Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-11

might De broken and a suitable one was
never built.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
Many years ago very interesting ex-
pertinent was made at the Novelty iron
works. The machine employed supported
itself in the air, but its action was I'M
steady because the power developed by the
boiler was irregular owing to the employ
mentof coal for fuel. Every time the furnace
door was opened the steam pressure drop
ped. Had the experimenters known how
to use the petroleum fuel a perfectly steady
and much higher pressure might have
been maintained automatically and the
conclusion then reached that with the
means available flight was impracticable"
would have been very different.
OF the source of devices either built or
there are very few besides those
mentioned that manifest On the part of
their designers more than a remote con-
ceptlon of the difficulties to be overcome
or even a REASONABLE sensible attempt at
success. Most eXperimenters favored the
combinations Of screws or wings with
seroplans and they depended on their own
muscular strength for motive power. The
more modem of these should have known
that the feat was utterly impossible. but
with the same invariable enthusiasm and
lack of ordinary knowledge they persisted
anu failed, some of them even loseing
their lives.
Man can never attain flight by his unaid-
ed strength. For anything beyond few
minutes work he can exert but one-ffth of
one horse power. Surprising the expert
menter's weight be 160 pounds. and that
his apparatus weighs so pounds: total 800
pounds. Every 55 pounds in this 22O
pounds requires one horse power to lift it.
Therefore 220 pounds will require four
horse power to lift it, and as a man can
exert but one-ffthy horse power it follows
that he can lift but one-twentieth of his
own weight, and no imaginable device can
help him to DO much better.
Instead of discussing theories Of wing
action and efficiency, only what has been
demonstrated eXperinentally and with pro-
peller wheels need be considered. Flight
by means of wings operated by power is
probably more economical and simple,
but as that has not yet been demonstrated
we shall not adopt it in our proposed full
size machine.
MATHEMATICS OF THE SUBJECT.
The speed of revolution in the small two
wheeled machine mentioned above, 50 per
seconds, l29 per minute, would be quite
lmpracticable in a larger one, to carry
10000 pounds. 1t must be reduced to what
Is attalnable by steam engines connected
directly to the crank shafts, say about four
hundred and fifty revolutions per minute.
10 keep within reasonable limits in this
sketch, only the method of determining
the particulars can be given, and even then
only roughly.
Remembering that lifting power is pro-
portioned to the square of the speed of rev
olution and to the fourth power of the
diameter at the same speed of revolution,
it will be found that the small two wheeled
can lift only .748 pounds at $50
revolutions per minute, and that the two
wheels of a machine to lift 10000 pounds
must each be IL feet inches in diameter
If they be made to revolve at the same
speed.
Only the minimum lifting power of sc
pounds per horse power, the Aeronauti-
cal Society's standard, has been taken sc
far.
In experiments made in September
October and November, 1887, by Messrs
Danistrom and Lehman, engineers, Copen-
hagen. an air propeller applied to a boat
gave 10 pounds thrust per 100 foot pounds
effort, equal to 55pounds thrust or lifting
power per horse power. On this basis two
13 foot 6 inch wheels, revolving $50 times
per minute, will lift 1920 pounds and
require 270 horse power.
Allowing n pounds of oil for fuel per
horse power per hour Git has been done fol
l pound per horse power 347 pounds of oil
will he raouirpd Nor hour
Changing the pitch employed by DR..
Freninges to 80, reducing the surface and
slightly increasing the diameter, and also
allowing fully one-third for slip, the speed
will be from 60 to 78 miles per hour, with
about the same carrying capacity,
MINIMUM.
8.44 hours X60 miles per hr= sos miles
o.44 hours X7S miles per h'r= 65S miles
PROBABLE RANGE.
23.6 hoursX60 miles per hr=1 ,416 miles
1916 hours X78 miles per h'r=1 $40 miles
WHAT MAY BE DONE.
Full details of the design and methods
of operation cannot be given until patents
are secured. The whole machine might
be made very much lighter, as no ingenu-
ity has betn exercised in saving weight,
but it would be more costly. We have
seen that the power and weight of both
motors and propellers have been ascertain
ed by competent persons, and the expendi-
lures of small sum of money to test the
truth of their assertions would put doubts
forever out OF the question. A boiler and
engine need not be built for this purpose
as their weight and power can be deter
mined from drawings with sufficient ac-
,olo
ali the rest depend is the thrust Of the pro-
found for three or four different diameters.
with changes Of speed pitch and surface,
in order to determine ratios of increase,
but chiefly to help the sceptical with relia-
bic knowledge.
Very evidently it is quite time that men
OF brains and enterprise, casting prejudice
aside, take this matter in hand and prove
its practicability or the reverse It's sue
cess would create most powerful instru-
ment for the diffusion of civilization and
the suppression Of savagery. Only one
case, quite to the point, need be instanced
The machine described, to be operated by
two men, could reach any of the great
lakes of Africa from point on the coast
Or some navigable river in seven or eight
hours, taking 5000 pounds weighG of
cargo on the inward trip, and return
again in the same length of time, carry
ing 5000 pounds weights, every allowance
being made for adverse winds. Clearly
here is strong hard cash inducement for
those whose motives are either mixed or
mercenary. JOHN P. HOLLAND.
PRISON FOR A GIRL.
Mamie Starr is Found Guilty of Wholesale
Poisoning.
CHICAGO, Dec. 1.-The jury in the case
of Mamie Starr, the poisoner of the New