Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-08-13
NUMBER 40.
The New FIying-Machine.

4
w. F. Shredder, whose novel invention
| in the shape of an air-ship, asserted to be
entirely under the control of its engineer,
has been mentioned in the Tribune recent
ly, was in this city yesterday exhibiting
his model and drawings and consulting
with engineers. The machine is in the
form of life-boat, supported by balloon,
and propelled and steered in the desired
direction by apparatus like that used in
marine vessels. The boat is sixty-five feet
in length by about ten feet in breadth of
BEAM Its ribs are of three-quarter- inch
wire, and each is capable of bearing
strain of $500 pounds. Over the wire
framework attached othe ribs is stretched
canvas boiled in oil, so as to be impervious
to both water and air. In each end of the
boat is steel rod or mast, twenty-eight
feet high, which is securely braced by
stays from every part of the vessel. Each
mast terminates above in strong cssp of
wire framework, which encircles at either
end the points of the egg-shaped balloon,
which is thus always carried along with
the vessel, neverd dragging behind or sway
ing from its position, no matter how high
the rate of speed may be. Around the
middle of the balloon passes strong Cir
die attached to the balloon at points only
two feet apart From this descend the nu-
merous carrying ropes which support the
car. The strength of the balloon is in
sured by an aggregate of eight and three
fourths miles of netting, capable of bear
ing a strain of 25, 900 pounds. With this
arrangement, if the balloon should burst
which, it is claimed, is beyond the limitof
probability-the firm girdle, secured at the
ends to the mastheads, would only allow
the bottom of the balloon to float up form
ing an immense parachute, the buoyancy
of which would cause a slow descent In
spiral direction.
The great obstacle to success in aerial
locomOtion heretofore has been the rotary
tendency of the balloon, which, so long as
only one motor was employed, was an in
superable difficulty. The aeronaut could
not steer against this rotation. But it oc-
CURED to Mr.. Schroeder that if propulsion
could be effected both before and behind
by one power pushing and another pulling
the rotation would be got rid of, and then
guidance would be comparatively easy
matter. To accomplish this he has put at
each end of the boat a propeller OF two
blades-so that by placing them horizon
tally he can settle his boat flat upon the
ground-each blade constructed of wire
and canvas, and fifteen feet long by four
and q halt feet broad. These rrOpellers,
when working together, act the one to pull
and the other to push the ship forward.
They will be able to make over 200 rev.
olutions per minute. At each end of the
ship is large rudder, and these when
worked together stand at angles opposite
each other, so that they act at both ends,
turning the stern one way and the bow the
other. AS this machinery is disconnected
the propellers can both work in one dl-
rectiOn or in opposite directions, and as
they are reversible Roadway can be made
equally we'll in either direction. But this
is not all. On each side of the boat is
fastened by hinges wing thirty-five feet
long by fifteen feet wide in front and ten
feet wide behind, which is concave on the
inner surface 1t is set at an angle declin-
ing slightly toward the front and flaps up
and down at the rate-under full speed
of 100 or 40 strokes minute. 1t works
on the principle of the birds wing, catch
ing the air in the hollow beneath in the
downward stroke; the upward pressure
tends to lift the machine, but as the wing
is slightly inclined forward the resultant
of this pressure upon the angle OF inclina-
ton is a tendency to push forward, which
is no little help to the propellers. This
apparatus, by being carefully regulated SO
as to create balance between the force OF
the wind and its resistance, will also en-
able the air-ship to stand still, which
would make it very valuable as means
of military observation.
The machinery will be operated by a
very light, strong hydraulic engine OF
about eighthorse power, to be built
especially for the purpose. The balloon
will hold about 80, 600 cubic feet of gas,
and still allow all needed room for expan-
sion; but, to provide against a possible
lack of gas, a gas-generator of large Ca
pacity will be kept on board to keep up a
constant supply. In case OF leak little
balloons, smeared with bird lime, will be
sent up inside the great globe, which, be-
ing sucked into the leak and sticking
there, will stop it completely. Only such
height-to be measured by the barome-
ter-Will it be attempted to reach as will
carry the aeronauts above hurricanes and
thunder-storms. In still air it is claimed
that a speed of fully seventy miles an
hour can be obtained, while far greater
velocity can be reached with favorable
wind. The whole air-vessel will weigh
$500 pounds, and freight to the amount
of $4,000 pounds can be carried under or
binary conditions.
Immediately after Mr.. Schroeder's re-
turn to Baltimore, the contract will be let
by him and Geo. w. Gail, of the firm OF
Gail g. AK, of Baltimore, his partner, and
it is expected that the vessel will be ready
by Aug. Is, at cost of $4,000 to SO 900.
The inventor will go first to Washington,
and thence in turn to New York, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, when, if he has had
the success of which heis now confident, he
will make proposals to the Government to
carry mails to Europe.-N. Y. Tribune.