The morning times., 1896-04-12

this photographlng device would enjoy as
great an advantage a. IL il were ble Il [
will 10 stretch out its mainmast into u
tower of observation a mile high
II is true that some or the lenses in the
circular camera. the ones facing the sun,
might give imperfect pictures, bur In +.
whatever position the sun might be. at least
$50 degrees or the horizon would De clear
" photographed. And hy taking such Ub-
seryations in the early morning. and again
in the middle of the afternoon lt would be
possible 10 cover the whole circuit, and
thus be aware of the approach of an
euemy's ships long before they would have
been visible to u telescope used on the
deck. In such a circular camera each lens
would he numbered and the position OF
each would be accurately determined with
regard TO the points OF the compass by
the use OF guy-Cords stretching from the
main line to the framework Of the ap-
paratus. Thus on looking at the number
OF a lens, the photographed would i'm
mediately know from which direction any
vessel whose image was shown might be
coming.
Nor is the use OF the kite IN war limit ed
to the services il would render ia photo
graphy; it might easily do more than that.
and become most efficient and novel
engine of destruction. As has been shown.
TO send up a tandem OF kites that viii
swing a heavy load high in the air Sup
pose that load We're dynamite, with andr-
rangemeut for dropping it IN any desired
spot. Mr.. Eddy suggests that this might o.
effected by means OF slow match mac.
by soaking cotton string in saltpeter,
which would be lighted on dispatching the
load of dynamite, aud would burn at
regular rate> say one foot in five
minutes so that the length OF the
match could be timed 10 meet the
necessities OF the case. on burning
to its end, the match would ignite cord
holding the dynamite in a paStebOard re-
ceptacle, one side OF which would fan
down like the front of a waIl-pocket as
soon as tue restraining cord was burned
through; and Immediately the dynamite in
tue box would be launched toward its des-
tinauOn. Mr. Eddy has already carried out
an experiment similar to this. in setting
loose from high elevations tiny paper aeru-
planes. With little practice ne found he
could start the slow match with such pre-
cisiOn as to cause the aeroplanes to burst
out into flight at any desired altitude This
interesting and beautiful experiment was
performed for the first time by Mr.. Eddy
on February %, 1898 when he sent off
from height of 1000 feet forty aero
planes, their forward edges weighted with
pins for greater stability.
Assuming such an arrangement made for
dtscharglng load of dynamite. Mr.. Eddy
calculates that, with a twenty-miIe breeze.
SIX eighteen-foot kites would lift fiftv
pounds OF The explosive q quarter of a
mile in the air and suspend il over a fort
or beleaguered city half nile distant. II
would thus be perfectly possible SuppOs-
ing the wind to be in the light direction.
to lombard Stnten Island with dynamite
dropped from kites sent up from the Jersey
shore IL is evident that. for purposes Of
hombardment, a tandem or kites possesses
several advantages over the war balloon.
Kites are much cheaper. Then il would
lie far more difficult TO disable them than
TO disable a balloon. since they offer a
smaller mark to the cnemy's guns: ami
even If one or two were DESTROYED, the
Others would still suffice to carry the dy-
namIte. Finally, the kites may be sent 5Ip
without risk to the lives OF those who
directed them, which is not the case with
the balloons.
Another interesting and important an
phcation of the modern kite has been con
ceiyed by Prof J. Woodbridge Davis prin-
cipal OF the Woodbridge Boys School. in
New York. who is one OF tue most famous
kite flyers in the world, in addition to be-
ing distinguished scientist and matheir-
tician. 1t was Prof. Davis who invented
the dirigible kite several wears AGO. three
kite from right to left at will or to make il
sink to the earth Having perfected this Gu
rious kite, which is of hexagon shape. is
covered with oiled silk. is fOldabIe. mort
able, and has tail. Prof Davis turned
his attention to his more recent and i'm
portant discovery Of the dirigible buoy.
which bids fair to do much to lessen the
dangers of shipwreck. For months past
Prof. Davis, assisted by Mr.. Eddy has
been experimenting on the Kill Won KuH
with this buoy, and has obtained most en-
couraging results. There are two kinds
both being deSi gned to be attached to kite
lines and drawn over the water bv the
power of the kite. The simpler variety i
merely 4 long wooden tube about tfrpe
inches IN diameter, and shaped very mach
like gun projectile, with q cone of tin
dragging behind to give StcadineSS IL *
for use only when the wind is blowing in
exactly the direction in which il is designed
to send message Or carry rome. Ia viii
be observed that in large humber of eases
when ships are driven on rocks the wind
is blowing toward the shore. and in such
cases n line of kites would reaSsIy
carry one OF these buoys ashore with the
important words inside or the stu more
important rope following after
Not satisfied. however. with this buoy.
Prof. Davis sought some means Of max
ing kites draw a load across tho water
IN any direction desired. regardless of the
way the wind might he blowing: and after
much thought and calculation, he hit upon