, 1860-04-20

Mr. John Wise, the aeronlut, is desirous
Of crossing the continent, in a big balloon,
aud he has written to friend in San Fran
cisco, suggesting that if that city will fur
uish the money to build balloon, he will
come out, supcrinend the work, and risk
his life in making The trip to New York
lie says:
Upon mature deliheration | would pre-,
fer to make the experiment across our
Americah ahcoutineht from tie Pacific coast
of CaIiioNpa to the Atlantic side of ;he
conutry, for the following reasons 1t
would not require any sea apparatus, aud
would also enable me constantly TO tell NY
whereabouts. 1t would afford me constant
means to halt, without exposure to an un.
know sea. 1t would enable me to invesli
gate the effect Of the Cordleras and
Rocky Mountains upon the upper currents
1t would enable me to give u very good
description of the general tOpograpy of the
route by which the balloon would cross. 1t
would be valuable acquisition towards
the means necessary to establish the great
railroad route to be built, essentially neees
Sary To a proper Development Of the inter-
territorial regions Of our great and fertile
continent. To the building of this road
On the most feasible route, the balloon be-
comes indiSpensably necessary. 1t would
be the precursor OF regular letter mail be-
tween the Pacific and Atlantic States. r 1t
would have the effect OF more rapidly Sub
jugalng the wilder tribes Of indians to the
requirements of our fast expanding civil
zauon. 1t would, in short, bring San
Francisco and New York within sixty hours
Of each other.
These, with many other considerations,
are the reasons why | should like to make
some developing experiments from the Pa
rlGc side Of our continent. The city Of San
Francisco has grown into an Importance
commensurate to such an enterprise; more
than enough to give it superior claim to-
its institution, than have the three large
cities on the Atlantic coast to an Quilt
across the ocean to Europe. BY the NC.
conplishment Of the traus-contnental trips
in systematic manner, the transatlantic
trips will becomt matter Of course.
III | can secure the patronage ia CALI
fornia to put the enterprise into operation,
will engage-in that first. and should do
so at all events, were it not for the greater
expense OF preparing such an Quilt there
thnn in the East. W y
"Maury's system Of wind currents msy
be properly called the science OF the winds.
There IS as much certainty and regularity in
the great upper currents Of the atmosphere
Us there is Ia the circulation Of the blood.
These currents nre not chance blasts Of air,
as many persons suppose, bat they are the
effect OF u great law Of nature, Us exact in
Their general moti0lis as are the planets inl
their orbits rountt.sAe Sun. Like the gulf
streams of the oceans, and the great tidal
waves that roll over Me Southern heInis-
phere, they are obedienf to the powers that
put them IN motion, in accorlance with tile
grand design Of God IN forming the uni
verse. While these Developments are
comprehensive to the MUD that has studied
them, the world may not be prepared to
receive them with faith aud credulity, and
thus it becomes necessary TO give the thing
occnlar demonstrations, III order to bring lo
its aid that help aud genius, without which
all great ideas would remain distractions
and noucntiiies to the practical world. A
trip or two from San Francisco to the At.
lanlic sea,board cities, would dispsl The un-
belief Of its feasbility, and would. also turn
the hand Of genius to its perfection; aud if
the enterprise aud generosity Of the people
Of your great Pacific metropolis is sufficient
TO lis speedy realization, the head and hands
TO put it into operation are already wait
ing for the trial. Ii your citizens will but
intimate the command TO lis trial, | am
ready and anxious to obey the command,
and without fee or reward for my services"