The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-08-01
The Monster -4ir-Mip.

Il re ZfIOftSCtg -1GI-GJHsDs
In answer to numerous inquiries on the
subject. the New York Graphic, patron of
the enterprise, gives the following details
as to the dimensions, material, outfit, etc,
of the balloon to be used in the great trans
atlantic voyage. They are from specifica-
tions made by Mr.. Donaldson There
will be two balloons, the largest OF which
will be 31S feet in circumference, 100 feet
in diameter, and 10 feet i'll height. When
inflated and ready to start the extreme
hight of the apparatus, from the crown of
the balloon to the keel of the lifeboat, will
be $50 feet.
The great balloon will require 4,31G
yards of unbleached sheeting, of thick,
close quality. The crown of the balloon
will be doubled for a distance Of fifty feet
of the top, with $50 yards of the same ma
terial, and a third thickness will be added
of bleached, of which 250 yards viii be re-
quired.
There will be IA, ,OSO yards, or eight miles
of sewing, in which 10, 1877, 600 stitches will
be made. The thread used is silk and cot
ton, the top spool being silk.
The valve of the balloon will be three
feet in diameter, and made Of Spanish ce-
dar, with a rubber-coated Clapper closing
on brass plate. The network VIII be
composed of threc-straud tarred rope,
known as marlin The width of the
net Will be PIP meshes, and its breaking
strength will be 5S, 800 lbs. Five hundred
pounds of marlin" will be used. From
the netting SO ropes inches in diameter,
of Manila, will connect with the cOncen-
tTating rings. These ropes will each be
80 feet in length, or 4, TO feet in the ag-
gregate. The concentrating rings will be
three in number, to guard against break
age, and viii be each fourteen inches in
diameter, each ring being of wood, iron
/ bound. These rings will sustain the car
/ lifebOat and trailing rope, ard viii bear the
/ strain when the anchor is thrown out in
/ landing. From the concentrating rings
/ twenty-four Manila 1-inch ropes, each %
/ feet long, 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 viii be connected with
| network, and over the network at the bot
tom of the car light pine floor will be
laid loosely, SO that it can be thrown out
I If required. The car viii be covered with
duck, of which 50 yards viii be required.
Attached to the side Of the car will be
light iron windIaSs, from which the boat
and trail rope can be raised and lowered as
may be desired: From a pulley attached
to the concentrating rings, heavy Manil-
/ la rope VIII fall down through the car, and
/ thence to a sling, attached to which will
be a lifeboat. This boat viii have water
tight compartments, sliding keel, and viii
be so made that it viii be self-riChting
The boat will be so provided with a com
plete outfit of oars and sails, and TO it will
be lashed instruments, guns lines, &c,
and provisions for thirty days, all in water
tight cases.
The trail rope, by which the a,ronaut
can maintain any desired altitude without
resoTting to ballast, viii be of Manila rope
I I inches thick; 900 feet long
The car yyill he fullV DroviIa6 with IN
I struments, provisions, &c, independently
/ of the boat 1t viii he so Constructed 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 carefully weighed and
marked A number of carrier pig geons will
be taken along and dispatched at intervals
( on the route with intelligence of the pro-
! gress of the expedition.
The smaller balloon will be forty feet in
hight and thirty-fOur feet in diameter, and
will be made from 4OS yards Of sheetinr.
Its network viii consume twenty pounds
| Of forty thread cotton cord and six pounds
| of Italian hemp. 1t will be attached to
! the concentrated rings 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 he coated with var
I niSh made of boiled heeswaX and benzine
and of these ingredients 1000 gallons viii
be used. The capacity of the great bal
loon viii be GOO, 600 cubic feet of gas, but
it will be inflated with but 400, 900 cubic
( feet, which at the hight Of one mile and
three-quarters, VIII expand sufficiently tc
FL the balloon: The lifting power of illu.
minaring gas is about 35 pounds to the
1000 feet, so that the balloon will have {
lifting capacity of 1880 pounds The
pressure will be l J lbs. to the square inch
The weight may be summed up as fol
lows Balloon 4, 200 pounds, net and ropes
oOo pounds, car 100 pounds, anchor anC
grapneIs 200 pounds, sundries 500 pounds
total 1,l0O pounds. Then 4,5OO pound.
VIII be allowed for passengers and ballast