The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-04

+ considerable importance to the aero
naut is that they are also much safer
vessels in which to navigate the ar tndn
those used by the early balloonists.
1t has long been agreed that hydro
gen gas is the most desirable agent 10
use in lifting balloon into the ar
from the fact that in buoyant power II
far surpasses hot air. coal gas ana most
other available forms. The dlfncuily
that for a long time stood in the way
of IT'S general use has been in flndng
something that could hold it. So IN
finitesirnal and so perseverlng are the
hydrogen molecules that they VIII pen
et-ate the rneshes of any kind OF cloth,
even when il has been Varnlshed over.
Loss from leakage is a dangerous I'M
pediment to baiiooning,2 particularly 10
long distance voyagers. and 1t was III
order TO remedy this difficulty that Pro-
lessor Myers, who has been for many
wears A practical aeronaut. Designer
the hydrogen proof fabric, whlcn is
made out of doors at the balloon farm
in having time.
A DELICATE TASK
The thing that impresses the ordinary
visitor who watches the work OF Dulld-
ing a balloon is the care wnlch Is eA
arcised To make every part symmetrl-
a delicate Job to build ship which can
navigate the air. carrying man miles
above the earth and to points nun
5rsds of miles distant in SAFETY, ana
ono can readily believe that the care
which is used is by no means thrown
awa-r - -,
Since the most important part oil an
ordinary balloon is the gas Dag tne
irst step in the building of TINS FORM
1,a
it Ordinary cotton cloth, though SOME
times used for balloons. is not sultapie
for this purpose for two reasons one IS
mat it is too loosely woven, ana the
orher is that it is not symmetrical IN
strength. 1t is a we'll known fact that
If is easier TO tear cloth crosswlse imam
in the direction of its length inns VIII
not answer if the cloth is 10 De useu
in balloon. it must be as strong one
,yav as another. Specially woven cloth
is therefore, used as strong and tlghtiy
made as possible. This cloth is sent
from the factory to the balloon 1arn
in howard rolls. and is there subjected
To the treatment that makes IL hydro
gen proof.
MANY COATS OF VARNIsH-
The ability to resist the hydrogen
molecules is impaired by specially
and other ingredients. This prepara-
ton is made in an open kettle hung out
of doors as the Vermont farmers used
to boil down the sap from their mapie
trees into sugar The kettle is allowed
to boil until its contents are reduced
TO a thick 4 UNI. Then the fire is put
out and the kettle is left to cool of.
IN the process of cooling the surface
Of the varnish ignites by spontaneous
= f..la 1afe L ind
of varuish is addicted in the cooling
and drying stages. This fire is put out
by applying cold water to the outside !
of the kettle. and the man who does
il is very careful not TO get drop of
wafer into the burning mass outside. /
as that would almost surely result in an (
explosion When the varnish has lin |
ally cooled the cloth is spread out in /
long strips and is given its first coat /
ing. The varnish.is applied with small /
brushes. and as soon as it has been put
On the cloth is scraped, and most of it {
IS removed. the object being to work /
the varnish into the pores of the CLOTH /
n is desirable that the varnish should /
Try as RAPIDLY as possible, and for this |
-eason the brightest and hottest sum-
ner weather is selected for this work.
HAVING WEATHER BEST FOR
BALLOONS.
Six hours of sunshine and several
weeks of shade is required to thorough
Y dry the cloth During this time the
abric is stretched on lines run across
he drying field, and is kept spread out
until dry. If the cloth was thrown
Town in a heap. or if two portions of its
surface touched each other at any
Joint, not only would the varnish be
peeled off. but spontaneous combustion
would result and the whole thing would
,e destroyed.
AS soon as the sun has dried the first
oat of varnish second is applied, and
his process is repeated with alternate
crapings and furnishings until a dozen
oats have been put on. The theory on
which Professor Myers proceeds in this
S that there are pores in the varnish
S in the cloth. and that each coating
bugs the pores of the preceding one.
after the dozen coats of varnish have
'een put on the thickness of the cloth
las not been increased enough so that
t can be measured by the most delicate
and the addition can be-