The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-30
miscellaneous.
GO
DESCRIPTION OF THE MON
STER AIR.SHEP NOW CON
STRUCTING FOR PROFESS
SOR WISE.

In answer To numerous inquiries
on the subject, the New York
Graphic, patron of the enterprise,
gives the following details as to
the dimensions, material, outfit,
&C., Of the balloon to be used in
the great transatlantic voyage.
They are from specifications made
by Mr.. Donaldson:
There will he two balloons, the
largest of which will be 319 feet
in circumference, 100 feet in
diameter, and 10 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 e-boat, will be
160 feet.
The great balloon uili "oa"ira
4,316 yards of cloth. The mate
rial is unbleached sheeting, OF a
thick, close quality, Of the brand
known as ''Indian Orchard," pur-
chased from Eldridge, Durham 4
Co., $40 Broadway. The crown Of
the balloon will be doubled for q
distance of so feet from the top,
with $50 yards of tho same ma.
terial, and third thickness will
be added Of "Manchester Mills"
bleached, of which ESQ yards arc
required. There will be 14,OSO
wards, or eight miles Of sowing, in
which 10, l37,6OO stitches will be
made. The stitching is now being
performed at the show-rooms OF
the Domestic Sewing Machine
Company, Corner of Broadway
| and Fourteenth street,9 by . force
of twelve seamstresses. L h C
thread used is silk and cotton, the
top spool being silk. The valve
of the balloon will be three feet
in diameter, and made ofSpanish
cedar, with a rubber-coated clap
per closing on a brass plate. The
valve fixtures and top Of the bal,
loon are the essential parts Of the
apparatus, and are being construct.
ed with special care TO guard
against any accident Of derange'
ment. The network will be com.
posed of three-strand tarred rope,
known as "marlin." The width
of the net will be 212 meshcs, ard
its breaking strength will be 58,
800 pounds. 500 pounds of omar
lin" will be used. From the net
ting, SO ropes, { inch in diameter
of Manila, Will connect with the
concentrating rings. These ropes
will each be 80 feet in length. o.
4,77O feet in the aggregate. Tho
concentrating rings will be three
in number, 10 guard against break
aye, and will be each IA inches il
diameter, each ring being of woo<
iron bound. These rings will sus
tain the car, lite-boat and trailing
rope. and will bear the straiI
when the anchor is thrown out II
landing. From the concentrating
rings, "a Manila l-inch ropes
each % feet long, or requiring 81
feet in all, wiltdepend, and form
the frames for an octagonal-shapet
car. They will be kept in plac'
} by light hoops, made Of ash.
The lower ropes will be con
nected with network, and owe
the network at the bottom Of th'
car a light pine-door will be lar
loosely, so that it can be throw
} out If required. The car will b
) covered with duck, Of which TIT
wards will be needed. Attached t
the side of the car will be a lgh
. iron windlass, from which the boa
; and trail rope can be raised an
lowered as may be desired. Fror
a pulley attached to the conceI
trating rings, a heavy Manill
l rope will fall down through tn
: car, and thence to a sling, attacE
Q ed to which will be the life-boa
. This boat will be Of the most al
proved and careful construction
!, It will have water-tight compar
i ments, sliding keel, and will |
s made so that it will be self-rlgh
inn Tha boat will he nrOYide