Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-23
''The Graphic" Balloon.

In answer to numerous inquiries on the
subject, we give the following details as
to the dimensions, material, outfit, etc., of
the balloon to be used in the great Trans
atlantic voyage. They are from specifi-
cations made by Mr. Donaldson:
There will be two balloons, the largest
of which will be 31S feet in circumfer-
ence, 100 feet in diameter, and 10 feet in
height When inflated and ready to
start, the extreme height of the apparatus,
from the crown of the balloon to the keel
of the fe-boat, will be 100 feet.
The great balloon will require 4,316
yards of cloth. The material is un-
bleached sheeting-of thick, close quail
ity, of the brand known as "Indian Orch
ard" The crown of the balloon will be
doubled for distance of fifty feet from
the top, with $50 yards of the same ma
terial, and third thickness will be added
of Manchester Mills" bleached, of which
250 yards are required e.
There will be 14,000 yards, or eight
miles Of sewing, in which 10,137,6OO
stitches will be made. The stitching is
now being performed at the show-rooms
of the Domestic Sewing Machine Com
pany, by force Of twelve seamstresses.
The thread used is silk and cotton, the
top spool being silk. &3
The valve of the balloon will be three
feet in diameter and made of Spanish
cedar, with rubber-cOated clapper clos
ing on brass plate. The valve fixtures
and top of the balloon are the essential
parts of the apparatus, and are being con-
structed with special care to guard against
any accident of arrangement
The network will 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'nar-
lin" will be used. From the netting So
ropes, s inch in diameter, of Manila,
will connect with the concentrating rings.
These ropes will each be- 80 feet in length.
or Alto feet il the aggregate. The con
centrating 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, life-boat and
trailing rope, and will bear the strain
when the anchor is thrown out in landing.
From the concentrating rings twenty-four
Manila one-inch ropes, each 90 feet long,
or requiring 528 feet in all, will depend
and form the frames for an octagon-
shaped car. They will be kept in place
ropes will be connected with network, and
over the network, at the bottom of the
car, light pine floor will be laid loosely,
so that it can be thrown out if required.
The car will be covered with duck, of
which fifty yards will be needed At
tached to the side of the car will be light
iron windlass, from. which the boat and
trail rope can be raised and lowered. as
may be desired. From pulley attached
TO the concentrating rings heavy Manila
rope will fall down through the car, and
thence to sling, attached to which will
be the life boat. This boat will be of the
most approved and careful construction.
1t will have water-tight compartments,
sliding keel, and will be so made that it
will be selfrighting. The boat will be
provided with a complete outfit of oars
and sails, and to it will be lashed instru-
ments, guns, lines, ETC., and provisions for
thirty days all in water-tight cases.
The trail rope, by which the aeronaut
can maintain any desired altitude without
resorting to the ballast, will be of Manila
rope, Il inch thick, and 900 feet long.
The car will be provided with instru-
ments, provisions, ETC., independently of
the boat 1t will be so constructed that it
can be taken apart piecemeal and disposed
OF as DdlIdst. IL WI! Garry ABOUT 0,UOU
pounds of ballast, which will consist of
bags of sand, each carefully weighed and
marked. Among the instruments to be
carried in the car there will be galvanic
battery with an alarm, two barometers,
two chronometer watches, a compound
thermometer, wet and dry bulb Their
mometer, hygrometer, componer, quad
rant, chart, parachutes with fire-balls at
tached, and so arranged as to explode
when striking the water, so as to indicate
The direction traversed; marine glasses,
Two vacuum tubes, lime stove, etc. A
number of carrier pigeons will be taken
along and dispatched at intervals on the
route, with intelligence of the progress OF
Inc smaller balloon will be 40 feet in
height and "a feet in diameter, and will