The Washington critic., 1888-04-21
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
4 Projected balloon Trip From New
York to the Pacific.
e.. -. ~. -. Ntr..ta


York to the Pacific.
From the New York World.
Professor c. Il, Myers of Mohawk,
the aeronauiic engineer, is now en-
gagged in arranging a novel project,
which, but for the attempted and cele
brated long-distance balloon voyage
Of the New York World last season,
would have been executed then. \
previous attempt was made by the
late John Wise years ago, resultingin
balloon ride of 200 miles in nine
teen hours-the longest and swiftest
balloon ride ever yet known. He
landed at Henderson, Jefferson
County, N. Y. The World voyage
last summer, IL will he remembered,
was not successful, the aeronauts GO
ing but ffty-1ve miles. This was
probably owing to the lack Of expert
ence on the part of the aeronaut and
the inability of the balloon con-
structcd by him to hold gas, as the
wind was right for n long and swift
voyage eastward.
Professor Myers and his wife, the
lady aeronaut "Carlotta," have been
gathering valuable data during the
years they have been engaged in the
business The data have been OBJ
tanned with view to adapting the air
currents to aerial voyaging with some
degree Of system and certainty. The
many remarkable voyages by Car
lotta," when she has landed pretty
much where she pleased III this and
adjoining States, show that there are
usually number of air currents mt
command at various heights, and her
method generally has been to note
their level and direction when ascend
ing through them and then use them
skillfully to change her course at will.
There is remarkable degree Of
variance in these currents, many of
which depend largely upon the IT.
regularity of the country over which
they flow, forming currents, eddies
and calms, upheavals and descents
somewhat as flowing water is affected
by adjacent obstacles-banks, bould-
| ers and shoals.
The idea of Professor Myers is to
| systematize these air currents across
| this country, from the Atlantic to the
| Pacific, somewhat as he has done
|
| twelve States of the Union, and also
in Canada, Professor Myers has made
| numerous ascensions, but this season
he intends to bring together the facts
already obtained by q series of ascents
from selected points, working by
long-distance one-day flights westward
from New York city or Washington.
He intends to land daily or at even
ing at cities or points available for re-
filling his balloon if necessary, or for
substituting other balloons if they be
needed. Other balloons, together
with portable gas apparatus, will be
in charge of relay party travelling
by rail. Thus the expectation is to
make Buffalo or Pittsburg, Cleveland,
Detroit, Columbus or Cincinnati,
Chicago or st. Louis, Topeka, Denver,
Salt Lake City and San Francisco or
some point on the Pacific Coast.
q. If the investigations and plans are
satisfactory and successful, then from
some point on the Pacific Coast, with
a large balloon especially constructed
the attempt will be made to achieve q
real transcontinental journey east
ward from ocean to ocean. If the
success achieved or the information
obtained should justify the attempt
an effort will then be made to try 9
transatlantic balloon voyage. Prof
Myers very justly claims that the con
temptation of such sea voyage II
visionary nonsense without greatel
knowledge than is now possessed, ant
that it can well await transconti
mental success. Professor Myers has
already begun preparations for the
building of the larger transcontinenta
balloon at his residence in Mohawk