The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1873-08-20
EisEI.AY a,sNsEATA EzOxIss.
De.crIEstiOss OftiaG Air-SEaip NOW
Being Constructed.

u /
York have offered to pay all the expen-
SEES Of the proposed voyage to cross the
Atlantic in an air-ship, undertaken by
Professors Wise and Donaldson. The
cost OF building the two balloons, &c.,
will be about $4,000, and it is expect
ed that the atonauts will be able to start
in the early part Of August. The Gra
nhic describes the monster alr-shlp as |
follows:
There will be two balloons, the largest
Of which will be 3lS feet in circumfer-
ence, 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 liieboat, will be 100 feet
The great balloon will require 4,316
yards of cloth. The material is unbleach-
cd sheeting, Of a thick, close quality, of
of the brand known as Indian,
Orchard purchased from Eldridg,
Durham SCo., $40 Broadway.
The crown of the balloon will be doubled
for distance Of fifty feet f.on the top,
with $50 yards of the same material,
and third thickness will be added Of
Manchester Mills" bleached, Of which
250 yards arc required. There will be
l4.n80 yards or eight miles Of sewing,
i'll which l0,137 600 stitches will be
made The stitching is now being
performed at the show-roonls of the
Domestic Sewing Machine Company
Corner of Broadway and Fourteenth
street, y by force oftwelvc seamstresses.
The thread used is silk and cotton, the
top spool being silk
The valve of the balloon will be
three feet in diameter, and made Of
Spanish cedar, with rubbers coated clap
per closing on brass plate. The valve
fixtures and top Of the balloon are the
essential parts of the apparatus, and arc
being constructed with special care to
guard against any accident of derange-
ment. The network will be composed
of three-strand tarred rope, known as
"marEn." The width of the net will
be 212 meshes, and it's breissng strength
will be 5o. 800 pounds. Five hundred
pounds OF :. marlin will be used. From
the netting SO ropes, ! inch in diameter,
Of Manila, will connect with the con-
ccntratiny ring. These ropes will each
he 80 feet in length, OF $40 .cet in
the aggregate. The concentrating rings
will be three in number, to guard against
breakage, and will be each fourteen
inches III diameter, each ring being OF
wood, iron bound. These rings
Will sustain the car, lifc.boat and trail!
ing rope, and will bear the strain when
the anchor is thrown out i'll landing
From the concentrating rings twenty
four Manila l-inch ropes, each p fee
long OF requiring 52S feet i'll all vii
depend and from the frames for an oc
tcsonal shaped car. They will be KEEP
il place by light hoops, made Of ash.
The lower ropes will be connected
with network and over the network a
the bottom of the car light pine foo
will be laid loosely, so that it can b
. covered With duck, Of which fifty yard
{ will be needed Attached to the sid
Of the car Will be Il light iron windlass
! from which the boat and trail-rope Ca
, be raised and lowered rs may be desil
ed. From a pulley attached to the cor
ccntra5in5 rings, Il heavy Manila rop
:, will, tall down throu-h the car, an
, thence to sling, attached to whic
will be the life-boat. This boat Wi
4 be Of the most approved and carcfu
construction. 1t will have water-tig!
compartments sliding keel, and will /
"a 50 made that it will be selI-riy htin:
The boat will be provided with a con
plote outfit Of oars and sails, and to
n will be dashed Instruments, guns, line
la &c., and provisions for thirty days, a
ii III water tight cases, The trail rop
lc by which the acrunaut can mainta
n any desired attitude without resortil
ID to ballast, will be Of Manila rope |
e. inch thick, and GOO feet long.
lc The car will be fully provided wi
l. Instruments, PROVISIONS, &c, indepe
lie IDENTIFY Of the boat It will be SO co
ID structcl that it can be taken apa
OF piecemeal and disposed Of as balla'
III 1t viii cary about 5000 pounds Of b;
lg last, which will consist of bags of san
I'd each carefully weighed. and marke
to Among the instruments to be CARR
. in the car there will be galvanic b;
ny terry, with an alarm, two barmeters, tt
chronometer watches, a compou
cd thermometer, a wet and dry bulb thu
d. memcter, a hygrometer, compon
ut quadrant, chart, parachates with fl
at bolls attached, and SO arranged as
ny explide when striking the water, so
40 to Indicate the direction trayersed, Il
ok rine glasses, two vacuum tubes, a lill
nd stow exc \ number Of carricr-pigeons "
[ be taken along and dispatched at int
he walls on the route with intelligence
Sc, the progress Of the expedition.
X The smaller balloon will be 40 f
at in height and 81 feet in diameter, a
as will be made from 409 yards of IN;
ry chester Mills" Its network will c,
en sumo 20 pounds of 40 thread cot,
ell cord and six pounds Of Italian her
cal twill be attached to the concentrat
all wings Of the large balloon, and will
are used as may be required to test
nd upper currents or assist in feeding
ev large balloon. The balloons will
to coated with varnish made of boi
linseed oil, beeswax, and benzine,
ses OF these ingredients 1000 gallons
be used. The capacity of the gr
rs balloon will be 100000 cubic fee
to gas, but it will be inflated with
pie. 100000 cubic feet, which at the h,i