The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-05-28

Tor which were carried on In
the vicinity Of this city during
last summer and fall are still fresh In
the minds Of most persons. They
demonstrated the feasibility OF lifting
heavy weights by the force OF the wind
exercised on kites. and will. no doubt.
prove Of immense advantage 10 fu-
turo aeronauis IN the way Of enabling
them 10 direct their balloons. Those
who are Interested In following up
such matter await with extreme hope
fulness the result OF the proposed voy-
age to the polar regions by Swedish
scientists, which was postponed last
summer az the critical moment owing
10 unfavorable winds and weather. but
that the subject is receiving the closest
attention IL shown by the remarkable
voyage recently made by a balloon
named Touring Club. which accom-
plished the Journey Of COS kllometers
lSI5 miles, from Paris 70 Agen. This
record has never been surpassed In
length. excep, by two ascents during
the Siege Of Paris by the balloon VILE
d'Orleans. which landed In Norway.
and the Gen. Chanzy. which landed al
Ausbach. IN Bavaria Both Of these
distances exceed the record OF the
Touring Club by a few kilometers only.
Only one Of the forty-four asoents made
under the auspices Of the Society for
Aerial Navigation OF Berlin. and only
two mentioned Of the axty-four bal
looms sent up during the siege Of Paris
have equaled the distance record OF
the Touring Club. Incidently the rec
ord for length o. solourn above the
earth was also exceeded. and many
new Instruments were tested and will
have a vide bearing on the proposed
international study OF atmospheric
conditions by means Of stationary bal
loons. The balloon itself vas made Of
China silk and had a cubic content OF
100 meters. Five hundred kilograms
Of ballast were taken. making the total
weight. including instruments and bal
loonist. 7s5 Kilograms: altogether some
thing over a ton. The two aeronauts
were Messrs George Besaeon and Mau-
rice Farman The anchor carried was
Of an original design. grapnel with
two stocks
The valve was studied with particu-
lar care, permitting the gas 20 escape
rapidly when the balloon was 20 make
a landing. without requiring a contin.
ued strain on the cord 10 bring into
play special mechanism. The latitud,
reached was never very high. and 4
required an hour 20 attain 1000 fee;
the theory Of Mr. Besacon being thai
when one undertakes an extended yoy,
age In point % time Il Is necessary e
remain IN a low altitude. so as 20 hus.
hand the supply OF gas The greater
| portion OF the voyage was made az
height Of about 200 feet The balloor
assembled az Paris early In the morning.
and followed the direction OF the rail-
road line 20 Orleans. The descent va
made al 3l5 on the afternoon Of N,
next day. IN the neighborhood OF Agen
after having been In the air more thar
thirty hours The rate Of travel OF N,
balloon varied from fifteen TO hfty
miles an hour. One OF the features Of
this voyage was the distribution Of
/ printed blanks. asking certain ques
tons, which we're to be filled up and re-
turned by whoever found them. Min,
thousand OF these were sent out durin,
the voyage and about $50 OF them hav,
been returned. furnishing important
[ data