The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-28

HOW THE GAS AND BALLAeT ERE SAVED
It is here that M. Chevalieiss own invention,
Attached to the lower part OF LEsperanee is a
second or reservoir balloon, which is not in
6ated at the earth, but is ready to receive the
excess OF gas resulting from expansion at high
elevation. Professor Chevalief has also devised
an ingenious continuance to secure rebound
of the balloon from the depression consequent
upon one Of these fights with put any expendl-
ture Of ballast. which. of course, is most pre-
cious on q long ocean trip. Across the hoop,
to which is fastened the netting that covers
the balloon above and the car below, he has
extended wlndlass made OF @ hollow cylinder.
rope Of sufficient etrength and length is at
tached TO and wound upon this windlass. At
the lower extremity Of the rope are fastened,
at proper intervals, q numbefof small water
proof canvas bags. whose mcllths are kept
open by small rings. BetweenSthese at stated
distances are disposed numb; Of small con.
ical floats, which are intended ~ serve the pur-
pose of supporting the length of rope when it
reaches the sea by the depression Of the bal
As the BALLOON the Lover
the surface OF the sea- relieving. the ball oon OF
its weight. until sufficient qua utity has been
thus disposed Of to arrest the balloon's further
through rain showers or clouds 1,ehly charged
with vapor during the night, ar 1 the ropes of
the netting and other parts of ,he apparatus
to have become heavy with moisture. MOI less
to balloon % IN .Ris %annsr sa Gsn there faaeo Sc no
sun to dry up the moisture the sadded weight
brings the balloon to the earth. sss soon, how
ever, as the rope from the car ofa 'EspeI ance
begins to trail on the surfaoef the 'alloonl
ceases to fall. and continues on its way at an
unvarying elevation until the suas k wind takes
the heavy moisture. out of the 4lgglng, when
che is enabled to regain her prss altitude,
check to too great ascent with its attendant,
loss Of gus. The water bags ON the rope have
been, Aued as they were trailed through the
high flight, and keeps the balloon down to her
tworlse 90 TO speak, with. the whole original
power or bu0yancy Of the rebound. By this
simple and beautiful arr rangement Of the rope
with iEs water-bags, the ballast Of the balloon
is diminished or Increased at will; indeed the
ballast adjusts itself without the intervention
OF the aeronant according to the necessity of
the moment. Prof Chevalier .is' confident
rope ballast with such balloon as l. Esper-
ance, constructed for the occasion, elevation
can be maintained for period or one month
should circumstances require it.
HOW THE DIHECTIoN IS PRESERVED.
The eecohd of the two great problems oRthe
undertaking is how to keep the balloon on q
direct course. Chevalier is not by any tmeans
9 victim to belief in balloon-navigatlon. In
fact, he has perfect contempt for the balloon,
considered as an air ship, aud says it ls good
Observation. A balloon. he says, so far from
being o ship is not even o buoy let loose irom
it's moorings Tor buoy floats on the surface.
eays tn the % Professor $50 is I ieynsS IN
q liriii by whose every onrrent it is heIpiessly
carried to and fro the Jelly lsh makes feeble
dgss s 9gl soqIs With abogt
is M: Chevalier ia know when he ascends from
Landmann's Park next July, whether he is
abops to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific? Tue
lieve in balloons. he does believe ii currents.
In every ascent during his long career, he
says he found on reaching an altitude any
where between. 5000 and 10000 feel that the
from the nYrthwests; however way the Wind
was blowing pear the ground, in.each Of his
one hundred and sixty-Aye ascents he found q
northwest current in, the upper atmosphere.
Of his own, and it is for the glory Of establish
ing his theory, rather than OF sailing three or
tour thousand miles over the water, which he
regards quite, an everyday affair." that he M
Sl,,es. THE aufpR ROPE.
He will be greatly assisted in determining
the actual course which his balloon may be at
any time pursuing by the rope suspended from
the car. described above As thu rope, when
rear. il will only be necessary 70 observe its
direction by the compass, and that OF the
balloon itself is at once indicated. Another
equally important determinations which the
ss.ainaSs BY any othss a nssans Viii vii bs Be- tSe
distance at which the balloon is from the irn-
mediate surface OF the earth at any time when
the viewis obstructed by clouds, fog or dark
as TO the height above the mean level or the sea,
and, without the warning given by the guide
rope, the balloon might at any time, when
sailing too too low % dashed agsnst
would be moving on the wings or storm, such
q shock w0nld be fatal.