New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-03
THE NEXT BALLOON.

1t is now about hundred years since the
MOntgOlfer brothers kindled fire beneath
linen bag and then cut it loose for an upward
flight Science at once predicted grand results
from explorations in the upper air. and the men
who delight to style themselves practical were
no less sanguine in prophesying speedy revolu-
tons in modes of travel, and even in offensive
war. There never has been day since the
first acronaut set sail when an inflated balloon
vas compelled to wait for passengers. Voyag-
ing among the clouds has rare fascination,
and the spirit of adventure, or the thirst for
scientific truth, to say nothing of lower motives,
has prompted countless experiments during
the century. It must be confessed that the re-
suits achieved have been somewhat meagre when
compared with the outlay of labor and study,
and the perils dared by aerial naviga tors. The
additions to the sum total of human knowledge
from this source have been comparatively
slight, and even the gains to the science of
meteorology which could not have been ac-
quired by other and less costly methods, are alto
gether trivial for the oxteome Of century of
labor
1t does not follow, however, that there are no
secrets in the air worth searching for by enter
prising aeronauts; and everybody family hopes
that the proposed ascent by Professor" King
next week will prove something more than an
advertisement of the Minnesota State Fair. At
all events, the expedition purports to be under
taken for definite purpose. SO cautious a
scientist as Professor Henry has stated his be-
lief in an easterly air current, and perhaps the
big balloon in Brooklyn, which was to shoot up
into this stratum and float with it across the
Atlantic, has not yet been forgotten by some
persons who crossed the East River and paid an
admission fee to get look at it. For some
reason the Professor did not 90 to Europe by
wind. AS TO the current itself there are more
than two opinions, and at all events voyage
over land from Minneapolis is pleasanter as an
experiment than voyage over the ocean. 1t
is proposed in the coming trip to tie up to
tree now and then and take a rest--a perform
ance which would be troublesome in mid
ocean. The main thing to be demonstrated,
however, is the possibility of constructing a
balloon which will remain buoyant long enough
to sail across the Atlantic, provided the wind
will kindly consent to blow in the right direc-
ton. Instead of coal gas the new balloon will
be inflated with 10000 cubic feet of hydro
gen, which is much more buoyant, aud the en-
velope is to be kind of rubber cloth. The
gum varnishes hitherto used have been liable to
crack, but the new material will be practically
the neck of the balloon, which is left open to
provide for expansion Every part of the mon
ster is made of the best material and on the
most approved pattern, and Mr.. King is san
glIine that it will ultimately carry him to some
point on the Atlantic coast between Labrador
and Florida.
it is known that storm centres usually move
from west to east, and this is held to prove a
general atmospheric movement in tho same
direction; but it must be remembered that
balloons have perverse way of getting into
cross currents If this one should chance to
become tangled in some of the whirling
cyclones which vex the air above Lake Michi-
gan, 1t is to be feared that the ocean voyage
will be again postponed. There is something
fatal in this region where Donaldson and Grim
wood were lost, and the bravest voyagers shun
it if they can. The world at largo has little
interest i'll the wanderings of the dozen passen-
gers who go up in the Great Northwest next
Wednesday beyond the hope that they may
escape these and other perils and land some
where in safety. Wherever they may chance to
drift there is little hope that they will discover
anything which is not already known.