Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-01
Pa0F. uvysEs B.sLL0Ov.

The work of constructing the immense
balloon with which Professor Wise Is TO at
tempt TO cross the Atlantic ocean, Is pro-
crossing rapidly. The following interest
ing particulars concerning 1t are given in
the New York Daily Graphic:
The main balloon Is to be made Of I'M
bleached cotton, of which 4,3l6 yards have
been purchased. The greatest strength Is
required at the crown, and this part Of the
air-shp will have three thicknesses of
cloth. The exterior will be coated with
varnsh made of linseed oil, beeswax, and
benzne. The balloon TO is be 10 feet high,
and 100 feet in diameter. Gas capacity,
COG, 900 cubic feet. 1t will, however, start
with only 100000 cubic feet, as the gas will
expand and fill the balloon as the latter
rises in the air. The lifting power of illu-
minating gas is about 80 pounds to 1000
feet, So that the balloon will have lifting
capacity of IL 600 pounds. When inflated
the extreme hight of the apparatus, from
the crown to the heel of the boat which
will hang below, will be 100 feet.
There will be $4,000 yards (eight miles,
of stitching. This is now being done by
twelve seamstresses at the establishment of
the Domestic Sewing Machine Company,
corner of Broadway and Fourteenth street.
The thread used is silk and cotton, the
top spool being silk. The valve of the bal
loon will be three feet in diameter and
made of Spanish cedar, with arubber-coat-
ed clapper closing on brass plate. The
valve fixtures and top of the balloon are
the essential parts of the apparatus, and
are being constructed with special care to
guard against any accident If Gerange-
ment.
The network will he composed of three
strand tarred rope, known as marlin"
The width of the net will he 2l2 meshes,
and its breaking strength will be $1,000
pounds. Five hundred pounds of "nar-
lin will be used From the netting SO
ropes, inch in diameter, of Manila, will
connect with the concentrating rings. These
ropes will each he 80 feet in length, or I,770
feet in the aggregate. The concentrating
rings will be three in number, to guard
against breakage, and will be each fourteen
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 ! inch ropes,
each % feet long, or requiring 528 feet in AL
will depend and form the frames for an Oc-
tagonal shaped car. They will be kept in
place by light hoops made of ash. The
lower ropes will be connected with net
of the car II light pine floor will be laid
loosely, so that it can be thrown out if re-
quired The car will he covered with duck,
of which fifty yards will be needed. At
tached 10 the side OF the car will be a light
| iron windlass, fr ON which the boat and
| trail rope can be raised and lowered as may
| be desired. From a pulley attached to the
| concentrating rings a heavy Manila rope
| will fall down through the car, and thence
| to sling, attached TO which will e the life
| boat. This boat will be of the most APP
| proved and careful construction. 1t will
| have watertighi compartments, sliding
| keel, aud will be so made that it will be
/ seli-righting. The boat will he provided
with complete outfit of oars and sails,
and TO it will be dashed Instruments, guns,
| lines, ETC., and provisions for thirty days,
| all in wateright cases. The trial rope, by
| which the aeronaut can maintain any de
sired altitude without resorting TO ballast,
will be of Manila rope, II inches thick
and 900 feet long.
The car will be fully provided with in
struments, provisions, etc., independently
| of the boat. II will he so constructed that
it can be taken apart piecemeal and dispos-
ed of as ballast. 1t will carry about 5000
pounds of ballast, which will consist o.
bags of sand, each carefully weighed and
| marked. Among the instruments to bt
carried in the car, there will he n galvaniC
| battery, with an alarm, two b1rometerS,
two chronometer watches, compound
Thermometer. a wet and dry bulb thermom.
eter, hygrometcr, componer, quadrant
chart, parachutes with fire balls attached
and so arranged as 10 explode when strik
ing the wafer, so as 10 indicate the direc
ton traversed marine glasses, two vacu
um tubes, a lime stove, etc. number o
carrier pigeons will be taken along, ant
dispatched mt intervals on the route, will
intelligence Of the progress of the eXpedi
| ton.