The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-24
BALLOON ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

Many novel theories have been adj
vanced in relation to the adoption and
use of electricity for illuminating pur-
| poses, but the most startling in its pos
sibilities is that announced by San
| Francisco inventor named G.. A. Smith.
| His idea is that balloon with electric
| lights attached to it would furnish a
practical solution of the problem how to
| illuminate cities in the most satisfac-
tory and economical manner. The sys-
| tenn as described by the San Francisco
| Call is interesting and if it should prove
to be practicable as we'll as economical it
can readily be seen that it would have
many advantages. Whether this will be
the case or not will be soon deter
mined. for the inventor has begun oper-
| atoms for the construction of balloon
to illustrate and materialize his id cas-
upon the subject.
! The air ship which will be used in the
experiments will present many novel
! features. 1t will not be of the ordinary
silk-bag pattern, but will be made of
aluminium in the shape of cigar.
| pointed at both ends. It will be about
forty feet long and fifteen feet in diam
eter at its largest point, and will con-
tain sufficient gas to sustain it in the
toughest weather. Fans will be con-
structed so as to hold it point up to the
wind and keep it from dipping, and in
calm weather it will be so balanced that
it Will remain perfectly level. A cable
| containing the electric wires will hold it
| at a sufficient elevation, SO that the light
VIII be spread over the area to be illu-
minated to the best advantage. The
balloon will sustain six arc lights, or it
can be made so as to be covered with in
candescent lights, each one of which will
be inelosed with a reflector, so as to
concentrate the rays of light and throw
them downward. An appliance will be
provided for hauling the balloon to the
earth for trimming the light or making
any repairs that might become necessary
or raising or lowering it so that the
light may be advantageously distributed
On the score of economy the inventor
Of the electric light balloon claims that
counting the first cost of the balloons and
their maintenance, the total cost of
lighting city would be reduced consid-
erably, as one balloon will suffice for
from four to six blocks. At the same
time the tangle of deadly and unsightly
wires from the streets would beremoVed
and danger from fires reduced, as the
wires would for the most part be vertical
instead of horizontal. For the purpose
of illuminating harbors of various
points on land where the erection of cleo
trio light poles would be impossible or
impracticable, it CAM be seen that the
electric light balloon would be of no lit
tie service.
But these are not the only points in
which Mr.. Smiths electric light air ship
would be of use. The inventor. in ad-
Il 20 l,nH Irrlt 10 hns,
rangement of mirrors, which will be
placed on the under side of the balloon
50 that person on one street can see
what is TRANSPORTING on the next, even
though blocks of buildings intervene,
and this mirror arrangement, the inven
tor says, will be of great service to the
fire department, as the location of the
flames can be easily ascertained should
they break out from building. 1t
would also be HANDY for domestic use.
Good housewives whose husbands are in
the habit of being out late at night would
only be obliged to locate him or secure
the range, as it were and then turn the
mirrors upon his resort in order to YER
ify his story about the club, profess
sonal engagement or pressure of bust
ness at the office. The mirrors might be
made useful in many other ways, but
these will suggest themselves to the
reader and need not be pointed out at
this time.
Seriously speaking, however. it will
naturally occur to most people that II
Mr.. Smith of San Francisco has discov-
cred means of anchoring balloon in
mid-air so that it will be able to with
stand strong winds, not to mention tenn
pests and hurricanes, he has made
marked progress towards a solution of
the problem of aerial navigation 1t is
true that the balloon could not very well
ascend higher than the cable would al
low it to move, but that would not pre-
vent the machine from being driven
hither and thither within the limits pre-
scribed by the length of the wires. Fans
are to be used to overcome this posi-
bility, but if the position of balloon
can be maintained against strong wind
1t is only a step further to cause one to
move against the current.
However, the iuvento promises to
construct an electric light balloon and
have it in perfect working order for ex-
hibtion at the Worlds Fair, and most of
our readers will undoubtedly be able to
continue the study of the merits
of this invention for themselves.
In the meantime it will be well to re-
member that the electric light is yet in
its infancy and the progress that has
been made in its use is as nothing COM
pared with the vast possibilities of the
future of electricity. Press.