Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-16
AN AIR LINE ACROSS.
Professor King Wants TO Go 10
Europe in a Balloon.
HOW IT COULD BE DONE.
Tho Voyage Would BE Hazardous One,
but He Says 1t Can Undoubtedly
BE AIade-How He Would
Surmonnt the Dangers.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 16-Professor Sam
uel A. King, the well known aeronaut, viii
make another attempt to cross the Atlantic
ocean in balloon if he can create faith
enough in some capitalist to put up the nee
essary funds.
Professor King, who has made nearly 800
successful ascenisions, says he has faith
enough himself in the project, and all he
wants is the money, and he viii make stren-
uous efforts to get the latter Professor
King talks about his prospects in this way:
sMy prime reason for wishing to attempt
this trip across the ocean is to demonstrate
the usefulness of the balloon. The balloon
has been misunderstood from the first In
stead of being intended for aerial navigation
it is really an immense meteorological instru-
Aent, by which we shall be enabled to learn
all that can be learned of the atmosphere.
Besides that, it is probably the one
means of reaching the inaccessible
parts of the earth at some future
period after the full development of its
powers We have had any quantity of ex-
perience in ballooning in a small way, and
the main thing which has kept it alive is the
qualification the public has experienced in
witnessing ascensions. Viewing the matter
from my standpoint, something more should
be done, something on grander scale, and
that which lies nearest within reach seems to
be an ocean voyage
81 think the voyage can be successfully ac-
complished. Professor Wise said that he
thought the trip should be made in three or
four days, and gave as his reason the theory
that three miles above the water there were
two constant, rapid currents of air. one
going west and one going east His plan
was to get in the east current, and then
the only difficulty would be to keep
the balloon in the air sufficient length
of time Now, there is nothing to support
this theory, and do not base my offer upon
it. The general direction os the wind on the
ocean is east, and / feel confident that the
balloon would reach its final destination
when once started on its way, and for a GER
tainty it would not again come in view of
the American coast.
"This ocean voyage will require more than
ordinary skill and Judgment and balloon of
large proportions fitted up with unusual appli-
ances. 1t will have to be capable of floating in
the air number of weeks. 1t will start upon
an errand the true nature of which we have
no previous practical knowledge. We would
probably encounter storms the effect of which
we can only imagine We would have a con-
slant waste of water beneath us, into which
we may be driven by unforeseen circum-
out of our course and so be delayed in reaching
our destination. But notwithstanding all
this / think it can be safely accomplished,
and that the accomplishment of this feat will
be fruitful of discoveries of the greatest
va ne to science as relates to meteorology.
TT has been suggested that the North Pole
might be reached by balloon. This may be-
come evident when once the ocean is crossed,
and may possibly follow, but until something
of this nature has happened there is no hope
of any sane person attempting to find the
North Pole by this means.
From $4,000 to $4,000 win be necessary
to defray the expenses of an ocean voyage
If it is asked what we are to learn by the
voyage, il ma, be difficult to answer. 1t
win Probably demonstrate Lne movement OF
storms across the ocean, the gener drift OF
the atmosphere, as we'll as vast amount OF
meteorological phenomena to be gathered In
no other way.
"The United States Signal Service bureau
would take great interest in such voyage,
and would be represented by one or more OBJ
servers. The principal obstacle to be over
come in starting out on such a voyage is the
great expense which must necessarily be in-
CURED in procuring the most perfect outfit
that prudence could suggest. But this might
be overcome when once the possibility aad
benefit accruing is brought before those pos
sessing sufficient means to insure success An
effort win be made to raise the funds neces-
sary, and If it is successful preparations win
be begun at once.
ssNo balloon has hitherto been kept afIoat
| twenty-four consecutive hours, except Gif-
! ford's great captive balloon, which was kept
| in the air while the Paris Exposition lasted
/ This was because the balloon was not allowed
/ to rise to a great altitude, but was kept at
one height all the time. The great waste Of
gas in ordinary ballooning IS caused by the
| expansion which follows rise to great
altitude, thus forcing the gas out Of the open
neck Now propose to adopt the system
used by Clifford, that Of keeping at certain
altitude win stay down in the lower at
mosphere, about 2,0OO feet high. This win
be accomplished By drag rope or a similar
contrivances and propose to lose nothing by
/ wastage
| "Another advantage we have IN the ocean
balloon Is that we can use heavy material for
| the envelope, thus reducing the loss by per-
collation. to minimum. In ordinary bal
| looming il is considered preferable to use
] lighter material and suffer the loss by perc0-
| lation. To make the voyage . balloon with
/ capacity Of about 400, 600 cubic feet win be
| necessary It win he filed with pure hydro
| gen gas, the lightest known.
! *sUnder all circumstances we would be pro-
| wided for Emergencies IL y should happen
| to be swamped we would have appliances
| which would render us capable 81 rising
! again. II We were compelled 10 leave the
! balloon we would always have something
! that would noat SO that in case failure did
come 4 need not necessarily be followed by
Dss of life