This we believe is new idea,
ut correct one-and one agreeing with science
nd reason, bu, as these things trouble US not per-
,nally, we have longing eye but weak faith. to
ount the #rial ship, cleaving our way through ,
the blue ethereal sky" at the rate of 100 miles
.r hour, laughing at your lazy locomotives and
eamboats crawling away below. as things good O
rough for more benighted age.