Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-02-06
Navigating the Air--Toyagg to Europe.

Il ilc hlCiuUFldl Oh y OEN ~ iSE, the ceIe-
brated -Eronaut, has been presented to
the L. 5. Senate lie asks for $4,000.
to try some experiments to prove that the
air can be navlgated The experiment
is we'll worth trying, as it is no less won
derful than the Magnetic Telegraph. and
it may be as feasible in practice. Wegye
the memorial of MIR WIsE:
To the Senate anil IIousc ot ReprcSc7,t-
! Gtires Of tlte United States IN CoaglcsS
aSSen1dicd:
The petition of the undersigned respect
/ fully showeth That lie is a native and
citizen OF Lancaster. Pennsylvania, and
i that for a period Of sixteen years. he has
devoted all his time, study and labor, to
the art and science of teronautics that
+ during that time lie has made nearly one
hundred aerial voyages, in different parts
/ of the Cuited States that he has repeat
/ edly exploded his balloon at an elevation 0
two miles in tie ar and has descended
uninjurcd, protected b. the atmosphere
/ alone. That he is the author OF a work
upon the history and pract &c of LEronau-
/ ties, the OILY complete work upon the sub
ject extant, and Of which, another edition
! is about to be published in this country.
and in England, and that the work has
met with the most fattcriug notices IN the
+, London Ath4neum, the London Despatch
the london Literary Journal, The Lon
don Historic Rect rd and other establish
ed European journals, as well as in the
leading journals Of our own country.
That the result of these aerial voyages
of the unders gned. as well as a most dill
I igent search Into the facts elected from
the experience of Others have clearly de-
monstratcd. that in our ATTITUDES, there is
in the elevated regions of the air a per
i pctual current Of the atmosphere, from
the west toward the east; and that by
means of it, an sriaI voyage round the
globe, may be made in a comparatively
short space Of time. That your petitioner
would most respectfully rem,...II Your hon
orable bodies, that all ariaI voyages here
toforc Lave pcen the result of private en-
terprise, and at an outlay Of very small
amount of money. and that he is well con
Yinced that long before the same amount
of money, of labor, and of talent, which
has been devoted to the art Of navigating
the seas shall have been bestowed upon
her sister art, Of navigating the air, 1t
shall be brought to an inconccivable de
gree Of greater erfcct.On and usefulness
both n peace and war.
lie would respectfully remind Congress
of the puny vessels OF 80 and 10 tons
burtEen, with which Columbus discovered
the new world, when compared with the
monster lcvathau three dccEcrs of 5000
and coo tons, which now move with such
speed and safety, over the mighty deep =
Great improven eats and discoveries viii
yet BE made at a comparitiy ely trifing ex-
pence; but they are beyond his means. and
he respectfully but earnestly, calls for con
sideration ard aid to his project, which he
will speedily demonstrate to the people OF
this country and to the world.
j He respectfully asks. that Congress may
be pleased to make an appropriation OF
$50 000, to be expended in the city OF
( Washington. under the direction Of the
Secretary If War. the -cretary of the
Navy, the President Of the Sun thsonian
Institute, or the Superintendent of the
Astr0nom cal Observatory. With this
sum lie will construct d balloon Of such
material as viii retain hydrogen gas for
weeks and months, of diameter Of I06
feet. which will give it an eleyating power
Of sixteen tons With this balloon he
viii make numerous and repeated tropical
ascensious from the city OF Washington
and being properly secured to the earth
Will hover over the navy yard, arsenal
capitol or Presidents house, or any other
point. out Of the reach of SHOT or shell.
and from thence discharge imitation des-
tructive missiles, showing his ability to
~,
be beneath him lie viii demonstrate
that any hostile feet which may anchor
in the waters of the United States can
thus be destroyed.
He proposes further, to make numer
Gus tropical ascens;Ous, to verify his pre-
yious observations as to the existauce of
the aerial current at all times blowing
from ives; to cast. After having satisfied
the public upon these points, Of which he
is already convinced, he will convey the
balloon to St. Louis Mo. there ascend
and cross the AIlegEany mountains, and
descend near the sea coast of the United
States Upon the demonstration of these
facts. which he knows he can do, he Will
make his ascension from the city Of New
York, with one of Franc 5 life boats as
car, supplied with water. provisions and
six or eight attendants thaviug volunteers
already and Will make an aar;al voyage
across the Atlantic to Europe, and he
trusts should it please Providence to be
stow upon him health and life, to stand
before you. in our halls. a living evidence
of having gmade the first ;er.al voyage round
the globe;
The amount of money asked for this
great and wonderful project, IS so small,
when the ends TO be accomplished are
considered, and when compared with tie
immense expenditures Of the government
for the navy, the army, and other purpo-
ses, that the petitioner hunbly and conf
IDENTIFY fattcfs himself that it may and
will meet with favorable consideration.
! In conclusion, your petitioner viii refer
with pride and pleasure, 10 the fact that
Fulton. the discoverer of the navigation