New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-22
SAILING IN MID-AIR.
RECOMMENDING 100000 FOR THE SHIP.

RECOMMENDING run lHL
DIR. JACKSON DISCUSSES THE SCHEME NOW Be
FORE CONGRESS.
The Congressional Committee Acoustics and
Ventilation has recommended an appropriation OF con-
sideraby over 100000 to enable Mr.. De Bausset to
construct large air ship in accordance with certain
plans OF his The fact that the appropriation Is
recommended by committee on Acoustics ana 'entia-
ton is not likely to inspire confidence In the scheme,
for 1t IS hard to conceive what possible connection
there can be between acoustics and aerial navigation,
or between balloons and ventilation. But Congress
win be called upon in due time to pass upon the
recommendation. The subject Is an Interesting one,
concerning which most people possess opinions but few
have neutrality-suspicious. included. To get In
formation from competent authority reporter OF
The Tribune called on Dr. Walter W. Jackson, the
we'll known inventor and physicist, who has himself
made several balloon ascensions and at one time made
a special study of the subject
DR.. Jackson had Just dined, which may or may not
have had something to do with his consenting to be
interviewed At all events he consented readily and
good naturally.
"As understand the scheme said DIR. Jackson,
when the subject had got fairly preached is pro-
posed to air ship TO transport passengers
and freight and the Government Is called upon to
furnish the money. 1 believe the Government can
well afford 10 encourage inventors in almost any drec-
ton, but such encouragement should be wisely be-
slowed otherwise all the cranks and pseudoscentsts
In the country will be knocking at the door Of our
National Treasury and there Will soon be an end Of
the surplus am not a bear In any sense when con-
sidering anything progressive, but give the widest
range possible achievements. But there are things
so manifcstly incompatible With good dynamics that
no one would De justified in expending time or
money to demonstrate their Insignificant success or
total failure
One would infer that you are not favorably In
pressed with this particular scheme''
al am not favorably impressed with any form Of
aerial navigation as a means OF mercantile trans
portation. Balloons may amuse persons at exhibit
tions or they may be well employed In time OF
for taking observations Of the enemys position
always at a safe distance. But balloons, matter
how or Of what constructed all subject TO very
damaging principle of diturbanceu uniform, tricky,
inconstant and ickle winds. What would vessel do
at sea II the waters in which she foated had habit
of running in various directions at speed OF from
to sixty miles an hour at moments notceP
She wouldn't be able to stick to anything hka
schedule time.'
NOT ABLE TO MAKE SCHEDULE TINE.
at should say not Now let examine this par
ticuar aerostat. II the figures correctly reported
she TO be 600 feet long; 100 feet beam and shaped
like spindle, pointed at both ends Thus there tks
doctor took up pencil and paper and did fgur-
ing) her capacity would be 3,141, 600 feet. Now
the protector, instead of filing her with gas as is
usually done with balloons, intends to preserve inside
partial vacuum, degree being threequarters Of an
atmosphere"
Here the Doctor again did some figuring and thea
read of the result as follows:
AS the atmospheric pressure is fourteen and
seventy-hve onehundredths of pound TO the SQUARE
inch, the partial vacuum will be equal TO eleven
and six one-hundredths, and therefore, the weight
Of contained air is equivalent TO 147 minus 1lods
equal CO. cubic foot of air weighs o165 Of pound
Subtract from this onequarter OF itself and the result
gives the theoretical buoyant power of the balloon
al of fhn IRISH
3,141 900 feet, that multiplied by o574 of pound
equals $780, 1928 pounds, which is the theoretical lift
ing power Of the balloon, -
That is precious big load for balloon to M
"Yes, but observe l said theoretical We hsNo
not yet taken into consideration what the baloI si
itself weighs We have arrived at only one 500
Of the account. 1t would hardly be expected ths. .
ship OF such dimensions would be constructed OF any
thing except steel, since aluminium Is hot yer chep
enough to be afforded The skin OF the aerial vessei e
tany ought 10 be an eighth OF an inch thck 20 nou ns
FORM even when well braced against lloo PouTrh s
exposed surface Of the air ship would be 1854
square feet This multiplied by IL o6 pounds 'nS You
can work It out yourself suppose you take turn a.
figuring"
MERE QUESTION OF ARITHMETIC
"why It is %, 1885, 13 pounds.'
"Yes, that's Just the pressure that IT'S got to ~
sist Now let us what IL would weigh II con-
structed OF one-eighth inch steel plates Its SUFFICE
area is I25.864 square feet This will make It's wesn.
62s 800 pounds and We made its lifting eap''"'
But how is Iso,3os pounds going to lift 02'''-'
pounds 49,. Won
"n can't do It any more than and
can lift yourself by your 81 OI Isosss pounds
voting rise and 62s,320 pounds voting 70 60 con-
by q majority of 447 092 pounds balloon v1n suppose
sructed would stick TO mother earth ~ y, an inch
that he makes his plates only iron or
thick, them not taking into account h hrscne and
steel that would then be necessary ~" rs much
which would In my judgment, weigh g u ~ 032
tho plates there would stlu be balance VI And
pounds TO anchor the airshlp 10 the ar passen
This without pound OF freight "a hai makes
gers After all. there Is no mystery aov ,niw oues-
q balloon foat in the atmosphere. IL j. v'S wcght
ton between the weight OF the Dalloon a." he balloon
OF the atnos phere which 1t displaces II nv A. will
welghs less than the displaced atmOspnsele, wv
float IL IL weighs then IL Wont h0" .-cellolsly
. posslblv The inventor has some mar ,a cav.
light and strong material, OF which he lntehu'
struct his airshipl' -. , a.. nosslblliues
Pint even Supposng that he could MAKE nus az ~ less
weigh less than the placed sphcre OF
than 40 3os pounds and stil have shei aoS 9s bi3
resisting without collapse a pressure OF aye m be
hounds then enormous power WI, ,a r,er vacuum
locates IN the ship maintain the thrtc
socn Almost every practical ply scst nay as,m In
sore difficulty In perpctuatng paannS WIN theif
even very small closed chambers ,shiS of an inch.
walls arc much thicker than an s,laicent air
vi one a nS I'm undsr the universal loo pou sn
ssurc 70 the square inch TO keep very "a. tnes
zinc constantly employed haa ~ in dead calm,
necessary TO propel ana ss'e passenge and hundreds
Iuo!, a s,,r.st IN such ariel monster am hars
., s-v msneh fear that she would iai very IA, n shs
Of sustaining herself in the ar % %. heaiway In
did I'd like to know how she "vu'' '"
"o :. a. siwavs well TO do little ngurihs ewsss
| ,rdertaking 10 appropriate money tor WIN ''A
said Dr. Jackson In conciusou