The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-11

GOVERNORS ISLAND. July S-The
busiest man around here is Lieut.. Wise,
L. S. A., who is completing some impor-
tant observations by means OF his kites
The results are reported 20 the Weather
Bureau and to scientific societies. The
bureau gets dates for its records and
the scientists find new and easy ways OF
accomplishing difficult tasks BY the lieu
,enants observations it is found that
messages can be sent to workmen at
inaccessible points in steeple buildings
and that lines can be carried easily across
precipices and up mountains, for ioun-
dations ior bridges and the laying out
of roads. Surveyors are specially inter
csted.
There will be score of eNperimenters
al work during the summer months, but
the Wise kites are the most noted lof
their success, probably because hOWh
upon such scientific principles.
1t is as safe TO 80 up on kite as IN
a balloon says Lieut.. Wise. of the United
States Army, IF the wind is steady ana
has velocity enough. Indeed. If the wind
blew with great violence an ascent on
d kite would bee much less dangerous
than in a balloon car. for balloon on
account Of its unwieldly bulk, is at the
mercy OF the elements and would be
torn TO shreds i'm "a gale that would MAKE
a kite sail only more merrily
Il should be willing TO 90 up 1000 feet
with the kites II 1 were sure OF a wind
with a fairly constant velocity OF over
twelve miles an hour. 1 tried II here last
January. ] think II would not bc worth
while to make the attempt with velocity
Of less than twelve miles an hour. with
the kites l used when l made that at
tempt They were the Hargrave cellular
kites which give a large sail area or
hitting surface in "a compact form. Per
haps with the tandem kites invented
bv william A. Eddy. OF Bayonne. y. 3d..
/ could 20 up In comparatively hcht
wind but the drawback Co making as-
tensions on Kites in the region around
here is the uncertainty about the wind.
You cannot trust it 10 remain constant
Tor ten minutes. either IN force or i'm
direction.
WINDS IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
Il had half dozen kites arranged
tandem flying here the other day ana
each one of them was pulling In diner
ent direction. The lowest was of TO the
southwest. the next above h Was west
by south. the next west by north and so
on tiu the highest was well OF towards
the east. That would not interfere so
much with making an ascension. per-
haps. but vibrations in wind velocity
are dangerous.
Il had had a mind 10 so up 10 an
altitude Of over 1909 feet. and Mr.. EDDY
and experimental tOeether l went up
forty feet on January p here on Cover
nor's Island. and enjoyed the novel SEM
sation highly but as AR Eddy pointed
out. IL would have been unsafe TO 80
up 10 a great height, especially as ala
not have a parachute. l should have
been all right while the strain on tIc
kite line was only 40 pounds because
the line was good for a 1900 pound
strain. but squat might have come
up. and this 4p0-pound strain be quad
rupled al any moment Then. whore
should ! be-ln Brooklyn. or Staten Is
land or al the bottom OF the bayy
WILL TRY TT IN MICHIGAN.
II shall leave here soon 10 rejoin my
regiment IN Michigan. whore / shall have
better conditions for experimenting. There
shall improve nv klies. ana I hope 10
demons,rate 20 tho satisfaction OF all
interested Nihat kite-nying. though. OF
course. a thing with a limited field OF
action Ia sim much more than pas