Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-01-31
From the Albany Duishnar
FORTY HOURS TO EGROPK.

| It Is hard to tell which is the most dficult--to
get new truth into peoples heads or an old
prejudice ont. Till science is successfully eve
~ body looks upon it humbug while II no
sooner becomes successful, than everybody
wonders why "some fool" did not think
of it before.
When Professor Morse first proposed TO put
up a telegraph between Baltimore and Washing
ton it was doubted by "our most eminent men"
whether electricity had sufficient wind to run
even that distance, without stopping once or
twice on the road to take feed of zinc and vne-
gar; and yet the fact no sooner became fixed
one then Z is suddenly discovered 10 be an old
idea revised, while Professor Morse barely es-
cspes going TO State Prison, for obtaining glory
by false prctences. And what is true of Morse
will be true OF Wise the Groneaut. Till his at
tempt to reach Europe by balloons is crowned
with success, he will lie looked upon as vision
airy; while he will no sooner meet with success,
than he will be charged with plagiarism, and
perhaps cited before tie Supreme Court, to show
why he should not be pcl,ed TO death with de-
ceased cats and superannusted oranges
With tho glory connected with the subject,
however, VIC have nothing TO do. Let US exam
ine lis feasibility.
Mr.. Wise saws no can run from New York
to London, with first class wind, in forty hours,
and with an ordinary wind in one hundred hours
without any regard to the direction of the wind
al the time OF starting, or any assistance from
steam engines, or any other mechanical power
whatever. This may seem somewhat paradoxl~
cal 10 our readers but when they como to be in
formed that within 5000 feet OF the earth there
is current of air constantly moving from east
to west, at velocity varying from 40 TO 100
miles per hour; while between the stratum and
the earth there are other currents moving IN owe
nv other direction, they will perceive that what
at first appeared parRdoxical, becomes so sImpli-
fed that the neanest capacity can comprehend
It's operations.
In our opinion, the whole matter resolves IL
self into one of dollars and cents. To make the
trip to Europe, one OF comfort as well as safety
requires balloon of greater magnitude than the
means of most scientific men" are equal TO-
Inventors are always poor. Had Fulton depen<
ded on his own resources for the means OF car
ryng forward his discoveries. the steamboat
would have been ching 10 be hoped for -
What Livingston was to Fulton Congress should
ba 10 Wise As he risks his life and reputation
on the enterprise, the country shouldbe enterpTl-
sing enough to risk its ducats. Should the pro-
iect prove failure the cost will not be trthe OF
what was wasted in nonsenscrl survey OF the
Dead Saa--while its success woud confer on
the country benefits as incGiculabe as the wealth
OF California.
With New York but four days from Europei
our mail and mercantile operations Would be
quadrupled, while thc ives that are now lost by
storms would be reduced from thousands to &c
70. With balloon q gale has no effect whHtev-
or, for as they both move in the same direction
and at the same speed, the ueronaut is always
surrounded by calm, except when he passes
from one current TO another, Tor the purpose OF
altering his course or getting into an atmosphere
congenial to his feelings
The balloon with which Mr.. Wise proposes to
cross the Atlantic, will be 200 feet in diameter.
This will give him an ascensiys power OF 26l,-
600 lbs, or $50 tOns--a power that would carry
up first class pilot boat, 30 passengers, and all
the food and furniture needed for six months voy
age. By the way, the power possessed sy bal
looms is but little more known to tho generality
of mankind than the means used for directing
them A person who sees that balloon ten
feet in diameter, will only raise 33 pounds, will
scarcely credit the statement that enc OF an 100
feet in diameterwill lift $4,000 lbs, yet such ~
the fact Most people think that the power of q
balloon increases no faster than their surface;
this however, is 4 mistake. Every time you
double tho diameter, you add eight times to lie
power The balloon that Mr. Wise proposes TO
reach Europe with, viii raise from the earth as
we said before, 26l 900 pounds. Should he IN
crease this diameter from 200 to 500, he would
have an asc0nsive power Of 1878 200 lbs,
power that would lift tho Capitol, and which
would carry as much merchandise across the At
lantic, as seventeen ships, with 500 tons in each
ship