The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-08-12
NAVIGATING THE AIR.
The Schroeder Combination OF Asr-ship
and BnlIoon-tyhat the Inventor Ex-
pects to Accomplish.

The Schroeder Com binafion OF Asr-ship
and BatIoon-tyhat the Inventor Ex.
poets to Accomplish.
IFrom the New York Tribune. July al
w. F. Schroeder, whose novel inven-
ton in the shape of an air ship asserted TO
be entirely under the control of It's engin-
Ger, has been mentioned in the Tribune re-
Gently, was in this city yesterday exhibit
ing his model and drawings. and consult
ing with engineers. The machine is in
the form of a Ife-boat, supported by bal
loon, and propelled and steered in the de-
sired direction by apparatus like that in
use in marine vessels. The boat is IS feet
in length by about 10 feet in breadth OF
beam. Its ribs are of three-quarter inch
wire, and each is capable of bearing a
strain of $500 pounds. Over the wire
attached to the ribs is stretch
ed canvas boiled in oil, so as TO be imper-
vious TO both water and air. In each end
ofthe boat is a steel-rod or mast, % feet
high, which is securely braced by stays
from every part of the vessel. Each mast
terminates above in a strong cap of wire
framework, which encireles at either end
the point of the egg-shaped balloon,
which is thus always carried along with
the vessel. never dragging behind or
swaying from It's position, no matter how
high the rate of speed may be. Around
the middle of the balloon passes a strong
girdle, attached to the balloon at points
only two feet apart. From this descend
the numerous carrying ropes which sup
port the car. The strength of the balloon
is insured by an aggregate of 81 miles OF
netting, capable of bearing strain of 25.-
600 pounds. With this arrangement, if
the balloon should burst-which, it is
claimed, is beyond the limit of probability
tho firm girdle, secured at the ends to
the mastheads, would only allow the bot
tom of the balloon to float up, forming an
immense parachute, the buoyancy OF
which would cause slow descent in a
spiral direction.
The great obstacle to success in aerial
locomotion heretofore has been the rotate
ry tendency of the balloon, which, so long
as only one motor was employed, was an
insuperable difficulty. The aeronaut could
not steer against this rotation. But it oc-
Cured to Mr.. Shredder that if propulsion
could be effected both before and behind,
by one power pushing and another. pull.
ing, 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 propeller of
two blades-so that by placing them bori-
ZOntally he can settle his boat fiat upon the
ground-each blade constructed of wire
and canvas. and 10 feet long by AZ feet
broad. These propellers, when working
together, act the one to pull and the other
to push the ship forward. They Will be
able to make over 1000 revolutions per
minute. At each end of the ship is large
rudder, and these when worked together
stand at angles opposite to 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 pro-
pellers can both work in one direction, or
in opposite directions, and, as they are re-
versible, Roadway can be made equally
well in either direction. But this IL not all.
On each side of the boat is fastened by
hinges a wing 80 feet long by Is feet wide
in front and 10 feet wide behind, which is
concave on the inner surface. 1t Is set at
an angle declining slightly toward the
front, and flaps up and down at the rate.
under full speed, of 160 or 40 strokes a
minute 1t works on the principle of the
birds wing, catching the air in the hollow
beneath in the downward stroke; the up
ward pressure tendsto lift the machine,
but as the wing is slightly inclined for
ward, the resultant of this pressure upon
the angle of inclination is tendency to
push forward, which is no little help to
the propellers. This apparatus, by being
carefully regulated so as TO create bal
ance between the force of the wind and its
resistance, will also enable the air-ship to
stand still, which would make it very valu-
able as a means of military observation.
The machinery will be operated by a
very light, strong hydraulic engine OF
oh ..t,rbf hnrcn no hnllf
cially for the purpose. The balloon will
hold about $4,000 cubic feet of gas, and
still allow all needed room for eXpan-
sion; but to provide against possible
lack of gas gas-generatOr of large capa-
city will be kept on board to keep up a
constant supply. In case of a 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 bv the harOmeter-will
il 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 20 miles an hour can be OBJ
tanned. while a far greater velocity can be
reached with favorable wind. The
whole air-vessel will weigh $500 pounds,
and freight to the amount of II, 900 pounds
can be carried under ordinary conditions.
Immediately after MIR. SchrOeder's re-
turn to Baltimore, the contract will be LET
by him and George w. Gail of the firm OF
Gail & AK of Baltimore, his partner, and
it is expected that the vessel will be ready
by Aug. 10, at cost of $4,000 to $4,000.
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 he is now conf
dent, he will make proposals to the Gov
eminent to carry mails to Europe.