Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-24
EXPLORING BALLOON.
ANpREEs PROPOSED TRIP TO THE
POLE IN FORTY-THREE HOURS.
The swiftcst Journeys and the High
est Ascensions Ever Made With AIR
shins-some Practical Uses of the
Balloon.

RhIlip Atkinson in New York SUM-
Until a very few years ago every ball
loonlst was regarded as a visionary
crank, and even now the mere mention
OF a bolloon expedition to the North
Pole Is received with incredulity and re-
garded either as q joke or the utter
ance OF a scientific dreamer. But TO one
who has made thorough investigation
of all the facts such an expedition ap-
pears not only possible. but far more
practical than one undertaken in any
other way.
While Il must be admitted that aerial
science has made very slow progress
since 1888, when Montgolfier and others
made the first ascensions, yet progress
has been made. especially within the last
few years, and other inventions have con-
tributed to this end. So that while the
balloon is still very far from being
perfect success, 1t is no longer the help
less thing that 1t was thirty years ago,
a silk bag with basket attached, float
ing aimlessiy at the mercy of the winds.
like ship without a rudder, sail, or
engine. 1t has now begun TO assume the
dignity of an air ship. both in form and
In its means Of propulsion and control
The air-ship recently invented by Count
Van Zepplln, a German military offlcer,
represents, 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-shaped gas reservoir. which
can be propelled and steered I'm any d.
rection, horizontally or vertically, for
ward or backward, In which IL is claimed
that the problem of aeriel navigation
I'm all its details has been satisfactory
solved and all obstacles overcome. His
apparatus has been approved by the lead
ing scientists, among whom was the late
Dr. Helmholtz and also by the German
Emperor 1t is propelled by a DAIMLER
kerosene motor. made entirely OF alumni
mum, and is provided both with wings
and propelling screws: and special provi-
sion has been made TO prevent the waste
OF gas, so that continued voyage OF
seven or more days can be made without
descent or renewal OF imitation.
The balloon I'M which the Swedish aero
naut, S. A. Andree. will attempt to pene-
trate the Arctic regions In July OF this
year. is constructed with reservoir hav-
ing a double covering, said 10 be imperyi-
Gus to hydrogen, or at least sufficiently so
as 10 keep the balloon afoat for thirty
days, and having capacity OF $500 cubic
feet, and lifting power, when inflated
with hydrogen, OF about 4,Os5 pounds. the
balloon will carry three persons ana pro-
visions for four months, besides scientific
instruments and Berton's collapsabie
boats, and the car is capable OF instant
detachment from the reservoir. No pro-
pelIlng apparatus is TO be used. the wind
alone to be the means OF propulsion. II
will be provided with a sail ana also drag
or guide ropes, which will trail along the
surface below and retard the balloon,
making its rate OF speed about 70 pen cent.
less than that OF the wind and hence
capable OF being steered. This apparatus
has often been used by Herr Andree. en-
abling MIN TO sail at an angle OF n de-
grees to 10 degrees from the direction or
the wind. The sailing altitude is 10 be
esq IL feet. or httle less than TWO
miles and IL il expected that this altitude
will keep the balloon above the surface
fogs. and below the lowest clouds. This
will be accomplished by the guide ropes,
the weight Of which on the balloon con-
stantly increases during the ascent, as
rome Is taken up from the surface, till a
point Is reached where it Will counterbal-
ance the lifting power OF the gas. The
contrary effect is produced by descent, in
proportion TO the weight Of rope supported
on the surface, so that any tendency 10
vary from the sailing altitude fixed by
this counterbalance Will be checked In this
way. The ropes are so constructed as to
be supported on the surface OF the water
gen in June and inflated in a temporary
as well as on that of the land.
The balloon IL to be taken to Spitzber-
gen in June and inflated In a temporary
structure erected there, hydrogen con-
densed In tanks being transported there
FOR this purpose. II is 20 sail from Cape
Thorsden on clear day IN July. when the
wind Is from the south, and with an ave-
rage speed Of sixteen miles an hour which
a. Is expected can be maintained. Will
reached the Pole In forty-three hours.
the VOYAGE to be continued thence to Beh-
ring Strait. the Pole lying nearly In a
direct line between that point and Cape
Thorsden.
The average velocity OF the wind at
Cane Thorsden is about twenty -one and
balf miles an hour. and, allowing for %
per cent. retardation by the guide ropes.
this gives a sailing speed OF abouts'xtsen
miles an hour. as above. The average
temperature at thiz point In July ~ %
dssrses ana the highest IS degrees. and
there are no storms. and but little snow
az that time Of the year. the. tempera-
turs being so nearly even. From this II
NAV be inferred that similar evenness
~ femperature ard freedom from storms
vii be- found farther north, peor the
pole: this date being near the middle OF
sha Arctic summer. when tho sun 10 con-
annually above the horizon. Hence, though
4 Tower tsmpernture Will. OF course, Be
found q the Pole, excessive gold 10 hardly