The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-09
.N|LL explore BY BALLOON
AN Expedition That Reads Like
Jules Verne Romance.
Details of Mr.. Andree's Project for
Reaching the Bourne of Arctic
Exploration. The Balloon To
Be Controlled by Sail. Du-
ration of Its Flight.

nounceu by caple, 10 tho prOmOtlon or
Mr. Andree's project for reaching the
north pole by balloon, tho expedition
was rendered moral certainty, and
Mr. Andree has already begun his prep
arations
The expedition will start not later
than July, 1896. Every precaution will
be taken for the safety of the aeronauts,
and the Swedish Academy of Science
will not give its consent to the eIpedi
ton until it has carefully examined ev-
cry detail. Mr. Nils Ekhol,n, who is to
accompany Mr.. Andrce, says that, while
he fully understands the great dangers
OF the enterprise, il must be remembered
that the whole business will be mau-
aged by men who are accustomed to tho
difficulties Of such work In contrasting
Nir. Andrees exhibition with that of
Professor Manson, Mr.. Ekholm argues
( that his risks arosnot nearly SO great rs
these Of Professor hansen. Mr.. Andrea,
he says, Will trust to winds which are
great deal quicker and in many ways
safer than those of the cconn. and he
Goes not consider that the members of
the balloon expedition will incur any
unusual risk of life
The balloon is to be of sufficient bear
ing capacity TO convey three adventur-
ers, their scientific instruments and
supplies for four months, slcdge, can
vas boat, arms and ammunition and
ballast, OF total weight of $500
pounds, through the regions of space for
. period of 80 days The material of
the balloon will be SO close that waste
of gas Will be reduced TO minimum,
while its car will be two storied con
Germ, containing bedchamber, store
oupboards and a dark room for photo
graphic purposes.
Mr.. Androo points out that i'll 1878
III. Henri GifTard exhibited a balloon
capable of lifting &c, 400 pounds, and
that Niessrs. Poisenillcs and Graham
constructed an experimental one wards
in diameter, which only lost IS pounds
of its bearing power in a month NJ
Gabriel Yon of Paris, u celebrated max
er, is quito willing to construct Il bal
loon to meet Mr. Andreo's requirements.
The gas employed would be hydrogen,
manufactured i'll tho arctic regions in a
transportablc apparatus or conveyed III
compressed state TO the spot, tho
amount necessary for imitation being
5000 cubic yards. The balloon would
be furnished with cocoanut fiber bas-
kets, to be towcd on water and SO di-
minish speed when required, ~ we'll as
ballast ropes which would regulate tho
height of the balloon above the surface
some 272 yards, therefore beneath the
lowest layers Of cloud.
A feature of tho balloon will be the
attachment OF n sail and cable by which
MIR. Andree is confident ne will be in
some measure enabled TO direct his
course Ho has already tested it with
success, and during the coming year
Will endeavor to perfect or ut least i'm
prove the invention. The cable, or guide
rope, when paid ont touches the surface
OF the earth or sea, rs the case NAV be.
and this friction prevents the balloon
from turning round and also slaokens
ats speed. If the guide rope is hooked
on to the central strop and the sail hoist
ed, the course of the balloon is not af-
fected, and it travels with the wind,
but II the guide rope is hooked on to
one Of tho northern strops the wind
catches it at an angle, and the balloon s
course Is deviated toward the right of
iSAio PotS' Lhe opposite eucCU Is caused
by attaching the sail and rope to one of
the southern strops.
ia The only attempt at surveying and
mapping the unknown wastes during
the aerial journey would be by the aid
of photography, as it is presumed that
the rate of travel would be too great to
allow of other observations being made.
The flight will be made from the Nor
ways, some islands off the northwest
coast Of Spitzbergen, and if all goes
well the pole will be passed in 40 hours
or Whereabouts, IL the moderate pace Of
IL miles an hour is maintained, while
II the current is as strong as that which
blew the two French aeronauts in 1870
from Paris to the Lifjeld mountains, in
1 Norway, five to six hours will suffice
for that part Of the trip. The Journey,
1t is believed by MIR. Andree, will be con-
tinued to the northwestern shores Of
America.
81 A1r. Andree points out that the arctic
regions are admirably suited for aerial
Z navigation, the temperatures being even,
the sun up the whole day, the surface
clear Of vegetation and electric dis.
charges of rare occurrence. He has nj.
ready acquired considerable knowledge
lsof the frigid zone having spent five
summers In arctic America and two in
Z EpitZberpen -New yorl, Hara16