The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-05
Aerial Sassgaiion--zsrof esser sssse as %
the Liberal Climb. .

EGs i
Professor Wise spoke to Il good audince at
the Liberal Club: last night Upon J" Neral
Navigation His first remark was : do
ND. rsrorase to deliver o. lecture. Go pro.
nose 10 say something about balloons" his
first idea Of his present project arose ron
his seeing that all objects iiostiDg high IN tue
air hove = tendency to 90 east, III 1885 he as
,nntief, q CO(, feet from Philadelphia, and bad
q confirmation of tha idea of the eastward
current. All, s.re doubtless astronomers
enolyh 10 know that the solar sys.
tom moves 6.l,om west to east. We
had few atro ,sphcric philosophers untii
Espy,s time. If is were not for the east
ward motion Of the air there would De no
calculating weather probabilities. haoW.
ledge Of j few rules would enable any one
10 predict the weather almost as accurately
rs the Signal Service. Ballooning will not
he understood until IL is known that it Is Just
the opposite OF srsyitation: that Is, deviation.
An Instrument specifically lighter than the
air plays the part the bladder does in the
fish. When fish wishes TO sink he
contracts his air-bladder, and uice cersd.
Some fishes even take on gravel ballast
temporarily. One hundred and thirty.onc
tons can be lifted by a balloon 800 feet in
diameter. A balloon Of .sheet-copper can be
made that would still have an Immense hit
ing.powqr and permanently retain the gas.
Metal balloons dan be made like telescope
gas-hoiders. Crossing the Atlantic Is not
the most important part of the proposed
excursion. The demonstration OF the east
crly current and other aerial facts are worthy
objects. 1t Is very important to study the
atmosphere; we live more upon it than on
food and drink. Some learned criticisms
have been put forth about the trip. The
sneaker was a. sure OF being able to cross to
Europe with good balloon rs he Is that ne
can cross in q steamer. During August and
Septen,ber the same climatic conditions OBJ
tain in the latitude of New York that OBJ
tain In the tropics, and the balloon must
therefore 90 very high and exhaust much
power. If they sail low they will 60 nearly
north. He and Donaldson baye said: II
we can't 20 to Europe we Will so to the
polc md huut the Polaris." The first Ma
poleon established school of acronaut-
les. and made them seryiceable in war;
hut their great use must be in peace. Little
il known vet about electricity, ozone, spread
OF cpidenics. Ballooning will help TO I'M
rayel these mysteries. II they do not get
one thousand miles to sea or Deyer come
back, science " i'll be somewhat aided by the
trip. It is often asked what are the plans
Of the Ysyage! In general, they expect to
90 I'D and to land between st. Peteisburgh
and africa. If the signal service will help
they can 20 across in sixty hours ahead OF
a cyclone. 1t was in that way that he
was carried from ST. Louis TO New
York. He crossed the lakes in tor
uado that destroyed sixteen vessels on
those waters. LII that voyage, the day being
hot, phosphora>cent light hung around The
balloon ut plight, Which enabled them 10
read their instruments. Large balloons are
much more agreeable than small ones.
Crossing Lake Ontario they kept on ave.
rage distance of three hundred feet from
the water. Men will yet exceed the birds
in aerial navigation. 1t is singular
that none of the passengers he ever
carried complained of dizziness. This sort
of travelling seems to come natural. 1t is
difficult when above the clouds TO know,
from mere surrounding appearances, whether
you are moving. Though going 4 mile
minute, you haug seemingly motionless amid
air and clouds. The Professor told an anus
ing story in prsof of this. Lie sailed from
Allentown, Pa, where hand OF music was
playing national air. Hearing the same
tune US he came down he supposed he was
still over Allentown. He had landed in
Berks county, forty miles away, among
picnic party, whose band was playing
that same tune. When the Professor began
ballooniug there were no gas-woIks in this
country that would fill 4 balloon that wonld
carry up one man, unless several days notice
was given. In his hist ascension from
GETTYSBURG, he rode three miles, and gotinto
a warm easterly current. The air was so
warm that he took of his coat. This had
not happened to him before. Heattributed
the warmth to Il fog.
The hrge audience were much Interested,
and after the lecture asked many questions OF
the Professor, who is a man of grave and
venerable aspect. His companion, Mr..
Donaldson, answered some of the questions.
aud naiyely remarked in reply to one, a." No
body Is safe unless up III Il balloon.'-Ac,1
York World.