The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
EXPLORING BY BALLOON.
ANDREE's PROPOSED TRIP TO THE
pOLE IN FORTF-THREE HOURS

-
'rhc s~iues Journeys snd the Highest A..
tensions Ever Made with Air Sh,p.-
some Practical Uses OF the BnlIoon-A
Trolley Air Line and Its Operation.
Until a few years ago every balloonist was
regarded as a visionary crank. and oven now
tur mere mention OF n balloon expedition 10
the North Pole Ia r eceived with incredulity
pnd regarded either MS n joke or tie utter
anco OF q scientific dreamer. but 10 ono
who has made a thorough Investigation Of
all the facts such an expedition appears not
only possible, but far moro practical than onc
undertaken in any other way.
While II must be admitted that aerial SCI
cncc las made very slow progress since 1888,
when Montgolier and others made the first
ascensions. yet progress has been made, espc-
c'ally within the last few years, and other
inventions have contributed to this end. 30
that while the balloon is still very far from
being n perfect success. It Is no longcr. the
helpless thing that It was thirty years ago,
n SILK bag with n basket attached. floating
simlessly at the mercy OF the winds, like a
ship without a ruddor, sail, or engine. 1t has
now begun to assume tho dignity of an air
ship both In form and !n its means of pro-
pulsion and control.
The air ship recently invented by Count
Van IeDplin. n German military officer. rep
resents, perhaps better than any other, the
latest results in the evolution of the balloon.
This Invention. TO which he has devoted the
last six years, is a balloon with a cigar
haDed gas reservoir, which can be propelled
and steered In any direction, horizontally
or vertically. forward or backward. in which
It is claimed that the problem of aerial
navigation, in all its details. has been salts
factorily solved. and all obstacles overcome.
His apparatus has been approved by the
leading scientists. among whom was the latc
DR.. Helmholtz. ar 4 also by the German EN-
peror. 1t is propelled by n DAIMLER kerosene
motor. made entirely Of aluminium, and is
provided both with wings and propelling
screws; and special provision has been made
to prevent the waste of gas, SO that n con
tinued voyage of seven or more days can be
made without descent or renewal of initiation.
The balloon in which the Swedish aeronaut
S. A. Andrea will attempt to penetrate the
Arctic regions in July of this year Is con-
structed with q reservoir having a double
covering. said to be impervious to hydrogen.
or at least sufficiently so as to keep the bal
loon afoat for thirty days, and having n ca
pacity of $500 cubic feet, and a lifting
power. when inflated with hydrogen, of about
4.095 pounds. the balloon will carry three
persons and provisions for four months. be-
sides scientific Instruments and Berton's col
lapsablo boats. and the car is capable of in
slant detachment from the reservoir. No
propelling apparatus is to be used. the wind
alone to be the means of propulsion. 1t will
be provided with q sail and also drag or guide
ropes, which will trail along the surface be
low and retard the balloon, making its rate
OF speed about 25 per cent. less than that of
the wind. and hence capable of being stored.
This apparatus has often been used by Herr
Andree. enabling him to sail at an angle of
a1O to 400 from the direction Of the wind. The
-.i,-. .ltit,, a. IA IN ha q aADlZ faat 4r N lftla
less than two miles. and il is expected that
this altitude will keep the balloon above the CUR
face fogs, and below the lowest clouds. This will
be accomplished by the guide ropes, the weight
of which on the balloon constantly increases
during ascent. as rope is taken up from
the surface. till a point is reached where IL
will counterbalance the lifting power of the
gas. The contrary effect is produced by de-
scent, in proportion to the weight of rope sup
ported on the surface, so that any tendency
to vary from 1.-The sailing altitude fixed by this
counterbalance will be checked In this way.
The ropes are so constructed as tn be support
ed on the surface of the water as well as on
that of the land.
The balloon ia to DO taken to SpitzberEen
In June and inflated in a temporary structure
erected there. hydrogen condensed in tanks
being transported there for this purpose. 1t
is to sail from Tape Thorsden on q clear day
in July. when the wind is from the south. and
with an average speed OF sixteen miles an hour.
which It lie expected can be maintained, will
reach the Pole in forty-three hours. The voyage
to be continued thence to Behring Strait. the
Pole lying nearly in a direct line between that
point and Cape Thcrsden.
The average velocity OF the wind at Cape
Thorsden is about 211d miles an hour; and, al
lowing for 90 per cent. retardation by the
guide ropes, this gives a sailing speed of about
sixteen miles an hour. as above. The average
temperature at this point in July Is 5o' Fair
enheit. the lowest heinR Az and the highest
53', and there are no storms, and but little
snow ut that time of the year. the temperature
being so nearly even. From this it may be in
ferred that a similar eyenness of temperature
and freedom from storms will be found far
Their north. near the Pole; this date being
near the middle of the Arctic summer, when
the sun is continually above the horizon.
Hence, tho ugh q lower temperature will. Of
course, be found at the Pole, excessive cold Is
hardly TO be expected. and the conditions for q
successful voyage are almost as favorable as
could be desired.
The longest and quickest balloon voyage ever
made was that of Wise and La Mountain. In
1850. in a spherical balloon propelled by the
wind. They sailed from st. Louis. Mo-, on
the evening Of July /. and landed the follow
ing afternoon at Henderson,. jefferson county,
n. ". having travelled 1,l5o miles in 10 hours
and so minutes, u speed OF more than 81 miles
an hour; passing Ovor the States OF Illinois
and Indiana in the night. over Ohio and across
Lake Erie into New York State the follow-
ing day. thence o. across LA lake ,o Ontario sn.G; into into
landed at Henderson.
Tho next longest and quickest voyage as well
the siege Of Paris in 1870, oy Roller and De-
champs, In a spherical balloon. They left
Paris at IL 40 r.. NJ. Nov. "a, with military
dispatches. letters. and carrier pigeons, in the
battle Vile d'Orlea Is, passed. safely over the
German investing lines, and the following
morning found themselves far out at sea, In
Imminent peril Of drowning, and suffering so
intensely from cold and wet that they at length
resolved to end their misery by discharging
the gas, but fortunately found the valve frozen
fast. Throwing out a bag OF natl the balloon
was lightened sufficiently TO rise again, and at
gas p n. they landed on tho summit, Of
Mount Lifield In Norway, having travelled
$50 miles in fourteen hours and hfty-fve min
utes, a speed OF more than NIFTY miles an hoqr'
In landing. one Of them jumped out safely,
but the other. in AIten. ptinRs TO do so, was