The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-07-25
agisfellaaeuns.
TO EUROPE IN A BALLOON.


the favorite project of the we'll known
seronaut Mr.. John Wise, and for the
past twenty years be has kept the
matter before the public. During
this period, he has made large num-
ber of balloon aseensions, and gath
cred, as be believes, iudubitable evil
dence of the existence in the arial
regions, at q height Of from one to
two miles above the earth, of con-
slant easterly wind current, and has
alleged that if proper efforts were
made it would be practicable, by
maintaining a balloon within this cur
rent, to pass easily and speedily over
from this continent TO Europe. In
1859 Mr. Wise undertook a pIelimi
nary laBd voyage, and succeed in
moving in an easterly direction for q
distance of some twelve hundred
miles--to WIT, from st. Louis, Mo-, to
Jefferson county in this State. But
the results of that excursion appear
to have dampened the interest of
financial people, and the daring bal
loonist has, until quite recently, been
unable to find anybody who, for the
sake of science or any other consid-
Grafton, was willing to risk the ex-
pense Of q few thousand dollars for
another trial.
We ere glad, however, to be able
| 10 chronicle the TACT that the MessrS.
GOodsell, the enterprising publishers
OF the Graphic dsily illustrated news
paper in this city, have pledged them
selves to supply sll the funds neces-
sary for q new fight to Europe; aud
in a few weeks from the present time,
"a soon as the balloon can be manu-
featured, Mr.. Wise will be again in
the air.
Our readers are no doubt familiar
with the form OF contracts for build
ing houses, ships, railways and vail
Gus kinds of machinery bat prOba-
bly they have never read the details
of a contract for the building OF q
balloon and a voysge Herewith to
Europe. We will therefore give the
text Of the bargain between Messrs.
Goodsell, the financial parties To the
contract, and Messrs. Wise and
Donaldson, the 2ronautic directors
of the expedition:
CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE GRAPHIC coMPANY's BAL
LOON, AND ITS NAvIGA
TIoN FROM NEW YORK
| TO EUROPE
This memorandum of agreement,
made at the city OF New York, the
9th day of June, 1873, by and be
tween The Graphic Company, pro-
prietors and publishers of the Daily
Graphic, party of the fret part. and
John Wise, Of Philadelphia, party OF
the second part, and Washington Ii.
Donaldson, OF Reading, Pa, party OF
/ the third part, witnesseth
That the said The Graphic Compa-
ny will build q balloon of not less
than I30 feet in hight and 100 feet in
diameter, and will fully equip and
provide the same with valves, balance
line, ropes, car and gallery, life boat
or raft, and sll other appliances nee
essarv to insure strength and safety
in so tar as may be practicable. 1t
agrees that the construction OF the
sane shall be commenced at once
and pushed to completion as rapidly
fas possible, and before the 10th day
Of August next If practicable and
the said The Graphic Company will
furnish the use OF said balloon to said
John Wise and said Washington d..
Donaldson for the purpose Of the
making Of an aerial voyage therein
by the parties of the second and third
parts. from the city oiaNew York 70
some point OF the eastern side of the
Atlantic Ocean upon the conditions
following:
First. That the said John Wise
and the said W. FL. DOnsldson shall
personally supeTintend and direct the
construction of the balloon according
to the utmost OF their skill and judg.
ment, and that in all matters con-
nected with the construction of such
balloon they shall be subject to the
general direction OF The Graphic
Company.
Second. That The said John Wise
and the said W. H. Donaldson shall
not make nor participate in any other
balloon enterprise, exhibition, or ss
cension while this agreement is IN
existence
Third. That On tac completion Oi
the ssld balloon the said John Wise
and the said W. H. Donaldson shaIl'
Oh g day and from q starting point 70
be selected by The Graphic ComPs'
nv, make 3 public ascension 10 such
balloon. accompanied by such otheF
nersops az may be designated by tne
Grspbic Company and maklog Such
ascension, ihst they shSH' difecuy
and without sny delay or evasion,
zaek the elevation of the eastern AR
.rrrent there 10 remain uniil lsno
hall haye been made on tie eastern
aide of the Atlantic Ocesn-
Fourth. That the said John Wise
and sid W. Il. Donaldson shall then
land said balloon as safely and expe-
di;iously as possible, and Immediately
thereafter communicate the iBtelli
genee oi their arrival, with full par
;iculars of the voyage, by the most
speedy means available, 20 the DAILY
Grophic.
(Signed) JAMES II GoODsKLI.,
e. NJ. GOoDsKLL,
Mansgers OF The Grsphic Company
JoHN WIsE
WASHINGTON H. DONALDSON.
= The foregoing preliminsTIes having
been duly settled, the work OF con
siruction was begun on the very mex
! dsy, June 18th, and will be pusheC
forward rapidly to completion. Tn