The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-11-05
Vagaries of the Air.

Though blloonst not long ago
crossed the English Channel, Il feat
performed several times before, the
list Of casualties to aeronauts during
the year has been Il long one. The
best that can be hoped for Andree is
that he has descended in some artic
waste, from which he will succeed in
making his way out next summer.
When he departed his balloon con-
uained 1872, 900 fees of gas, enough TO
keep him afoat seventy-tive days.
It's lifting power was $1,000 pounds
and it was provisioned for several
years. AS nearly four months have
passed since Andree floated off before
a wind carrying him to the north
west the chances for his return are
small, though Nansen considers them
not unfavorable. The average of bal
loon fatalities is maintained year
after year, and parachute practlce is
almost certain in the end to result in
tragedy. Great risks are taken in
the ballon show business. The air
ships used are flimsy, and the aerona-
uts themselves are peculiarly reck-
less class, knowing the danger they
incur, though unable to escape from
what to them is fascination.
OF late many experimental have been
made by weather observers with huge
kites at high elevations. In some
cases the kites, with registering in
struments, have reached hight OF
over two miles. But last week the
kites proved to be quite as freakish
as balloons. At a Massachusetts cb-
servatory the kites made a highly
satisfactory flight, but on the next
trial the whole outfit broke loose and
the valuable instrument dropped to
the earth and was lost. These kites
are huge affairs, and have been known
to lift man 80 feet in the air. Each
Nte consists of two parts, the head
and the tail. The head includes an
upper and an under plan, Joined by
other plans at right angles. The ma
terial is cloth, cyrved like the wing
of bird. What is called the tail is
a rigid construction Of framework and
cloth. The surface of the kite is 10
square feet, and when an elevation of
two miles is reached four miles of fine
piano wire have been paid out by ma
chinery. On the day when the kites
were wrecked the wind was gustY,
and a sudden extra strain snapped the
wire, supposed tie be equal to a far
heavier pull Inventors OF flying ma
chimes have always been more or less
baf1led by the variability of air cur
rents. No one has succeeded In max
ing trustworthy map Of aerial move
ments. Andree had the wind he de-
sired when he left the little island
near Spitzbergen, but the current
may have changed in few hours,
and all further trace of him Is lost.
No real progress has been achieved in
steering balloon, Weather observ-
ers are well acquainted with what
seem to be whimisicalities of the air.
The most careful conclusions are Of
ten at fault, and currents that prom
Use rain or decided changes turn aside
and are spirited away almost myster-
iously. Mankind apparently is still
lar from the period of safe and useful
air navigation. Terra firma Is de-
cidely the best place for the race.
The balloon of today is substantially
the same as that Of a hundred years
ago, in spite of the fact thaS It's study
has been continuous, and princely
sum devoted to making it more secure
and manageable.