Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-03
FIyIng Machine.

1
on to morrow week will be signalizsd By the
first public exhibition OF flying machine. la
America. during the past ten years, over tw1
hundred flying machioes have been invented.
and Ill have failed. 10 London g i3iat stock
company haa just given up the ghost. altel
having expended some 5000 io experiment.
log With patent flyer which, tho invoator
still insists. lacks but one essential to becoms
the acme Of perfection. Considerable attoniro
has also bsen given to the subject in france.
AID at various periods the Government has
been induced to grant heavy appropriations to
self styled Inventors for the purpose Of con
structlng machines which have Invariably turu
ed out utterly worthless.
a f,w years ago couple OF inventors, tfouvh
and Belgian, succeeded 10 putting together con
trvances by which they cou'd float through the
air for limited period. Their triumph how
ever, was OF limited duration, Both came head
long to the ground in the midst Of what they Dc
licved was to be the climay Of their glorics, and
their untOward fate has had the inevitable ct
feet of inducing the Continental inventors to
refrain from ,isking life 10 the cause OF science
And now en American has produced ma
chino which. if the reports of repeated cxperi
menta aud the opinions Of experts are to be re.
lied upon, Is the par excellence Of flying ma
chimes. f. +. Ritchel is the name OF this
genius. Thirty five years ago he was born iu
Corry, Pa. OF late he has resided ID Bridge
port, Conn. Since early boyhood he has been
ugaged 10 ibventDs and perfcctug various
kiods OF labor saving machinery. Seven years
ago he directed his attention to p:ial naVga
!ior, and it is the result OF these seven years
of toll which will be submitted to the criticism
of PhiIadeIphias citizens on opening day.
Rtohers machine differs in almost every dc
tail from all previous inventions. Roughly de-
scTibed. it consists of black silk cylinder scn1e
twelve feet 10 diameter and twenty'four ia
length. The cylinder will hold nearly 5000
feet Of gas. Suspended from this by means OF
cords and rods is a ear composed OF slender
brass rods which extend the whclc length OF
the cylinder, taperlng to a point at either end.
The platform upon which the operator sits Is
attached to the centre Of tho car. Two crankS
attached 10 wheel front the seat. The Whee!
connects with on upright shaft. and to thus q!
the lower end is attached Ian closely resemb'
liug the screw OF propeller. Tho fan, which
is CONSTRUCTED Of thin brass plates is level with
the bottom of the platform. Another brass Ian
is affixed to the front end OF the car, and this
is so constructed that it can bo turned in any
direction by the occupant simply moving bis
feet, while st the same time he can comfortably
work the centre Ian with his hands.
When the operator prepares tor his trip tht
silk cylinder is filled with hydrogen gas. This
will sus,air, no says, all but fraction OF the
weight to be carried, and tho rest Rtche!
claims, will be lifted by tho central fan, which
presses upon the air with a movement similar
to that OF propeller wheel 10 tho water. A
man of ordinary strength can, he says, revolVe
the handles at the ratio of about 100 a mloue.
which will give the fan about !. 500 revolutions.
Mr. Ritchcl, the inventor, says :-"All
coz rcnd is that it is possible for human beIog
to move 10 the air like q bird, and that my MA
chine will accomplish this. | don't pretend
that it will rival the balloon, going through Tho
storm or aboyo the clouds, but do assert that
it will keep you moving 10 the air until ycu
want to come dowu, aod that is more than has
ever bsen accomplished yet. We have had
several satisfactory experiments before experts,
and I have myself sailed about in the air Tor
| four hours at Time without descending to terra
| lirma."
Rjtchel's machine has already been patented
| 10 America Canada, Eogan and France. Two
| are 10 course of construction for permanent *
hibi,ion at Niagara Falls, where they will be
operatcd from the water g edge to high up 10
the air. Aootncr is shortly 10 be sent to Paris
for exhibition at the Exposition. The fame Of
| his invention baa already reached the Contl
nent, and only few days since MIR. Rltchel
was eurprscd at his Connecticut residence, by
three Italian engineers. who had been delegated
| by the Italian Government to report upon the
merits OF the cont1vaEce, IN view, 1t Is thoueht.
of adapting it for military purposes. s.-ih'n
| Record.
| CATCHING COLI. The season OF the year /.
now at baud when people everywhere will ba
taking cold and in many cases they will suties
much and die. 4 little care would often pre-
vent it. Ia the first place, as one OF the means
TO prevent cold, the daily bath in bath room
with much more friction, is very important,
IJse much friction over the chest and throat,
and snuff into the nostIils little water warmtd
10 a comfortable temperature. Next alter the
bath take daily exercise in the open air, Meth
| er too much ncr too little, exposing tho body
| somewhat 10 the sun and cold for short time
: but never cxhausting it. Ooe chief DANCE
| from cold is the exhausted state Of the bod
which first occurs. so it is not able 10 resist un
favorable Influences. People who are not yer.
| vigorous should avoid over eXertioD, and keel
.. ! their strength up TO the highest point 1t Wi
help those proue to cold to sleep all they can
iAno,her cause of cold is eating too heartily al
| ter days work, when there are not iorce
= enough 10 digest tho food and keep up tho Gil
, culation. Eat moderately at right il you Woul
avoid cod A cold in its early stages may b
broken by hot foot baths, warmth to the body
Q | especially hot brick or hot bath 10 the mid
d die Of the doy, with much friction, and quiet
A comfortable room. 1t is not advisable to tax
- bot bath ct night 10 such cases. When 20
y have cold don't eat too much or work muc
= unless you have great physical strength whe
q hard days work may be good thing
euuazs the circulation and restore ac:lon |
the skin, which always suffers when on' take