The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-19

and downward, throughout tho length Of
the cord b, and provision Is made for
holding It firmly at any desired point on
the cord; B carries no ballast, and but
one man 10 operate it.
The combined buoyancy Of A. b, q
is such as 70 sustain the. entire plant at
any determined altitude. for the pur-
pose of this explanation. say three miles;
but the buoyancy OF B and e respectively
should be a trifle short of sustaining
their loads, so that. say normal alti-
Jude Is reached by A, and the cord d il
entirely unwound from the reels in A and
G. b being stopped to the cord close
above c; then the parts y aud G would
hang suspended from A at the extreme
end of the cord which would be extended
downward its entire length.
. -.
These conditions being established,
suppose an ascension from q military
camp for tho purpose OF observing tho
movements Of tho enemy. The cord is
wound en- the reels-equal portions on
each-and the plant ascends with the
three balloons close together At an
altitude Of two miles q desirable current
of air is reached and if the normal buoy
ancy equaled the altitude of two miles
only, the entire plant would simply sail
away in the desired direction; but the
buoyancy has been arranged to attain an
altitude of three miles, consequently a
nnwinds the cord from her reel and scars
lloft TO the extent Of her portion of tho
,ord-one mle-and attains the limit OF
buoyancy-three miles-leaving b and Z
travelling along with the current.
Presently it is discovered that, in spite
IF the removal Of A from the action Of
;he current, the plant is travelling too
last for purposes of careful observation.
TO correct this, B is moved upward in
.he direction of 4 until she is beyond tho
influence Of the current. and now both a
md 3 act rs a drag, while is left to the
full influence of the current.
Should it DO found necessary TO ap.
proach more closely towards tho earth, g
nnwinds the cord from her reel and drops
20 the desired point, while b also drops
and takes the place Of G in the air
current.
Should it be necessary TO halt for pc
Rod over n certain spot, b is either raised
above or dropped below the current.
Should the enemy became troublesome,
and the observers be ia danger from shot
or shell, both B and & can if necessary,
pull themselves upward toward a until =
point of safety is reached
Should a desired air current be at q
greater attitude than two miles. but
within the limit of the three miles ar
ranged for, \ acts as the tug Should
such current be beyond tho three mile
limit, ballast is discharged until a reaches
it. while, should it be reached at an al
titude of less than a mule, sufficient gas
is released from \ to allow q and G to
drop into IT,
When it IS desired TO return, n conycn-
lent current must be sought Tor IN the
same way, and in any event, if no dcsira-
Die current be found within an altitude
of five miles, the plant IS located IN still
air, and waits until the proper current
makes is appearance or. by means O. the
drag rope +. anchorage may DO taken and
the entire arrangement hauled TO earth.
1t will be observed that while thii dc.
vice comprehends al the capabilities Of
the ordinary balloon, its special features
enable it
First-To be placed, as n whole, in
convenient air current.
Second-To he placed so that one por-
ton shall be in a convenient air current,
while another portion is in still air acting
as a drag.
Thhd-To be placed. as a whole in still
air
Fourth-To be placed with the upper
and lower portions in still air, ;wo miles
or so apart, while the central portion may
be moved upward or downward, on the
cord, in search of 4 convenient current and
Fifth-TO reach an extreme altitude,
travel in desired directions, approach
the earth for purposes Of observation,
and finally, TO 30 hauled down 20 clrth--
all with Il minimum loss OF rls or ballast
LUC!Us T. STANLEY