Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-09-23

quite 10 carrying the necessary weight
OF machinery, etc, i'm air. Electrici-
~ Is probably weaker than steam,
under these conditions, in its present
mode of use.
Either the power required must be
concentrated before starting, and de-
posted in the machine in the spape of
compressed spring, or cylinder fun
of condensed air, or we must get some
new agent, as yet untried, which will
give tremendous power without
weight In as great proportion as i'm the
known engine.
The compressed spring or condensed
air plan may do for short flights. The
writer however, has not much faith i'm
either, and has not the present ability
to test them by experiments.
But we have an agent sufficiently
powerful and perhaps sufficiently gov
ernable, which will drive our flying
machine for us with abundant force.
Either gunpowder dynamite, or the
Eliminates, nave sufficient strength.
mparatively 10 weight. Witness the
fight of a ilve-hundred pound shell
for miles, at an elevation of thousands
of feet, driven by few pounds of
powder! Consider the number Of
horse-powers involved in this exhi-
bition of strength, and calculate the
weight of the steam engine, its boilers.
and fuel, which. should accomplish
such result! There is no question
about our having the power, but have
we not too much? More than is con-
trollable by human ingenuity?
The flying machine of the future
does not need to draw upon these ter
rible forces to their full extent. Gun
powder and all explosives have limits
10 their power and are governed by
laws, and can probably be used as pro-
pelling agents with IL safety greater
than that of the steam engine.
They are the only Known agents
which are, in their great power and
small weight, analogous to the muscles
of the bird.
How this power is to he applied and
regulated could soon be ascertained by
| ingenious and educated engineers.
| Perhaps ii would be well to have n cy l.
irder in which successive explosions
should perserve constant and high
pressure, which, by proper machinery,
would drive the propelling fans.
Or, IN afulminateis obtainable which
condenses TO an insignificant amount
| of liquid Immediately after explosion,
a pair of iron hing es, as it We're, which
would expand and contract with great
| force by these successive explosions
| aud condensations, might furnish the
| desired means of applying the power.
The rocket is proof OF the power OF
| powder to carry vessels through the
air. II is the Tudest form of flying
machine, ana when the genius of man
| is fully directed to econOr ming and
| guiding the great power which is the
cause OF the rockets fight, we viii
| have q speedy, practical, and safe flying
vehicle which will astonish the world
| by It's simplicity and tardy discovery
A few misconceptions on the subject
may be spoken OF. 1t is generglly sup
| ! osed that flying machine must be &
| Derilous means of travel. This is moi
80. If one We're constructed on the
principle spoken of in this paper, there
would be no nect ssity OF its travelling
high in the air. a few feet above tn,
ground would suffice, and many know
appliances could be added, which
would render IA fall mucous. Tn,
lower side could he arranged witt
powerful spiral springs, which woul'
make IA concussion harmless, or IA sys
tenn of parachutes could be devised b,
which passengers could dccend to tn
ground with sefety.
Arguing from the analogies of ma
ture, as we find that the largest fist
far exceed in size the largest bird, -
science will find itself compelled b,
laws, at present unknown, TO limit tn
size of flying machines to some rati
with steamers, as obtains between bir
and fish. If the largest bird is Onl,
One-tenth the length and general iii
mensions mot meaning bulk Of tn
largest fish, so, COZ sidering the large S
steamers 10 be 500 feet in length, whicI
they will probably not successfully cN
coed, we can except flying machines
perhaps fifty feet in length. As ia
speed of the bird is swjfter than tina
of the fish, so we can look for create
speed in air, by the same rules, tina
, in water. The flying machine in fl
ture will go to Europe in two days
/, and with greater safety aud comfol
than the present mode If transit.
They viii be swifter, easy of COZ
struction, and will come into universe
use, though they viii be more eXper
sive than other conVeyauces. Spec
and concentrated fuel mean eXpens'
, As rapidly as the magnetic telegraph
! when once invented, overspIead Oh
globe. so rapidly will every count
| aud town adopt the new invention {
the now future, the hOphtci of trave
ling convenience. {.