Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-09-12
The Transatlantic Balloons Car and
its Contents.

The car of the balloon, "The Daily
Graphic" as designed by Profs. Wise
and Donaldson, is now being carefully
constructed under the direct supervision
of the latter, and when completed will
be marvel of ligbtness, strength and
convenience. 1t will necessarily be a
com bination of store-house, dormitory,
workshop AMI observatory. 1t will be
supported at one point only-its apex
and besides its own weight and that of
the passengers and ballast, will have to
bear the strain Of the life-boat below.
1t may be described in brief as to con-
sist, in outline, of twelve strong ropes
looped, with their twenty-iour ends tied
in the supporting ring above. These
loops will be distended into bell-like
shape by three great hoops of stout ash,
the lower of which, eight feet in diam
eter, will support flooring strong enough
to hold most of the ballast
This flooring will be made of two lay
ers of thin narrow ash boards, the direo
ton of one layer being at right angles
TO that of the other. This arrangement
is designed to aid iu resisting the pressure
on the hoops from the ropes, which will
pass around under the bottom of the
car. -Four and half feet above this
floor is another, resting on hoop ten
feet in diameter This will consist of
one layer of light pine boards, to be re-
moved and thrown out if necessary, but
which nevertheless, will be the "main
floor of the airy tenement. Between
these two floors, and extending about
four feet above the upper one, the siding
will consist of stout rope network. with
Meshes Of about four inches. Outside of
this, and between it and the ropes, there
will be a casing of stout canvass or
duck, extending, however, only to the
upper floor. About ten feet above this
floor will be placed the third distending
hoop, six feet in diameter, above which
the main ropes will taper directly to the
ring.
From the apex to the main floor the
car will be covered with duck, the lower
part of which will be cut out and ar
ranged to be rolled up in separate peices
like curtains. There will be four win
dows cut in the canvass siding, to look
from in case it will be necessary to fasten
the curtains down. There will also be
an opening through the top, out of which
one may climb on the rope ladder into
the ropes above. A man-hole will also
be cut in the floor to allow access to the
cellar" where the ballast, etc., is
stored. From ring to lower floor the
car will be about sixteen feet. The ring
will be huge affair, consisting of three
different pieces of metal, and designed
to stand all tests. either of tension or
jar. As an appropriate adornment, flags
of various nations will be displayed from
the upper part of the car.
Still more interesting perhaps, than a
description of the car is list of the
things to be placed in it. The most
prominent object in the lower apartment
represented in the sketch, is basket ca
pable of holding number of men, and
designed to be attached to the ring
above should it be found necessary to
cut the large car away by piecemeal to
! Tighten the air-ship, or in case it should
be deemed desirable through distrust of
the large balloon, from injury, it may be
attached to the small balloon, the tender,
and theparty have new lease Of life. 1t
will also enable them to separate, leaving
portion of them only to continue the
voyage, the main balloon being thus re-
ieved of portion of its fixed weight.
In this department also will be placed
the ballast, consisting of sand in twen-
ty-fve pound bags, and in great part
also in casks of water.
The water ballast will be especially
valuable, because small stream may be
set flowing at night, arranged TO compen-
safe the loss of buoyant power of the bal
loon. Here, too, viii be placed in abun-
dance various kinds of provisions con-
sisting mostly of canned food. Axes,
hatchets, graphing irons, ropes in coils,
and other necessary things will be stow
ed away. Torpedoes, with parachute
attachments, will also be provided, to be
let fall in the night. These will be set
SO as to explode when they strike the
water. The direction of the fash will
indicate the direction the balloon is
drifting. As to the furniture of the up
per department., the main feature is the
windlass, which may be put to several
uses, the principal of which will be the
management of the small balloon and
the raising and lowering of the trail
rope. 1t should be remembered that
the balloonist will be prepared with rope
to send the small balloon up two thou
sand feet above them, for the purpose Of
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