Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-07-24
ssTHE GRAPHIC BALLOON.
Description of the Monster Air-Ship Now
Constructing for Prof. Wise.
From the New York Graphic.


Constructing for Prof. Wise.
from the New York Graphic.l
In answer to numerous inquiries on
the subject, we give the following de-
tails as to the dimensions, material, out
fit, ETC., of the balloon to be used in
the great transatlantic voyage. They
are from specifications made by Mr.
Donaldson:
There will be two balloons, the largest
of which will be 310 feet in circumfer-
ence, 100 feet in diameter, and ITO feet
in height. When inflated and ready to
start, the extreme height of the appara-
tus, from the crown of the balloon TO
the keel of the hfe-boat, will be 160
The great balloon will require 4 1916
yards Of cloth. The material is I'M
bleached sheeting, of thick, close quail
ity, sof the brand known as :" Indian
Orchard" The crown of the balloon
will be doubled for distance of so feet
from the top, with $50 yards of the same
material, and third thickness will be
added Of Manchester Mills" bleached,
OF which $50 yards are required.
There Will be IA, 0S0 yards, or eight
miles of sewing, in which 10, 137, 800
stitches will be.made. The thread used
is silk and cotton, the top spool being
silk.
The valve of the balloon viii be three
feet in diameter, and made of Spanish
cedar, with a rubber-coated clapper
closing on brass plate.
The network viii be composed of
three-strand tarred rope, known as
marlin" The width Of the net will
be 212 meshes, and its breaking strength
will be $500 pounds. Five hundred
pounds of s'marlin' will be used. From
the netting 50 ropes, s-inch in diameter,
OF Manila, will connect with the con-
centrating rings. These ropes will each
be 80 feet in length, or 4, no feet in TIE
aggregate. The concentrating rings will
be, three in number, to guard against
breakage, and will be each fourteen
inches in diameter, each ring being of
wood, iron-bound These rings will
sustain the car, ife-boat and trailing
rope, and viii bear the strain when the
anchor is thrown out in landing. From
the concentrating rings "a Manila 1-inch
ropes, each % feet long, or requiring
52S feet in all, will depend, and form
the frames for an octagonal- shaped car
They will be kept in place by light
hoops, made of ash. The lower ropes
will be connected with network, and
over the network at the bottom of the
car light pine floor will be laid loose
ly, so that it can be thrown out if re-
quired. The car will be covered with
duck, of which so yards will be needed.
Attached to the side OF the car will be
II nh% l.
and trail rope can be raised and lowered
as may be desired. From pulley at
tached to the concentrating rings q
heavy Manila rope will fall down
through the car, and thence to a sling,
attached to which will be the hfe-boat.
This boat will be of the most approved
and careful construction. 1t Will have
water-tight compartments, sliding keel,
and viii be so made that it will be self
Fighting. The boat will be provided
with complete outfit of oars and sails,
and to it will be dashed instruments,
guns, lines, etc., and provisions for thir-
ty days, all in water-tight cases.
The trail rope, by which the aeronaut
can maintain any desired altitude with
out resorting to ballast, will be of Ma
nilla rope, 133-inch thick, and /, 900 feet
long.
The car will be fully provided with
instruments, provisions, etc., independ-
emily of the boat. A number of carrier
pigeons will be taken along, and dis
patched at intervals on the route with
intelligence of the progress Of the ex-
petition.
The smaller balloon will be 40 feet in
height and "a feet in diameter. It will
be attached to the concentrating wings
OF the large balloon, and will be used
as may be required to test the upper
currents or assist in feeding the large
balloon.
The balloons will be coated with a
varnish made of boiled linseed oil, bees
wax and benzine, and of these ingredi-
ents 1000 gallons will be used
The capacity of the great balloon viii
be 5000 cubic feet of gas, but it will
be inflated with but 400, 900 cubic feet,
which, at the height of one mile and
three-quarters, will expand sufficiently
to fill the balloon. The lifting power Of
Illuminating gas is about 35 pounds to
the 1000 feet, so that the balloon viii
have lifting capacity Of II, 500 pounds
The pressure will be /! pounds to the
square inch.
The weight may be summed up as
follows:
Pounds
BALLOON. 4, 0O
Net anu ropes .......--.--.-....-... oW