, 1859-07-13
srsrErtAT1C BAL1ooN1Nc,


To the Editor Of the n 7. Tribune.
Sir; In your daily Of July 9Th, is IN article
headed "Foynging in the Sky." 1t seems to
me that a little explanation Of what have for
twenty years contended seems now in place.
Without wishing to criticise anything you have
there stated, will only state my plain PROPOSE
tions.
/ say there is current Of air blowing from
west to east continually, and this current runs
never less than fifty miles an hour; oftener
sixty, seventy and eighty. Prof Henry thinks
it is the return current Of the trade winds. As
We ascend higher in the current, it runs faster,
until We find it changing q little south Of east.
The lower current, near tile Garth, runs toward
the north of east--| hare found thess currents
the 18th Of December. In my correspondence
with Charles Green, Of London, a scientific
aeronaut Of much experience, learn from him
that these currents exist Likewise in Europe.
From my experience Of finding them thirty
nine times out Of forty trials, I contend that
regular and precise voyages can be made from
west to east, and to places fifteen and twenty
ing. Why, then, it is asked, did We not sail to
the city Of New York and deliver cur Express
bug? It isa very rational inquiry, md deserves
a rational explanation.
1t could hare bseu done, and should hare
been done. The reason why it was not done is
this: some Of our party did not provide them
selves with extra clothing; Immediately after
tude at which she was making due east. In
this current we sailed until some Of my COM
panions shivered With the cold, so that the hal-
loon quiyered with the trcmor. Ar. La Noun
tain had taken no extra clothing, and the other
two were not fully provided for the change Of
temperature, had on two undershirts, woolen
drawers, cloth coat, cashmere pants, and when
orar %f,Aeo + had +rr,n rt-nnta, f1nnI-nfu %ho
postulat'ons OF my companions to come down
into a more conRenial temperature could not
be UNDECIDED I admonished them. boweyer, Of
our advertisement to sail for New York; but IN
response was told that if we rot into the State
the programme would be fulfilled. also told
them that the lower current would take US on
but to thi. it Vas answered. that We could cross
the lakes if We Lad ballast enough when We
got to them.
We finally agreed upon that plnn, mud to make
the voyage one Of distance and experiments.
One experiment was to try and sail near the
earth or water. We did sail ITO miles down
over Lake Eric. and at no time over COO feet
above the water. This showed that balloons
Many aeronauts hare statcd that balloons will
not keep up over the water:
iou reterto my silence as TO the propeEllng
machinery. That had not devised nor recon-
mendcd. and had no fnitn in its efficiency from
tue beginning, Us Mr.. eager and La Mountain
well know. They never made an attempt IN try
it. 1t was thought to endauger the balloon
while hitehing on the car and boat, and WAS
thus ungeared, and well knew then that they
would not attempt to screw on the fans when we
were aloft, unless they would incur danger as
great rs that incurred by Thurston, when be a.
tempted IN unnecessary feat in straddling hts
valve plate. propellers upon the ordinary
=. - T.. r.. ~
Tie car OF platform upon which the propelltrs
are to be worked is not firmly xed to the Balloon