The record-union., 1891-08-08
NAVIGATING THE AIR.

There is great deal worthy of consid-
Grafton in the suggestions of Professor
Trowbridge concerning the possibility of
aerial locomotion. He SAYS:
There are two methods suggested for the
Application OF electricity TO flying. One is a
modification of the so-called telpherage sys-
tenn which has been trieu in England and
Wales for the purpose of TRANSPORTING small
packages on a kind of aerial railway An
electric motor runs on a species of elevated
railway at great speed, and, since the rail-
way can be practically an airline, deep cut
avoided.
1t is but step from this method of aerial
Iocomotlon TO that of q system which pro-
poses TO employ airShips. Suppose for in
stance, that suitable balloon should be pro-
Ylded with an electric motor properly fitted
with screws, VaDeS and rudder, and that q
powerful electric current should be led to this
motor by means OF trolley wires such as are
now used in certain double trolley electric
railroads.. such an aIrShlp would have cer-
tam advantages over the electric railway on
the ground. 1t would have the advantage of
the steamship-tree to go through n wide
stretch OF air, unhampered by conditions of
staDlIlty OF roadway, or limitations Of curves
ana gradients. II is true that it would have
head winds TO contend with. This obstacle
the steamship has also TO encounter on water.
But it is said that this captive balloon
method would not be flying and there
fore would be humiIating. No one
claims that it would be flying, but it
would, if it is feasible, be rapid move
ment, and perhaps as safe as some other
popularity accepted means of carriage. 1t
is not question of sentiment, but one of
practical usefulness. If an air-ship con-
lined by trolley wire can be made to
pass from one point to another at twice or
thrice the speed now obtained by loco
motives on railway lines, and with not
much greater risk of accident. then an
enormous saving viii have been made in
time and great triumph achieved in the
problem transportation oflight articles.
such as mail matter, small packages, etc.
But If there is to be no travel through
the air until the machine employed is cut
free from all earth restraint, almost in
conceivable time will elapse before such
an end will be attained. 1t is said that
the storage battery can be used to operate
balloon or air-ship machinery. Sol can,
II sufficient buoyancy is secured to float
the great weight of the battery. But that
done, it will remain uneconomic, as we
believe the storage battery viii be these
many years to come. For, SO far as sci
ence has yet marched in the matter of
applying the storage battery, it has de-
Yeloped only the fact that to store electri-
cal energy more power must be exerted
than that stored. There is then the loss
by friction and leakage, and the capital
invested in the battery suffers also by
reason of the inability of the battery to
earn for 1t for the reasons stated.
A lead storage battery at the best
weighs 100 pounds per horsepower. To
run a one-horse-power motor six hours
the battery must be charged for ten or
twelve hours, because its energy declines
before the fourth hour of use is reached.
Here, then, is a waste that in itself is
enough to discourage enterprise, except
where power to store can be utilized that
costs nothing, or practically nothing.
Even then the great weight remains.
The French claim the discovery of a
new battery of but half the weight OF
the lead form. But suppose this to be so,
with motor weighing $50 pounds per
horsepower and battery 80 pounds, for
slx-horse-power the balloon operator
must be forced to carry 1900 pounds
weight Of motive machinery If the air
car is small and to be propelled by one
horsepower, still the weight will be 200
pounds-a very considerable handicap for
any body floating in the air.
1t would seem then that the captive
system is the only probable one. It
is possible solution of problem that
has been puzzling brains for nearly two
centuries. But it is not at all likely that
air-ships will be early, if ever, con-
structed and propelled by any means,
and at the same time be able to carry any
considerable freight or large number OF
passengers. While the possibilities of the
inventive age are such that we ought to
doubt nothing promised, still there are
mechanical and scientific reasons for the
belief that aerial movement, except by
the trolley system, is not to be one of the
achievements of the time. Even if that
system can be introduced it Will ever be
fraught with uncertainty and danger.