Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-25
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE Arrays NEW BALLOON.
Its Use in Warfare 10 Be Shown at the Great
Fair.

WAsuiNGroN, March 2i.-The army has
secured its flying machine. The military
balloon which is TO form part of the war
department exhibit at Chicago, has been
purchased by Gen. Greedy of the French
balloon maker, Lachambre. The balloon
has a capacity of 900 feet and will cost
aoo0f. 1t is to- be made of goldbeatcrs
skin, and the contract price includes bas
ket, ropes, sandbags, drag and other acees-
series of military balloons.
II is expected that the balloon will be in
Chicago by the middle of April. A detach-
ment of signal corps sergeants will be sent
to the exposition grounds To join the force
already there that practical illustration may
be given of the methods of signaling in the
army, including the operation of this mill
tary balloon.
1t has not yet been decided from what
source the gas for the balloon will be OBJ
tanned. Pure hydrogen gas is the best, and
1t may b.. obtained directly from the Chi
rayo plant. There i also the proposition
that the gas he brought from the East, as
m illustration of transportation in time of
war. The gas can be compressed in steel
tubes, caci. tuur or five feet long, and in
this manner easily carried to the place
NnSft lNP balttO1 Il ~ ht Hilth.
In The English army the gas is manufac-
tufcd AT government plant and compressed
into tubes. and 50 carried to the balloon.
The French have a better system. They
carry the plant with the balloon, AMI man-
ufac.urp the gas rs desired. The plant may
he picked up aud carted off without any
trouble
If there was any such occasion in this
ii. s..
ballonning, The principle of portahl, gas
plant would undoubtedly be the one adopted
for the United States army, hnt the balloon
which has been purchased will be used en-
'irely for experimental purposes against the
time when such feature may be necessary.
Will. the Development of the military
balloon has been confined to the lighting
nations If Europe it is an interesting fact
that the first use of the balloon in time of
sar was during the war of the Rebellion in
this country. The idea was graspcd by the
observant powers in the Old World, and the
results, especially in the French army
have approached very near perfection.
Time was hen the military balloonists
were content with the captive balloon, such
as will be sent to Chicago. This is the reg
ulation gobular balloon attached to the
To huge reel, which allows the wire to un-
wind ~ the balloon ascends, and serves to
pull the balloon back to camp. The wire
has double use, in holding the ballon and
furnishing the occupants of the basket
means of communicating, as by telephone.
With the officers at the reel
An advance on this principle in the dr-
CHILE balloon. first brought out by the French
in lss4. The dirigible balloon is of differ
ent shape than the captive, being elongated
from and equipped with a propeller oper-
ated by an electric moter, which drags the
balloon through the air, rudder enabling
the operator to control its direction. At a
recent test. out of several tests the BALBOA
was steered through the air and was re-
turned 10 the place Of starting on five trips
The fault with the dirigibe balloon at
present seems to be in the weight of the
motor. This it is thonght will be easily
corrected and the military balloon will have
come very near the ideal flying machine.