New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-14
THE AERIAL STEM CARRIAGE.

Full ACCOUNT OF THE AIR-sHTP OF SAN FRAN
CISCO - SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTS - SAN
GUINR HOPES.
We have Mt last n description of the aerial
steam Carriage" in San Francisco. OF which we have
heard much by telegraph. The Sd" Francisco Tunes
"The carnage which is merely large working model,
is balloon shaped like cigar, both ends coming to
pont IL IA y feet long II feet from top TO bottom, aud
feet In width These the measurements az the cen.
Of the balloon from which point t gradually tapers
OF toward either end. Around tho balloon lengthwise,
aud llttlo below the center Is light framework Of
wood and cane strongly wired together and braced At
% so 70 Of the outrage are tvs wings one on either
side They ire each Ave feet wide ut little back OF the
center OF the carriage and do not commence to narrow
down until they approach tho front where they come to
apOiLt These wings are made or Whlte oloh fastened
10 light framework which Is braced securely by wires
The main frame Is secured in place by means
OF strong ribbons. which go over tho balloon
ard arc attached 10 corresponding portions Of
the frame on the other side. To the frame at
tho hind part Of the carriage Is attached rudder or
steering gear which 10 exactly The shape OF tho paper
used In pin darts plans at right angles This, when
raised lowered cleyates or depresses the head OF the
carriage when In motion aud when turned from SIDE 70
SIDE guides the carriage as ruddcr does boat At tho
center aud bottom Of the balloon Is an lndennton or
space left the material " which 1t Is built In which
the engine aud machinery placed on frame work.
The engine and boiler are very dimlnutlve specimens,
bat they do their work handsomely Tho boiler and FUR
mace are together only little foot long, four
inches wide and five or six Inches In hight steam Is
generated by spirit lamps The cylinder II Two Inches
In diameter and has a three.inch stroke. Tho crank
connects by means q cogwhecls with tumbllng rods
carriage The propccrs are each twobaded. four feet
I'm diameter and placed In the frame work OF tho
wings. Tho boiler is made TO carry eight pounds OF
steam. when not Inflated the carriage weighs eighty
four pounds Tho balloon has capachy OF 1850 feet "
gas When inflated ana ready for flight u Il calculated
To- have the carriage weigh from four to ten pounds.
An engineers private trial trip was fist made In the
shareholders OF tho Aerial Steam Navigation Company,
number u the employees aud residents In the ncigbor
hood. Tho morning was beautiful aud sti-scarcey a
breath OF stirring. The conditions were favorable TO
success The gasometer fully inflated and the model
was nOated out OF tho building. In HI minutes steam
was got up-tho rudder set 10 give ght curve 10 the
course OF tho ycssel-nnd the valves opened with tho
r-t turn Of the propellcrs she rose slowly into the air.
gradually increasing her speed until the rate Of 1--WE miles
au hour attained Tie position ~ the rudcr caused
twice occupying about nyo minutes each time. Lines
Had been fastened to both bow and stern, which were
held by two men, who followed her track, and
had sufficient ado to keep MP with her at u
dog trot" AZ she completed describing the second cir
caused the ruddcr 20 shift 10 fore.andaf position
when tho model pursued straight light about quarter
Night the poiut ~ departure; whouco being guided
rst e5r1siyo isht Of vessel Tor aerial Gnyiga,on was
accomplished The total distance raycrsed was little
mile Tho appearance Of the vessel Ia the air
really beautiful As seen In the building. she looks
brOus aud awkward The change OF appearance rs she
l. crclng gracefully through the air equal 10 that OF
ship when first seen In the water The moment OF open
ing tho steam valve OF suspense: the vessel
dssipatedi put IN very lew seconds her speed IN
creased-n obedience TO tho rndder she commenced to
broSs into trot, and cheer upon cheer
rose from the little group OF anxious spectators.
The pubic exhibition was attended by s0mo slight
accidents but elected much enthusiasm from tho audi
which bad assembled I'm hall where tho trial was
made. Tho wind violent and irregular without
that considered unsafe 10 risk tho model beyond
the shelter. The carriage mounted nearly TO the roof
with nmness and stcadncss equal 10 the movements
Of an ocean steamer smooth water. The guests
ckeered long and lond, and many fairly danced with
deg tho The trip back and forth across
the hall performed several times with success
Within few weeks the fret large vessel will be com.
pcted by the Aerial Steam Navigation COmpauY-one
calculated TO carry four persons-and tho principles in
VOWED In It's construction will then be fully tested The
projectors consider that the model carriage has deye
oped two facts Of the greatest Importance First The
effective power developed by tho propeOrs creator
than tho estimated power according 10 the fermulR OF
scrod yumcs and second, the atmospheric resistance
encountered by the vessel cs than had been cal
cuated. Consequently the speed attained was higher
than estimated aud at the trial, when the eee-
tive heating surface OF the boiler will be increased fur
thor considerable Increase Of speed will be attained.
Some doubt had been entertained the facility OF
steering the vessel That Is shown to be the part
Of tho business She obeys tho reflections Of the rudder
ulete control