Smyrna times., 1859-11-10
The Great Balloon Voyage.

|
which prevails that no essential improvement
have been made in the art of ballooning since
} the days of the brothers Montgolfer, is errone
Gus. The progress of the art has indeed beer
slow, but it would be idle to deny that oul
knowledge of the currents of the air has been
greatly enlarged by practical experiment, and
by the investigations of distinguished scientific
men, or that an actual improvement has taken
place in the construction and management Of
balloons. Why more than this has not been
accomplished is because seven-eights of those
engaged in pursuit of the art are not practical
investigators, but mere exhibitors, whose at
tempts are confined to limited ascensions-
During the last fifty years, at least three thou
sand balloon ascensions have taken place in diff:
ferent parts of the United States, and including
Rronauts and passengers, some eight thousand
persons have made @rial voyages of greater OF
less duration. Although most of these ascen.
sions have been conducted by inexperienced
persons, but single life has been lost-that OF
Mr.. Thurston-and in that instance the disas-
Ter was occasioned by sheer carelessness.-
These facts demonstrate the safety of pra ma
vigation, in Mr.. loves opinion.
The principal discovery by balloonists, that
continual current, setting from West to East,
| always exists in the air, was made twenty years
ago by Mr.. Green, an English gronaut, and has
been verified by all scientific balloonist since
that time. 1t may generally be found by as
cendng to the hight of two and a half miles,
but is not untrcquently encountered at an alt-
Jude of one mile. 1t is by seeking this great
air current that the transatlantic voyage must
be accomplished. The present form Of balloon
cannot be made useful for local travel, but for
long voyages, and for crossing the Atlantic,
Mr.. Lowe thinks nothing can be better. BY
frequent and careful experiment by different
eronauls the art Of balloonng may be greatly
improved, just like any other great invention.
Perfection is never reached at once or by one
man. Mr.. Lowe says lie has for two years
coolly considered his present enterprise, and
has provided for every contingency. He is
confident Of success for the following reasons
First-I have large balloon, which has
capacity of 725,000 cubic feet; therefore,
should the envelope be no more perfect than
those which usually constructed, it will re-
tain its power for longer period.
Second-l have devised mechanical applian-
ces for raising and lowering the balloon while
in the air, without expenditure of the lifting
power.
Third have inven.ed m apparatus for in
dicating the different currents below, so that
advantage can be taken of these currents,
should | find myself going too far north or
south. Should any accident occur, or should
the balloon machinery fail to accomplish its
work, the metallic life boat, which will be sus-
pended below the car, is rugged with sails, and
will prove sufficiently strong to endure any
sea-"
Mr.. Lowe concludes his remarks on the sab.
ject as follows:
g have no doubt, bat cherish fervent hope,
that the time is not far distant when we can
travel in the air without the aid Of balloons for
a buoyant force. | have already devised
plan for an @ral carriage, which can be navl-
gated In any direction, and at high rate of
speed as soon propeling power can be dis
covered, the weight of which shall be but one
third of that we now employ. 1t only requires
some shrewd and intelligent inventor to do this,
and Hral navigation will become practical
science"
If Mr.. Lowe succeeds in crossing the Allan.
tic in his balloon and landing on the other side,
it will be glory enough for one man. To sail
on the wings of the wind three thousand miles
in one direction, without landing, will be a
great achievement, and one that will lead to
important results. We hope Mr.. Lowe will
accomplish his purpose, albeit it is somewhat
foolhardy. His contemplated voyage is cer-
compared with which voyage to the North
Pole is as box's play. Success to him.