The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-26
Aerustation.
TO EUROPE IN A BALLOON.

years he has kept the matter before the
public. During this period, he has made
a large number of balloon ascensions, and
gathered, as he believes, indubitable evil
dence of the existence in the aerial regions,
at hight Of from one to two miles above
the earth, of constant easterly wind cur
rent, and has alleged that If proper efforts
were made it would bc practicable, by
maintaining balloon within this current,
to pass easily and speedily over from this
continent to Europe. In 1859 Mr.. Wise
undertook preliminary land voyage, and
succeeded in moving in an easterly dircc-
ton for distance of some twelve hundred
miles-to wit, from St. Louis, Mo-, to
Jefferson county in this State. But the
results of that excursion appear to have
dampened the interest of financial people,
and the daring balloonist has, until quite
recently, been unable to find anybody Who,
for the sake Of science or any other consid-
oration, was willing to risk tho expense of
few thousand dollars for another trial.
We are glad, however, to be able to
chronicle the fact that Messrs. Goodsell,
the enterprising publishers of the Graphic
daily illustrated newspaper in this city,
have pledged themselves to supply all the
funds necessary for new flight to Europe;
and in few weeks from the present time,
as soon as the balloon can be manufactured,
Mr.. Wise will be again in the air
Our readers are no doubt familiar with
the form of contracts for building houses,
ships, railways and various kinds Of ma
chinery; but probably they have never read
the details of contract for the building
of balloon aud voyage Herewith to
Europe. We will therefore give the text
of the bargain between Messrs. Goodsell,
the financial parties to the contract, and
Messrs. Wise and Donaldson, the eronaut-
&c directors of the expedition:
CONTRACT ron THE CONSTRUCTION oF THE
GRAPHIC coNrASY's BALLOON, AND ITS SAvI.
CATION rRoN NEW YORK TO EUROPE.
This memorandum of agreement, made
at the city Of New York, the 9th day of
June, 1873, by and between The Graphic
Company, proprietors and publishers Of the
Daily Graphic party of the first part, and
John Wise, of Philadelphia, party of the
second part, and Washington H. Donald
son, of Reading, Pa, party of the third
part, witnesseth:
That the said The Graphic Company
will build balloon of not less than 1870
feet in height and 100 feet in diameter, and
win fully equip provide the same with
valves, balance line, ropes, car and gallery,
life boat or raft, and all other appliances
necessary to insure strength aud safety in
so far as may be practicable. II agrees
that the construction Of the same shall be
commenced at once aud pushed to compile
ton as rapidly as possible, and before the
10th day Of August next if practicable;
and the said The Graphic Company will
furnish the use Of said balloon to said ohm
Wise and said Washington ii. Donaldson
for the purpose of the making Of an erial
voyage therein by the parties of the second
and third parts from the city New York
to some point on the eastern side of the
Atlantic Ocean upon the conditions follow
ing:
First. That the said John Wise and the
said W. II. Donaldson shall personally
superintend and direct the construction
of the balloon according to the utmost of
their skill and Judgment, and that in all
matters connected with the construction
of such balloon they shall bc subject to
the general direction of The Graphic
Company.
Second. That the said John Wise and
the said w. H. Donaldson shall not make
nor participate in any other balloon enter
prise, exhibition, or ascension while this
agreement Is in existence.
Third. That on the completion Of the
said balloon the said John Wise and the
said w. ii. Donaldson shall, on day and
from starting point to be selected by The
Graphic Company, make public ascension
in such balloon, accompanied by such other
persons as may be designated by The
Graphic Company; aud making such as
cension, that they shall, directly and with
out any delayo or evasion, seek the eleva-
ton Of the eastern air current, there to
remain until land shall have been made
on the eastern side Of the Atlantic Ocean.
Fourth. That the said John Wise and
said w. ii. Donaldson shall then land said
balloon as safely and cxpeditiously as pos
sible, and Immediately thereafter commu
nicate the intelligence of their arrival,
with full particulars of the voyage, BY the
most speedy means available, to the DAILY
Graphic. tSigned)
James H. Goodsell, G. NJ. GoOdsell,
Managers of The Graphic Company.
John Wise, Washington II. Donaldson.
The foregoing preIiminaries having
been duly settled, the work Reconstruction
was begun on the very next day, june
2Sth, and will be pushed forward rapidly
to completion. The editor ofthe Graphic
says -" Although it is impossible to fix
definitely the day Of departure, yet we are
confident that everything will be in readi-
ness before August 20 next We have
lent our aid to the undertaking in the in
terest Of science and business, and the
progress of mankind The balloon will
not be exhibited to the curious to make n
sensation, but, as soon as It is finished,
will take lis flight We have reason to
believe that the public will not be disap-
pointed or dissatisfied either with the
method Of the undertaking or the manner
of its performance
at II needless for us 10 enlarge upon
the benefits which viii result from the
success Of this enterprise They may be
easily imagined, IL they are not obvious at
once. The discomforts, the risks, the cost
and the perils Of the ordinary ocean voyage