Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-27
FOB THE AMERICAN ORGAN.

4 III n
Mr.. EDIToR; have been requested to state
through your paper in brief manner, the dmen-
sions Of balloon, after my model now in the Ro-
tundo Of the Capitol, which would be useful for
exploring the ocean and the country, at the same
time ID he used as a war machine, if required and
to carry the mail or news to an army, where and
when it would be otherwise mpracticable, and also,
to state what amount 1t would elevate to given all
titude, and the cost of such balloon as nearly as
can, for the information of Congress.
To this request we state, that properly con,
structed balloon must be sphere, no other foi m
will answer; because globe contains the greatest
cubical contents and the least possible surface Of
all other forms in solids. A balloon in this form,
forty feet in diameter, win contain $3.50 cubic
feet of gas, which gives the elevating influence Of
2,792 pounds, the surface is 555 1-2 yards The
materials Of this and the machinery will weigh
about I 900 pounds; hence the net ascending
power will be 1892 at the earth and float at the
altitude of 1000 fact with about twelve men. The
atmosphere haying been computed at 25.Io0 less
dense, at seven miles height, win give its density
at that altitude about ls52-lo0o0 which is very
small variation in its power, not a shade in its
effect of buoyancy. @ I
BY this calculation it will have been seen that a
balloon so feet In diameter will contain 2S3,79l
cubic feet of gas which is equal to 23,649 pounds
elevation and if We deduct one half of this amount
for materials, it will have the elevating power of
full 10 men at 100 pounds each, to the altitude
of $500 feet. "A balloon Of this diameter can be
constructed of strong and substantial materials,
with articles weighing 1924 pounds. We pro-
pose to build one forty feet In diam ter, with the
sum of ten thousand dollars, as a practical test,
but If the General Government Of the United
States, will examine the subject well, they will
find that 80 feet is much better and that balloon
containing the cubical contents Of "a gun ship,
will elevate $4,000 pounds, neat of her materials.
The mode OF ascension and descens on, to any
altitude, as exhibited in the model now under cen
sderation by the Senate Committee on Patents,
has never been disputed by the scientific in thou
sand miles exhibition The pfopelling power we
hold a secret, for our country's good The plan
of keeping the gas at a regular temperature is
something new but TO find out latitude and longi-
tude will require some experience when the earth
is obstructed by clouds, under this arostatic ma
chine. We conclude that the experiment will cost
the governments nothing, az the amount will be
returned ON fret and second exhibition. There
can be no mistake in her ASCENSION and vigation,
and the magnitude Of the case viii call around us
millions of gentlemen willing to give one dollar for
the sight hence we conclude the first expense to
be simple loan by the United States for her own
benefit, whst the honor OF the nation viii be held
up to public viewsin the sublimity of this worthy
event for ages to come
Respectfully, yours, EDwARp D. TIrPETT.