Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-08-07
The Transatlantic Balloons Car and
its Contents.

subject
The Transatlantic Balloons Car and
its Contents.
The car of the balloon, The Daily
Graphic, as designed by Profs Wise and
Donaldson, is now being carefully con-
structed under the direct supervision of
the latter, and when completed will be a
marvel of lightness, strength and convent
ence. 1t will necessarily be a combina-
ton of storehouse, dormitory, workshop
and observatory. 1t will be supported at
one point only-its apex-and besides its
own weight and that of the passengers
and ballast will have to bear the strain of
the life boat below.
1t may be described in brief as to con-
sist, in outline, Of twelve stout ropes
Topped, with their twenty-four ends tied
in the supporting ring above. These
loops will be distended into bell-like
shape by three great hoops of stout ash,
the lower Of which, eight feet in diane
ter, will support a flooring strong enough
to hold most Of the ballast. This flooring
will be laid of two layers of narrow ash
boards, the direction of one layer being at
right angles to that of the other. This ar
rangement is designed to aid in resisting
the pressure on the hoops from the ropes,
which will pass around under the bottom
Of the car. Four and half feet above
this floor is another resting on hoop ten
feet in diameter. This will consist of one
layer of light pine boards, to be removed
and thrown out if necessary, but which,
nevertheless, will be the main floor of
the airy tenement. Between these two
floors, and extending about four feet above
the upper one, the siding will consist of
stout rope network, with meshes of about
four inches. Outside Of this, and between
it and the ropes, there will be a casing of
stout canvass or duck, extending, how
ever, only to the upper floor About ten
feet above this floor will be placed the
third uistending hoop, six feet III diane
ter, above which the main ropes Will taper
directly to the ring.
From the apex to the main floor the car
will be covered with duck, the lower part
OF which will be cut and arranged to be
rolled up in separate pieces like curtains.
There will be four windows cut in the
canvas siding, to look from in case it will
be necessary to faster the curtains down
There will also be an opening through
the top, out OF which person may climb
on rope ladder into the ropes above
A man-hole will also be cut in the floor to
allow access to the "Cellar," where the
ballast, etc, is stored. From ring to lower
floor the car will be about sixteen feet
The ring viii! be huge affair, consisting,
OF three different pieces Of metal, and de-
signed to stand all tests, either of tension
Or jar. AS an appropriate adornment,
flags OF various nations will be displayed
from the upper part Of the car
Still more interesting, perhaps, than
description of the car, is list of the
things to be placed in it. The most prom
inent object in the lower apartment repre-
sented in the sketch is a basket capable of
holding number Of men, and designed
to be attached to the ring above, should it
be found necessary to cut the large car
away piecemeal to Tighten the air ship; or
in case it should be thought desirable,
through distrust of the large balloon from
injury, it may be attached to the small
balloon, the tender, and the party thus be
given a new lease of life It will also en-
able them to separate, leaving portion
only to continue the voyage, the main bal
loon being thus relieved of portion of
its fixed weight. In this department also
will be placed the ballast, consisting of
sand in twenty-five pound bags, and in
great part also in casks Of water.
The water ballast will be especially
valuable, because small stream may be
set flowing at night, hanged to compen-
safe the loss of buoyant power of the bal
loon. Here, too, will be placed in abun-
dance various kinds of provisions, con-
sisting largely Of canned food. Axes,
Eatchets, graphing irons, ropes in coils,
and other necessary things will be slowed |
away. Torpedoes, with parachute attach
ments, will also be provided, to be let fall |
in the night. These will be set so as to |
explode when they strike the water. The |
direction Of the flash will indicate the way |
the balloon is drifting. AS to the furni |
ture Of the upper department, the main |
feature is the windlass, which may be put |
will be the management of the small bal |
loon and the raising and lowering of the |
trail rope. 1t should be remembered that |
the balloonists will be prepared with rope |
to send the small balloon up two thousand |
feet above them, for the purpose of testing |
without wasting ballast. The |
will also be used for raising or
lowering the boat A cage of carrier
pigeons, for halfdayly or even hourly |
communication with the shore they are to
leave, will be suspended overhead.
The scientific outfit will be of the com
pletest kind, consisting of all the latest
in meteorological instru-
ments, both for observation and for safety
IN managing the balloon. Among those
for the latter purpose is an electric alarm
apparatus, invented by Prof. Donaldson,
to be attached to both the mercurial and
he aneroid barometer Thus, if the mer-
curry in the former should rise to a GER
ain height, by an increased air-pressure,
showing descent during the night to
dangerous nearness to the surface OF the
earth, alarm bells will ring, and the
aeronauts will be warned to
brow out more ballast Wet and dry
1ulb thermometers, hydrometers hygro-
meters, marine glasses, telescopes, com
passes, instruments for calculating the
position of the balloon astronomically,
tables, and everything that
science can suggest, will be furnished, OF
he most approved styles and manuiac-
ure. The occupants of the car Will De
supplied with air mattresses, camp-stools'
small writing table, limestone Tor
making coffee and boiling eggs, and such Y
necessary toilet furniture as they may de-
lre.-N. Y. Daily Graphic.
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