The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-07-29
Misrf1anp.
THE MONSTER AIR.SHIP.
Description of Dimensions, Mate.
rial, Etc,

4
used in the great transatlantic voyage.
They are from specifications made by
Mr.. Donaldson: There will be two
balloons. the largest of which will be-
31S feet in circumference, 100 feet in
diameter and ITO in height. When in
ifated and ready to start the extreme
height Of the apparatus. from the crown
of the balloon to the keel of the life
boat, will be 100 feet.
The great balloon will require 4,316
yards of cloth. The material is I'M
bleached sheeting, Of thick, close
quality, of the brand known as "Indian
Orchard" purchased from Eldridge,
Durham & Co., $40 Broadway. The
crown of the balloon will be doubled
for distance of so feet from the top,
with $50 yards of the same material,
and third thickness will be added of
"Manchester Mills" bleached, of which
$50 yards are required.
There will be 14,0S2 yards, or eight
miles of sewing, in which 10,137, 600
stitches will be made. The stitching is
now being performed at theshow rooms
of the Domestic Sewing Machine Com
pany, (corner Of Broadway and Four
teenth street,) by force OF twelve
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 rubber coated clapper clio
sing on brass plate. The valve fix
lures and top of the balloon are the es
sential parts of the apparatus, and are
being constructed with special care to
guard against any accident of derange-
ment.
The network will be composed of
three strand Of 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 "marlin'' will be used. From
the netting SO ropes { inches in diane
ter, of Manila, will connect with the
concentrated rings. These ropes will
each be 80 feet in length, or 4,770 feet
in the aggregate The concentrated
rings will be three 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 % feet long, or requiring 526 feet
in all, will depend and form the frames
for an octagonal shaped car. They will
be kept in place by light hoops made
of ash.
! The lower 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. Attached to the
side of the car will be light iron wind
lass, from which the boat and trail rope
can be raised and lowered as may be
desired. From pully attached to the
concentrating rings, heavy Manila
rope will fall down through the car, and
thence to a sling, attached to which will
be life boat This boat will be of the
most approved and careful construction.
1t win have water tight compartments,
sliding keel, and will be so made that it
will be self righting. The boat will be
lprovided with complete outfit of cars
and sails, and to it will be lashed in
Istruments, guns, ETC., and provision for
thirty days, all in water tight cases,
| The trail rope, by which the eronaut
can maintain any desired altitude with.
out resorting to ballast, will be of Ma
nilla rope il inches thick and 1000 feet
Hong.
The car will be fully provided with
instruments, provisions, ETC., independ-
ent of the boat 1t will be so construct.
ed as to be taken apart piecemeal and
disposed OF as ballast 1t will carry
about 5000 pounds of ballast. which
will consist of bags of sand, each care
fully weighed and marked. Among the
instruments to be carried in the car
4 there will be galvantic battery, with
4 an alarm, two barometers, two chrome
} meter watches,a compound thermometer,
! wet and dry bulb thermometers hygro-
meter, componer, quadrant, chart, para
chutes with fire balls attached, and SO
arranged as to explode when striking
the water, so as to indicate the direc-
ton traversed, marine glasses, two vac
unm tubes, lime stove, etc. A number
of carrier pigeons viii be taken along
and dispatched at intervals on the route
with intelligence Of the progress of the
expedition.
| The smaller balloon will be forty feet
in height and thirty-four in diameter,
and will be made from 40S yards OF
"Manchester Mills" Its network will
consume twenty pounds of forty thread
cotton cord and six pounds of Italian
, hemp. 1t will be attached to the con
centrating ring of the large balloon, and
will be used as may be required to test
the upper currents or assist in feeding
the large balloon.
The balloons will be coated with a
q varnish made of boiled linseed oil, bees
j. wax and benzine, and of these ingredi
r ents 1000 gallons will be used. The
5 capacity of the great balloon will be
100000 cubic feet of gas, but it will be
inflated with but 100000 cubic feet
which at the height of one mile and
three quarters will expand sufficiently
to fill the balloon. The lifting power
of Illuminating gas is about 35 pound;
to the 1000 feet, so that the balloon
will have lifting capacity of 1l,5OC
pounds. The pressure will be Il pounos
to the square inch.
The weight may be summed up as
follows: Balloon 1900 pounds; net and
ropes 800 pounds; car 100 pounds; an
chor and grapnels 200 pounds; sundrie:
800 pounds; total 7,l00 pounds. Tier
14,500 pounds will be allowed for passen
gers and ballast.
The society formed by the girls of the
\ - l.. l. Il II