The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-08-05


New YORK to London In Fifty Hours
Description OF his Novel Balloon.
Mr.. w. F. Schroeder, an enthusiast
ie young German, has Just Obtained
from the United States letters patent
for his invention of n balloon, by
which, as is claimed by the sanguile
inventor, voyage from New York
to London can be accomplished in
fifty hours. Mr.. Schroeder mas gain
ed the valuable assistance of n capita
list in the person of Mr.. George w.
Gail, of the firm of Gail & AK, who
is furnishing the necessary means for
the construction of the floating air
vessel. 1t is stated that Postmaster
General Jewell has expressed him
self gratified at this new invention,
and that Baron Won SchlOezer; the
German Ambassador, has taken
with him TO Europe drawing, and
plans of the balloon, which are co be
submitted, as is stated to the German
government. The vessel is to be con-
structed in the form OF life-Ooat, go
feet long, 10 feet wide, and u feet
high. The frame is to consist OF
wire and steel, and will be covered
with strong waterproof linen. This
vessel is to be carried by, and 10 be
connected with, a balloon of linen,
which will hold 10000 cubic feet of
gas. In the vessel will be an engine
of 12-horse power, which will set in
motion the wings or sails on each
side of the vessel. The propellers
will be constructed on the same prin-
ciple as windmills. The machine can
be so placed that both propellers can
be made to work in one direction, or
one may pull and the other push.
Upon the ascension OF the balloon the
propeller in front is placed in motion;
after being at the height desired the
screws are set to work and the vessel
follows the direction given it by the
pilot. The vessel is likewise provided
with two blades, which move stimuli
taneOusiy, but turn in opposite direc-
tiohs. A gas machine will be at.
tsched to the balloon to supply the
necessary gas duging the voyage. In
case of a leak in the balloon, other
smaller balloons, filled with gas, will
be always on hand, and when placed
in the larger one will serve to stop the
leakage. The contract for the con-
structiOn OF the balloon has already
been given out, and the work is to be
completed August ). Mr.. Schroeder
expects to be able to make a voyage
in the balloon from Baltimore to New
York in 1-2 hours, whea the wind
is favorable. The voyage by the bal
loon from New York to London is to
be made in 50 hours. Mr.. Schroeder
states that If he Is intrusted with the
carrying of postal matter to Europe
he can complete the route from New
York to Hamburg, Paris, Lisbon, and
Washington in the space of six days.
The whole vessel will weigh $500
pounds, and it is thought that in ad-
dition to the carriage of postal matter,
IA passengers can be transported in
1t. The inventor Is thirty-eight years
of age, having been born in 1897, in
the kingdom of Hanover. During
the Crimean war, when 10 years of
age, he was appointed lieutenant in
the British service, and at
the end of the war went with !
the British army to Africa, and took
part in various engagements with the
natives at the Cape of Good Hope.
In 1858 he emigrated to America, en-
tered the Union army during the late
war, and made a number or trips in
the balloon Saratoga with La Noun
tain After the war he travelled
through South America. For the
last three years he has been working
at the invention for which he now
possesses a patent.