Arizona republican., 1892-08-13

down and across the North river to the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, and thence up the whole length of Jersey City to Secaucus. Hundreds of thousands of people in these three great cities wit messed this flight, as the hour was be- tween 4 and ?. m., when the cities workers were going home.
 A swift return current high up made it possible for the wind navigator to re- turn in about ten minutes. A speed test was made at the same time of the resources of civilization for rapid tran sit below by boat, car, carriage and ele- vated road. To travel the same distance in this way required nine changes and two hours time.
 Now assume that Carlottas ballast cast out along the route had consisted of infiammable compounds and destruct- i've explosives not dynamite, but some thing deadlier, which cannot be fired from cannon), and one need only trace on the map the course noted to realize that broad swath of carnage and flame would have more than taxed all the re- sources of these three cities--its finest police, it's ambulances and hospitals and it's magnificent fire departments
 So much for the work of an old fash toned gas balloon in the hands of skill ful air navigator As matter of ordi- nary professional business 1 am ready to contract to duplicate this exhibition.
 Recent tests by foreign powers with p,.tfl E,-f,, Inl Nn, gets under favorable conditions (not ob- tainable in actual balloon warfare), in dicate that little is to be feared by the aeronaut. The mark itself is relatively small when distant.
 Let any investigating marksman try his rifle on a toy balloon at moderate rifle range, and then remember how much easier of manipulation is this arm compared with cannon.
 How many of the cannon protecting New York are adapted to elevations al- most overhead? What would be the results of cannon balls or shells return ing on the city after projection upward?
 On the other hand, it is quite easy to slide the most dangerous missiles broad cast or on slant, with guiding planes. in any diretion from the airship.
 The aeronautic services of foreign na- tions possess captive balloons for recon noissance or complete observation of everything in sight, from above, over an immense area; signaling, including the transmission of cipher messages long distances by electrical flash lights, with the Morse code of long and short flashes or any other and search lights indicat- ing the position of an enemy at night without revealing the position of the vessel, fort or point to which the bal loon is anchored.
 The value of these aids to modern warfare can readily be appreciated What is the position of the United States in this matter? England, France, Spain. Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium Russia, Italy, China and less important nations are well supplied with valuable aeronautical apparatus, schools of prac- tice, etc., and many have construction plants and experimental divisions work ing more or less in secret on the con struction of power driven airships.
 As early as lSS4-5 Commandant Key hard, of the aeronautical establishment of the French war department, made five trial trips with La France, on each of which he was able to return to the point of departure, and obtained a max imum speed of fourteen miles an hour with an electrical motor of nine horse power and total weight of ll74 pounds. Calculations show that by simply doub- ling the known dimensions of this craft, it's increased lifting power would per init the carrying of motor of the same proportionate weight-l30 pounds per horse power-which would produce speed of twenty-five miles an hour. Ac- cording to no less an expert and author ity than Mir. Octave Chanute, president of the American Society of Civil Engi- neers, this velocity may be said to be ''in sight"
 Reports of private experiments since conducted indicate that as early as Octo- Der, 1890, Commandant Reynard was in possession of motor of seventy horse power, weighing, with ten hours sup plies, only 946 pounds, or 1315 pounds per horse power, instead of l30 pounds. With this La France could be driven twenty-eight miles an hour, and an air ship of twice it's dimensions might at tain forty-fve miles an hour.
 thus briefly touch the outlines of aerial possibilities and progress. If the American public or government fails to see their significance, other nations arc wiser.--Carl E. Myers.