The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-26

thousand yards. They are siXty-ive feet in
diameter, two hundred and five in circum-
ference, and when inflated will stand eigh-
ty-fvc feet from the ground. The linen is
doubled in each, and these are the first
large balloons ever made in the country in
which linen was used instead of cotton.
1t seems very easy to make a balloon.
There is only one pattern, and that a plain
strip Of brown paper. one hundred and two
feet long, two feet wide in the center, and
tapering down to a point at each end.
FOrty-siX OF these strips are cut. and then
one is stitched to the other as fast as half a
dozen seamstresscs can make the sewing
machines do the work. 1t is not an easy
task, for the seams must he carefully watch
ed in order that every wrinkle le smoothed
cut. and the whole he smooth and even.
At last the sewing is done. and one-half of
the balloon Is ready for the painters. The
balloon is made in halves. to avoid rippinp
and tearing in handling, and the two alves
will aot he joined until the last touch has
been added and the balloon is ready for
use. The haif is Il en- stretched out fiat.
with a cloth under it 10 protect it from the
floor. and the painters begin the ornamen-
tatIon. They have IA score Of lr)wnpaper
patterns, with which they mark out the
figure that is 10 lie used. and the work is
quickly done until ii comes to the filing in.
which must he dcne with all a fresco pain
ter's skill. The top of the balloon is to be
silvered over so as to present a most laz-
cling appearance in the sunlight. Around
the center is a hand OF black and yellow.
twelve feet in width, on which appears the
design. The name ''Pioncer' is painted in
letters eight feet high. and on the other
side is a medallion of Columbus discovering
at the end of Il long voyage in 1852. On
-
resented with his ~nostrils blowing wind at
allegorical figures of America on one side
and Europe on the other. II figures are
painted in blue and black. The rest Of the
enumeration is done in panels, converg-
ING to the neck of the balloon, ard the
whole SUI face is covered over thicklv, with
this paint, which will make the whole
weigh fully one thousand pounds. Nor is
tins all. The paint is mixed with gum
aaahic. bat it has to be covered over after
ward with balloon varnish, which is simply
oil boiled down until it is as thick as var
niSh; and when this is done the covering
of the balloon alone will weigh a ton.
The vanishing done. the netting is then
to he put Oh. No balloon ever made III the
C un " has had hut a single netting, for no
| Il loon was ever known to escape from a
lie ting when inflated but these will have
two. for Professor King proposes to guard
against what may seem impossible acci
dents. The inner netting will be made of
cotton webbing, an inch and a quarter in
width, this netting to be firmly attached 30
the basket, and the ropes to he left slack.
The basket will bc hung to the Irvine net
ting. which will 90 over this. The basket
i now making in Brooklyn; it will be OF
rattan. oval in shape, and large enough to
carry fifteen people. Its weight Will he
two hundred and fifty pounds. The weight
of the balloon will be about 1000 pounds.