The Winslow mail., 1898-12-17
Z. S. WAR BALLOONS.
An Interesting Feature of the Omc-
ha Exposition.
Daily Ascensions Are Made to Illus
tratc Their Utility in the De-
partmenfs of war and
Science.


Science.
Among the many interesting fea-
lures of the United States govern
ment's exhibit at the Trans-Mississip-
pi exposition at Omaha. none is attract
ing greater attention than the war
balloons. Besides the monster cap
tive balloon which was used by the
American forces at Santiago, there
arc four other large balloons, each
with a capacity of 21,CG0 cubic feet.
sufficient to carry three or four per
sons, and a score Of small signal bal
looms. In charge CT the balloons and
the half dozen carloads of apparatus
accompanying them are Capt. y. War
rem Yancey and a detachment Of %
members Of the United States volun-
teer signal corps. of whom about one
half were engaged in the operations
before Santiago.
The big balloon used at Santiago Is
an cb;ect Of intense popular interest.
One or other OF the big balloons
makes several ascensions daily from
fhe exposition grounds.
These balloons, as stated above.
have a capacity of 21. coo cubic feet CT
gas. This is sufficient to raise about
1890 pounds. The balloon itself, with
the car and ropes and cable. weighs in
the neighborhood of 1,200 pounds.
Each balloon can carry four persons
Of average weight.
The balloons are equipped with COM
plete telephone and telegraphic ap-
paratus, communication with the
ground being obtained by means of
insulated wire paid out as the balloon
ascends. Capt. Yancey has with him
at Omaha two coils of this wire, each
1850 feet long. The wire is five
eighths of an inch in diameter and
consists of 16 strands of nickel steel
and twelve strands of copper. 1t is
used for the double purpose Of hold
ing the balloon and of establishing
telegraphic or telephone communica
tion with the ground. The wire is
wound on reel, connected with brass
bushing and so arranged that the COM
munication is not interrupted as the
balloon ascends or descends. The daily
ascensions are made to about the linn
it of one of these coils of wire, and
from a height of from 1000 to 2.5CC
feet an excellent view OF the eXposi-
tion grounds, the cites of Omaha and
Council Bluffs and the surrounding
country is obtained.
4 building 40 feet square on the
ground and so feet high has been
erected on the north tract to house
the balloon over night. It costs in the
neighborhood of $50 to initiate, ard it
is cheaper therefore to retain the gas
from day to day than to generate
fresh gas fer every ascension. In or
Ger that the gas may not be allowed
to escape it is necessary to protect
the balloon from the weather, for the
vanished silk of which it is made is
very quickly ruined when little rain
gets to it.
In addition to the quarter of a hun
dred balloons, large and small, Capt
Yancey has with him at Omaha two
stationary generators and one port
able field generator and portable boil
er. two gasometers. one of which was
made in Omaha. and 25O tubes, each of
which Will hold about $50 cubic feet
of gas compressed.
Of almost equal interest with the
balloon ascensions are the daily ex-
hibitions Of visual signaling which are
given by Capt. Yancey's men. Every
member of the United States signal
corps is an expert signalist. either
with the telegraph or the heliograph
or with the flags. The flag signaling
or wigwagging as it is termed. is very
interesting to watch. The signalmen
are provided with small colored flags
with which they do their talking 4
dip to the right or the left or some
combination of such movements rep
resents each letter of the alphabet in
accordance with what is known as the
Myer code. The two squads of men are
separated by the lagoon at sufficient
distance to prevent any verbal com
municatiOn. but near enough for the
public to watch both operators at the
same time. The exhibitions with the
heliograph, or signaling by means of
sun flashes, are also Of great popular
interest. 1t is interesting TO note that
both the wigwagging and the hello
graph systems of signaling were de-
rived from the Indians.-Expositio
Press Bureau.