The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-12-03
Thursday, Dec 3, 1896.
Curious Uses OF Balloons.

Probably .hcre never was time
when SO many inventors and scien-
fists were trying TO solve the ques-
tiOu of aerial navigation rs Mt pres
ent. Flying through the mir seems
to possess most powerful charm
for many people, and the tragic
death OF one oXpCrlmoutor serves
only to attract the attention of a
score of other adventurous spirits
IN the same direction.
At this time it may it may be in
tcrc-ting to know something of the
numerous uses suggested for bal.
looms, aside from that Of conveying
passengers through the mir from
place to place. Balloons haze long
been used for conveying rocket sig.
nal3 or fireworks into the upper re.
giDns for purposes of entertaining
crowds of people, or conveying in
formation or orders in times of
war; they have also been used to
convey delicate self.rcgistering ther-
momctcrs and baromctcrs far up in
to the air to Investigate it's temper
aturc and destiny. Aside from
these uses, however, il has been
suggested that they be employed for
Il great many other purposes.
All of the schemes mentioned be.
low have been patented by the gov
ernmcnt in due form. SO let the
reader beware of infringement
\ great many patents have been
granted for the use of balloons in
connection with elevated railrods, in
which the weight of tho cars is
wholly supported by elongated bal
looms. Ben0ath the cars are trolley
wires to convey the electric current
to motors carried by the cars in or.
der to propel the apparatus. In all
of these cases there is permanent
connection between the trolly and
balloon. \ patent has also been
granted for the use of balloons to
hold anchored in the air high up
above the earth II rope or cable
down which cars are to run by gray.
ity, the direction and speed of the
journey depending upon the com.
parat,ye elevations Of the various
balloons of the series.
One of the oldest uses of the
balloon, howcvovor, yet suggested.
has Oeen to employ it to overcome
Colorado droughts. In 1890 pat
ent was granted TO citizen of that
State for II rain. making apparatus
thnt Is always to be relied upOn. 4
balloon long enough to extend across
II field has suspended beneath il n
perforated pipe; connected with the
ends of this pipe are sections of
hose which extend to the ground
and are attached to powerful force
pumps. The operation is simplicity
itself. All YOU have to do is to ele.
vatc your pine, guy the balloon, and
force the water up to point where
1t VIII DO the most good.
1t has also been suggested to use
balloons to convey life prcScrycrS to
ships, and in the Art Gallery of the
Patent Otlicc can be seen pictures of
balloons sent from II lee shore stout
~ making their way in the teeth Of
the wind IN their efforts TO convey
succor t" the unfortunate tempest
tossed mariner
In 1888 there was granted a pat
ent IN England on Il scheme for pre-
venting seasickness by attaching
balloons TO II platform holding sus-
ceptlble passengers; the theory be.
ing that 1t could be kept from rock
ing.
Patents have also been granted
for raising sunkcn vessels by lower
ing, balloons to the hold of the ships
and then initiating them until the
ships came to the surface.
Every one of the above mentioned
schemes have been patented in this
country excepting that to prevent
sea sickness.