The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-07
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC IN A
= BALLOON.
Professor Wisc's Explanation OF the
Great Undertaking.


Professor Wisc's Explanation OF the
Great Undertaking.
ITO the Rdltor Of The Daily GraphIc)
Thanks to the liberality Of The Daily
Graphic, the problem Of the air currents
by which q system of aerial transition
may be established, Is now 70 be tested.
The lines arc laid, and the work is already
begun. We may not be able TO equip the
very best outfit, but We shall have one
sll.sufficient to give It fair trial. Dir.
Donaldson has taken in hand the con-
struction OF the network, car gallery, and
boat, and have taken in hand tho floats,
Tho balloon proper will he a spheroid
OF 100 feet, transverse, and ITO perpen.
dicular and diameter. The supplemental
balloon will be q spheroid Of 80 feet d.
ameter. These, with allowance for ex-
pansiOn OF gas, will give us q lifting pow
er of $4,000 pounds, and o net carrying
power Of $500 pounds, and OF disposable
ballast, $500 pounds. Our floats will not
lose by exosmose Of gas over Is pounds
per hour, and that will enable US 10 keep
afloat 20 days. But allowing liberal
margin tor the free escape OF gas in the
higher and rariied regions ot'the atmos'
p6ere, we may still calculate safely TOR 9
ten days buoyant power, and, II deemed
necessary, we can dispose Of the boat and
gallery, and thus restore buoyant force
OF 200 pounds, which would serve US for
several days more, 80 that, under the most
adverse circumstances, We can hardly
fall to reach the European shores.
We shall carry q boat more for the pur.
pose oil providing for q contingency that
may possibly arise from any damage to
the main balloon, but one that we have
little cause TO apprchend. The boat will
be stored with water and provisions, to
serve Tor thirty days. Our kind friends
arc thus assured that we are not foolhardy
seeing that we shall provide against all
and any contingencies that arc likely to
possibly arise.
Our main reliance ia on the great east.
ward DRIFT of tho trade wind, and alter
your publication Of DR.. Ramsey's admir-.
able paper on the motion OF the almos.
pherG, always and forever eastward, with.
out an attempt at the exact solution oil
its cause; since tho fact Is patent, and
with thc Smithsonian Institutes reply 10
my letter on the same subject, that this
eastward motion Of the air ais On estab.
lished fact Of science Of every days ex-
periencc," VIC have, l think, little 10 fear
for the result Of the voyage. We do not
pretend that in this first experimental
voyage VIC shall be able 10 mako given
point on land, but We have an eye 10 the
Gulf Stream, tho great warm river In the
ocean, which forms above II, in the ocean
Of air, a corresponding aerial river that
will float US 10 tho coast Of Ireland, 1t
becomes physical correlatiye that the
air, by being warmed by the Gulf Stream
heat, will rise and move forward in the
isobaric line OF least resistance, which
must inevitably be In the direction. Of the
Gull Stream, Meteorologists will
take great interest In this part
of the problem to be solved or
attempted 10 be solved. These great
but silent imponderable elements, the
most potent Of all In the grand cosmog.
ony, are yet so little understood by science
that liietime's devotion TO the elucida-
ton Of a single feature in them will be
well spent, and that Is the anlmating prin.
ciple that moves us to the experiment
We are not scientifically presumptuous,
but we know what we do know, and that
Is, that the atmosphere above US moves
eastward; the heavens above attest the
fact in It's fleecy messengers constantly to
be seen In this aerial highway. What we
don't know Is the actual condition oil this
force Of nature over the sea, and, as a
method Of exploration, we intend 10 make
this aerial voyage and in our humble way
endeavor to mark out an untrodden path
for men and mails. We have q living
faith 10 its success, and belief that we
shall aid the too little cultivated science
OF mcteorology, and in that we look for
our rcward-the satisfaction Of that little
honorable ambition, without the which
man Is but poor thing.
4 We crave the public patience until our
6mbarkalion. In due course Of time we
will announce the day Of departure, since
It Is impossible for US to depart in an un-
observed and unostentations manner, be-
cause we are compelled 10 leave from the
midst Of a dense population, on account Of
gas supply, although VIC would prefer to
start In the presence Of tho few good
friends only, who have faith in the SINGER.
lily Of our design, and in tho ways and
means we have designated for It's success
full accomplishment,
This Is all have to say at present In
reply to your very kind and polite note as
10 the true intent Of our project. would
not have penned this, but l feel bound 10
make respectful reply TO the party who
has INDEED ia SO much md WlIhnnk XUhnan