The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-17

number of persons from place to place
with as much comfort and at greater
speed than the trains that roll along upon
the earth's surface.
Like most inventors Mr.. Speer is reluc-
tant to 60 into details as to the method of
the working of the machinery which pro-
pels the ship, but he has given sufficient
Information to THE CALL to enable its
readers TO form a fair idea Of what he ex-
pects his novel vessel TO do. In selecting
material with which TO construct the air.
ship the Oregon builder has taken a step
In advance of those who have tried TO con-
struct craft which would travel above the
earth. He at once discarded all IDEAS of
gutta percha or silk, out of which balloons
are made. because of the danger to these
coverings by flame and by being pune
tured. so he looked around for metal
that would answer his purposes, and
finally decided upon aluminium.
Out OF this light substance he con-
structed igar-shaped spheroid Is feet
long and is feet in diameter. Although
aluminium Is very strong yet he belisved it
should be further re-enforced, and as
metal ribs would add too much weight he
decided to cover the surface with bamboo
rods. This network proved just what was
needed. 1t added great strength without
Increasing the weight to any great extent.
The motors are of a design upon which
Mr.. Speer has bestowed great care. Ore
is placed at each end Of the arship, and
they resemble as much as anything the
fans which are placed in the walls of
buildings, and, operated by electricity,
force air currents through the edifice.
These propellers work upon movable
shaf,s-that is, they can be turned So as TO
force the vessel up, down, Ia the right or
10 the left, ahead or astern. The motive
power is electricity, carried in storage bat
teIies.
Attached to the bottom of this craft is
light car made of bamboo. In one COM
partment is the battery and the machinery
which directs the moving of the propel-
lers, in the other room for passen gers.
Mr.. Speer finds that with his aluminium
vessel of the size described he can
carry burden of 1000 pounds in addi-
ion to the weight of the necessary
which passengers are to travel he
proposes TO store a number of weights
equal to 1000 pounds in all. When pas
sengers enter The car certain weights Will
be placed on terra frma and the ship will
then be in equipoise. 1t viii be necessary
to throw out ballast to ascend above OBJ
staces, such as trees and hills, for de-
Election of the shaft of one of the propelers
will cause the ship TO rise. And so in
descending it will not be necessary 10 al
low gas to escape. the upward bend of the
propeller shaft doing the work.
Stations will be arranged at different
points at which the airship Will stop and
at these places weights will be kept. As
passengers leave the car these will be
placed on board, so that at all times per-
feet eQuipOise will he maintained.
HE inventor claims that the ALUMINIUM
vessel is perfectly alright and that it is
i'm possible for any gas to escape.
He is so confident Of the success of his
invention that he courts investigation by
those who are interested in the. Quest ion
of aerial navigation and says That any
queries sent to him at his home. in W ODD
vile. will be promptly answered.