St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-08
Prof. Wise's Balloon.

The work of constructing the i'm
mcn>e balloon with which Professor
Wise is to attempt to cross the Atlantic
ocean. is progressing rapidly. The
following interesting particulars con-
ccrning it are given i'll the New York
Daily Graphic:
The main balloon is to he made of
unhleached cotton. of which 4.:}I6 yards
have been purchased. The greatest
strength is required at the crown. and
this part of the air-ship will have three
thickncSScS of cloth. The exterior will
he coated with varnish made of lin
seed oil. hccSwaX. and hcnZimc. The
balloon is to he 10 feet high. and IOU
feet in diameter. Gas capacity. 600 .Om
cubic feet. 1t will. however. start with
only 400. 900 cubic feet. as the gas will
expand and fill the balloon aS the latter
rises in the air. The lifting power of
Illuminating gas is about :}6 pounds to
| 600 feet. 50 that the balloon will have
Il lifting capacity of 900 pounds.
When inflated the extreme hight of the
apparatus. from the crown to the heel
of the boat which will hang below. will
he I6O feet.
There will he l4.0OO yards (eight
miles, of stitching This is now being
done by twelve seamStreSscS ut 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 balloon will he three feet in diane
and made of Spanish cedar, with IL
rubber-coated clappcr closing on a
brass plate. The valve fixtures and
top of the balloon are the essential parts
of the apparatus. and are being con
structed with special care to guard
against any accident of arrangement.
The network will he composed of
three-str tarred rope. known as
marlin The width of the net will
he PIP meShes, and its breaking strength
will he 53.3OO pounds. Five hundred
pounds of marlin will he used. From
the netting j3 ropes, inch in diameter.
of Manila. will connect with the con-
cemtrating rings. These ropes will each
he 90 feet i'll length, or l.170 feet in the
aggregate. The concentrating rings
will he three in number, to guard against
breakage. and will he each fourteen
inches in diameter, each ring being OF
wood, iron bound. These rings will
sustain the ear. life boat, and trailing
rope, and will bear the strain when the
anchor is thrown ont in landing. From
the concentrating rings, twenty-fou
Manila one inch ropes. each - feet
long. or requiring 52S feet in all. will
depend and form the frames for an Oc-
tagonal shaped ear. They will be kept
in place by light hoops made of ash.
The lower ropes will he connected with
network, and over the network at the
bottom of the car Il light pine floor will
be laid loosely, so that it can he thrown
out if required. The ear will he GOV
cred with duck, of which fifty yards
will be needed. Attached to the side
of the car will he a light windlaSs, from
which the boat and trail rope can he
raised and lowered us may he desired.
From pulley attached to the comccn-
trating rings a heavy Manila rope will
fall down through the car, and thence
to sling, attached to which will he
the life boat This boat will he of the
most approved and careful construction
1t will have watertight compartments,
sliding keel, and will he so made that
it will he self-righting. The boat will
be provided with complete outfit of