Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-27
Eronauttc-The Next Great wonder
Of the Age-COnstructtou Of n Flying
Machine Unaer Government Pa
trOnaRe.

tronage.
From the n. Y. Journal OF Commerce
A flying machine OF novel form is now in pro
cess OF construction at Hoboken, for the United
States Government. IL was commenced during
the war. and was intended for use ia serial recon
noissances Of the enemys position. The war Ia
over. but the machine Is going on until its
cess or failure ia an established fact The idea
Of the invention is an old one, but this is the
first time that an attempt has been made TO put
it into practice. The Government was ind uced
TO embark in the enterprise the strength of
certain experiments made by the late distin-
guished General land Professor) Mitchell. He
had long been interested in the subject of serial
navigation, and believed that the principle OF
screw propulsion could be made TO work in the
air as we'll as in water.
His first and only point was to demonstrate the
lifting power of a screw fan moving horizontally
at different rates Of speed, The experimental
fan was placed upon pole as an axis up and
down which il could move freely. The fan was
then made to revoye a, various rates of speed at
the pleasure of the operator. At one rate it
wonld merely lift itself; at other rate il would
raise twice its own weight; at another three
times, and so on. until the fact was ascertaiued
by comparison that fan with blades Of twenty
feet diameter. revolving at certain rate OF
speed. would raise six tons, and have considera-
bic power TO spare Ii is only a child's toy upon
large scale. We see every day in the streets toy
vendors who give quick twrl with string to a
little fan upon stick, aud lol il shoots into the
air 10 height OF twenty or thirty feet, and de-
scends slowly, still revolving as it comes down.
The Government toy, as some persons will prob
ably call it. 10 q cigar shaped canoe, built of
copper, with iron ribs An engine is placed in
the center with sufficient powerso work a screw
fan with twenty feet blades There are four
fans connected with the engine-one below, one
above the canoe. and one at each end.
The upper aud lower fans are worked together
to produce an ascent; and the terminal fans are
made TO revolye together or separately in the
same direction. or in opposite directions for the
purpose of propellipg the craft horizontally. The
weigh, of the whole. fully equipped and manned,
Is about six tons. Ii is claimed by those upon
whose recommendation the machine Is con-
structed, that il can be guided through the air
with as much ease n vessel through the water.
This is conditional OF course. to some extent,
upon the wind. Ii n vessel can be propelled
through the still air a; given number of miles
per hour, IL may be made TO stem wind OF an
equal number Of miles per hour If the power
OF head wind exceeds or Is less than the pro-
polling power, the machine actually falls back or
progresses in exact proportion to the difference
between the powers This truth should be
borne in mind in considering all schemes for air.
sailing.
An accomplished Government officer is super
intending the work. and hopes to have il done in
q month, when the pretensions of the new fying
machine will be tested.
Mr.. solomon Andrews. OF Perth Amboy. N. j.,
whose remarkable achievements in eronautics
have been certified 70 by number Of unimpeach-
able witnesses. is ready with proposition, which
may enlist the interest of speculative minds.
The invention Of which Mr. Andrews is the IN.
disputed father. is cigar shaped balloon-or
three balloons fastened together with a tribolite
filled With hydrogen gas. car, 10 which
the eronaut sits. is hung below this. The long.
Hat balloon IS 90 arranged that either end of il
can be depressed or elevated at will. while rud
der. With large surface. enables the voyager TO
steer his ship The contriyance is not de.
pendent upon the wind for lie lateral motion
like the ordinary balloon
The principle upon which il is operated in
still air is as follows: One end of the pointed
gas-vessels is elevated at an angle of saw 40
deg. the other end being depressed and KEEP, in
position " shifting ballast
The machine then rises obliquely in direc-
ton which is the resultant of two forces. one the
ascending power Of gas and the other the resist
ance OF the atmosphere When a sufficient
height has been attained the ballast 10 shifted
again. and the elevated end of the balloon is de-
pressed. At the same time small quantity of
gas is allowed 10 escape. and the machine de-
scsnds ooliquelv. still following the general line
OF direction Of the ascent. Ga nearing the earth
quantity OF ballast is thrown out from the
sronaut's car, the ballss. Of the balloon again
shifted. aud up she goes; and so on. until gas
and car ballast are both expended The general
law expressed above with regard TO wind applies
TO this IS 10 all othes living machines. Ii by its
oblique ascension descension in still air il
makess given speed per hour. 10 will stem head
wind moving st the same rate OF speed
Negro Reckies>ness OF Obligation