The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-02-10
NAVIGATING THE AIR.

departments OF scientific investigation with
i'll recent years, Seem somewhat To- prepare
us for still more startling achicvcmeu,s.-
The mind becomes added in ser ousy c,n
tcmplating the results of the past, and yet
still higher aims and bolder efforts are
are made and put forward, to eclipse the
wonders already accomplished. We have
grown cautions i'll expressing doubt as to
the result of the most seemingly mproba
be etfortt that may attract the attention of
the public. Many Of the de,idcd inven
tons or suggestions Of few wears past
have been conducted onward to compile
ton.
The latest and boldcst explorer into
the mazes of difficult achievements. is
Prof. Steiner, of Ohio. The Ncnia Ncrs
announces that he is about to make practi
cal application Of the results of his expert
encc, in travelling through the air; and
he proposes to construct Il balloon, or air
ship, i'll which he can cross the Atlantic
Ill sixty hours. The bottom of the air.
ship is to be OF thin sheet copper, three
hundred feet long, and eighty feet in Diane
ter at the centre, and ,aperng toward each
extremity. Beneath this balloon is to be
suspended, by wire cables, Il platform Of the
same conca shape, with the balloon itself
and OH ,Ee Gentle part OF this platform is
to be placed the machinery aud the cabin
for passengers. The surface measure OF the
air ship will be one hundred and fifty.onc
thousand four hundred and twenty five
square feet, and its total weight thirty seven
and half ton. 1t will contain two mil
lion eight hundred and ninel- -yfuur thousand
four hundred and sixty cubic feet of gas,
which will support in the air weight of
eighty six and Il half TONS The platform,
cabin, machinery, &c, are estimated ut
eighteen tons, leaving power enough to
elevate twenty o~e tons Of passengers,
freight and ballast
We infer, from the the statements pub
lished. that this air ship is to be worked hy
paddles, propelled 10y IL steam power, and
prot. Steiner thinks hc can travel at the
ra;e Of forty miles IN hour with head winds,
and one hundred miles AN hour with favora
ble winds; and that he can construct one
Of his ar-vessels for forty thousand dollars.
II is also suggested that Congress should
aid linn i'll his efforts to complete his air
ship.
The New York Troy Times, Of the 18th
inst, gives the name of another aspirant
for the honors Of air,navigation. 1t is Mr..
John La Mountain. lie has made arrange.
ments for the construction of balloon in
Boston, in which he hopes to cross the At.
!antic the approaching summer. The bal
loon is to be made of silk, and the funds
necessary 10 complete tie undertaking have
been secured. Mr.. Wise, the old nronaut,
it is stated, approves Of Mr.. La Mountains
plan, ami both will cooperate in bringing
1t to Il successful completion.
We may be excused for expressing won
der at the apparent temerity Of these men
who propose to navigate the air by air-slips
or balloons. 1t is no great novelty to ascend
into the air i'll ballovn-that has hcen de
monstrated in the view of thousands. But
it will not only be a novelty, but a great
:.cientific achievement, when it can be shown
that the air can he navigatcd-tllat the
same skill can hc employed in conducting
II balloon through stormy atmosphere
that is usually employed on stormy
man.
Mr.. La Mountain, if successful, will
make severel long trips over this country,
before he attempts to cross the Atlantic.
We can all well afford to wait, and see
the result oi these schemes Of air naviga-
ton, before we either express doubt or con
idence in such undertakings-Auguslu
ConstitutiOnuiist.
Pleasant Words.-1. They don't cost
much. They come bnbbIing up in good
natured heart, like the freely gushing
waters Of fountain. It is rs easy to
speack them rs it is to breathe. They
come forth rs naturally and easily from
the lips of kindness, as the rays from the
sun. There is no pains taking about
the matter. These kind words leap fortl,
Of themselves, and delight to fly away
in every direction on their errands Of
love.