Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-03-28
NAVIGATION IN TIE AIR.
\ FLYING MACHINE IN WHICH HON. r.
T. BARNUM Is INTERESTED.

Mr.. c. +. Ritchel, Of Cory, has
been pcrtecting a tlving machine on a
new plan in the Riverside Hotel,
East Bridgeport; ;the machine stands
in the hall nearly completed. 1t con-
sist- of 4 black silk cylinder twenty
four feet long and twelve feet in di-
amcter, holding 5000 feet of gas, and
a car suspended from the silk cylin-
der hy cords and rods. This car is
of 5en'ler brass RODS, yl@1 es.esAas
tllcSviole length of the cH'tnder,7 Ia
pering To Il point ut each end. In
the centre is a platform upon which
the occupant sits. In front Of the
seat are two cranks attached TO q
wheel, which in turn Is connected
with an upright shaft. ut the lower
end of which is fan similar to the
screw Of the propeller. This fan is
ahont level with the bottom of the
platform, and is made of thin brass
plates. At the front end Of the long
car is another brass faH, which is so
constructed that it can he turned in
any direction hy the feet of the or-
cupant Of the car, while the centre
fan is fit the same tine worked by
his hands.
A man of ordinary strength can re-
volvc the handles Mt the rate of 100 a
minute, which gives the fan $500
revolutions. The silk cylinder, filed
with hydrogen gas. which is the light
est that can he used, is to sustain ali
but II traction Of the weight to he car
ricd, and the central fan is expected
to lift the rest hy u pressure upon the
uir similar to that which a propeller
wheel has upon the water. The air
being much less dense, the fan OF
aerial screw is given IL raridity o!
| motion sufficient to partially over
come this difference. BY reversing
the motion Of the fan the power is 81
exertcd as to raise or lower the ma
chine at will. The fan at the end oi
the framework is also rcvolvcd with
ea; rapidity by foot power, and can
! DeiturnCd straiLA. ahead or on either
side, working on plan similar to
that of the Fowler steering propeller.
By the use of this fan the machine
can he steered like u ship, and the
inventor expects that aerial naviga,
tiou will he accomplished in the man
ner thlt water is traversed by ships
the gas-filled cylinder serving the pur.
pose ofsaile, and the fans guiding the
ms chine through the air.
Mr.. T. L. Barnun. who is interest
ed in the invention. Was present a
Yesterdays test. There was flaw
in the steerag, apparatus, by whicl
the fan was caught and broken; ncv
r ertheless. the machine raised as hiol
as the ceiling. and lowered at the vii
of the operator. We are lnforme,
that the machine was tested day o
, two ago in the presence OF an exper
from New York. and it worked per
: fectlv, smiling about the room and al
the time under the perfect control o
+ the operator. Mr., Ritchel has hee
i, working upon the invention sine
+ 1871. and is confident he has foiin
, the much sought for principle to b
r safely applied in aerial navigation
f He has applied for patent in th
flUnited States, Canada, Great Bri,
, ain, and France. He expects tbs
! a large machine, capable of carryin
!, several men, would work even lnor
, successfully than the small one no
i begging tested, a. more power coul
be emf loycd, and he even has hopt
of still larger one, in which the IN,
tive power will be furnished ,by
e small engine. lie informs US tn
IS the model Of HIS invention hid be-
!, shown to Z e editor of the Scientil
i. American s ssha q saifi ,thasr Ia sa,ias'