The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-28
BALLOONS IN BATTLE SERVICE,
Prof. loves Experiences at the
Battle OF Fair Oaks.
Some Historical and Scientific Facts
of Crest Interest.
An Aerial Inoldsnt of the Great Con fiict
in Whioh Professor Lowe
Played the Leading
Part.

W nj DhitUoU CofNlCo nj tuo D1tbiO VI = eaa
Oaks. The effort was one OF particular
interest, and is herewith given in full;
Before giving my necessarily brief and
imperfect sketch OF the battle of Fair
Oaks, permit me to give you short out
line OF the facts that led to the organic
ing of the United States army balloon
corps, and which prepared me to under
take that service.
From living in high attitudes, l had
observed that there are often very differ
emit air currents in the valleys from those
which exist in the upper atmosphere.
From the recognition OF this simple fact
il occurred to me that if q system OF
observations could be inaugurated by
means of which the varying atmospheric
conditions existing in different parts of
the country could all be telegraphed to
q competent person in Washington and
then carefully collated, weather fore
casts could then be made from them and
telegraphically distributed throughout
the country, to the great advantage OF
our agricultural and other interests. To
the agriculturist these forecasts would
give notice of weather changes, which,
If he knew were to occur, would be OF
great benefit to him. To the marine
interests these forecasts would be more
important still, for. giving notice OF
threatened stormss vessels would thus
be prevented from leaving the shore at
times which might prove disastrous.
MY idea wss the organizing OF a
weather bureau exactly after the plan
now followed by the government, and l
might here remark that it was owing to
my Investigations and the laying of my
plans before Gen. Albert Myer, chief
signal officer of the army, at various
times during my war service, as we'll as
after the war closed, that at least, in q
great measure, fastened the establish
ment of the bureau. And believe my
self to be the first to suggest such
bureau for the making of weather fore
casts.
For some time continued my expert
ments studying the currents on the sur
face OF the earth, but soon being de-
sirous Of investigating the upper air
currents, which could see by watching
the various strata OF clouds were often
diverse from the earth currents, the
balloon occurred to my mind as the only
possible vehicle for making the nstces-
ssry Investigations.
Accordingly, in the year 1858 / con-
Btructed balloon and made q number
of aacensions, and the result of these
was that / discovered the existence of
an upper air current which invariably
moved eastward, with slight variations,
no matter how diverse the surface cur
rents might be. then opened up COM
munication with Prof. joseph Henry of
the Smithsonian institution, hoping
through him to be able to interest the
government to aid in the carrying out of
nv plan. As soon as the results of
my experiments were made known to
him, he became very much in
terested. A number of merchants also
OF the eastern cities were equally inter
ested in the work of the balloon, for, as
in those days there was no electric tele-
graph communication under the ocean
between this country and Europe as
there is now, the merchants were ex-
ceedingly anxious to find method of
transportation which would convey i'm
portant mercantile news ahead of the
steamers.
Personally, was not interested in
the object of the merchants except in
Ga far as it might produce means to
enable me to pursue my further inveH-
LEGATIONS. At the same time, was
DESTROYS OF testing the air currents over
ditions existed there as over the land.
Professor Henry, however, with that
large kindly heartedness that character
lied the man, did not wish to encourage
a project which appeared to him and
others to be perilous to the lives of
those engaged in it. So he advised that
/ 60 west with my balloon, make an
ascent when the earth currents were
blowing strongly to the west, and then,
if when reaching the upper currents l
sailed across the continent east, the ex-
istence of this eastward current which
/ claimed did exist would be sufficiently
demonstrated to justify his urging the
government to aid me in my Atlantic
experiments. | had already conHtructed
for this Atlantic trip the largest aero
stadt ever made, and which never since
hae been approached in size or equip
lnent, and with which l had safely
lifted from the earth, including it's own
weight. 16 tons, 80 that was thoroughly
convinced that l could safely convey
across the Atlantic all the materials /
required for comfort and safety. Not
only was this balloon to carry ample in
struments, provisions for the crew, and
all the Implements, ETC., required for
observations and the manipulation of
the balloon, but also full rugged life
boat schooner, built of light steel plates,
with air tight compartments.
Acceding to Professor Henry's re-
quest, however, left this large balloon,
and taking my smaller experimental
balloon went to Cincinnati, and for
about month waited for the conditions
to be exactly as l desired before making
the ascent. The newspapers took a
great deal Of interest in the project,
some of them speaking in the most ia
vorable terms of the work, and Others
laughingly referring to it. At last the
conditions were highly favorable for
the experiment, the surface currents
moving rapidly westward, and accord
ingly. after learning by telegraph that
the same conditions existed az lar east
ss Washington, made the ascent at 8
o'clock of the morning of April 20.
1861. Some of the newspapers amuse.
ingly stated after had assembled that
the balloon which had gone up for the
purpose of demonstrating the existence
Of an upper air current which invari-
ably flowed eastward, when last seen
was rapidly sailing west. But when,
later in the morning, ut daylight, tel
egraphic dispatch was sent all over the
country from Falmouth, KY, saying
that large balloon had been seen high
up in the air rapidly moving eastward,
all who saw the dispatch and knew OF