The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-11-21
Air Navigation.

Machines intended for propelline
ones self through the air are older than
balloons. After the Montgolfer broth
ers, of France, made successful ascen-
sion in balloon formed of paper and
inflated with heated air, inventive talent
turned its attention to finding better
materials for the covering and filing.
The first was found in silk, rendered
gas-tight by means of varnish, and the
second in hydrogen gas. AS there were
no very strong motives to tempt per-
sons to make aerial voyages it is aston
fishing how much money has been ex-
pended In the construction of balloons.
and how many fatal accidents. have re
suited from their use. Observations
made In the use of balloons have been
OF considerable advantage to science
but in other matters they have been OF
little benefit to the world. They were
employed in McClellans army for prlr-
poses of observation, and were produc,
tive of some good. During the invest
ment of Paris they were employed tc
good purpose to the besieged inhabi
tants. Gambetta, then one of the chief
OF the Government, made his escape IL
one. During the siege there were sixty
tour ascensions. In several cases the
Prussians fired at the balloons, but with
out effect. Sixty-two of the balloon
made successful voyages. One foatet
to South Africa, where it was discovered
several years afterward and one wa
supposed to be lost at sea.
The loss of Donaldson and Grim
wood, who made an ascension from TIL
lake shore, in this city, three years age
operated to damp the ardor for aerif
navigation in this country. In England
however, there is great interest in til
matter. The War Department support
corps of balloon engineers, and Pre-
vides them, not only with balloons, b1
with apparatus for initiating them an
carriages for drawing them about. tt
Hronautical Society of Great Britai
was formed over twelve years ago, an
numbers among its members persons
distinguished as the Duke of Argyll az
Earl Dufferin. It has cabinet al
library devoted to models of balloon
parachutes, and fying-machines al
boats pertaining to the navigation
the air. At present it is devoting
attention to fying-machines and givi1
encouragement to inventors. The d
sire appears to be to construct a simp
apparatus whereby a man may NAL
flights at pleasure after the manner
"the birds of the air." The members
the society seem to think that balloo
is too cumbrous and unwieldy to us
in making ascensions, while a steam
engine is not desirable thing to hay
on board craft that is to sail in tt
air. They desire to make their plea
ure trips over church spires and tire
tops by means OF an apparatus as simp
and as easily operated as velociped
or canoe. They do not expect to d
away with muscular exertion. Indeet
they do not desire to, as physici
strength and endurance are things th
English gentleman holds in high
! TEEN and wishes to encourage by educ;
ton and practice. The prospects
success for a fying-machine are not ell
couraging, nor does there seem to /
any very great necessity for navigatin
in the air. Still, an air-carriage may b
invented, and useful as we'll as
pleasurable employment be found fori
I-CbicOdO Times