Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-03-04
AERIAL NAVIGATION.
Inventive Genius Seems to BE Ae.
tive i'm This Line of Discovery
Some Curious Uscs of Balloons.

| inventive trSnltiS SSGmS To BS AS
tive in This Line of Discovery
Some Curious Uscs of Balloons.
| Probably there never was n tim,
when so many inventors and scientist
were trying to solve the question o
aerial navigation as Mt present. Fly
ing through the air seems to possess 1
most powerful charm for many people
and the tragic death of one expert
] mentor sorvos only to attract tho at
| tention Of a score of other advcnturou,
spirits in the same direction.
At this time it may be interesting
to know something Of the numerous
uses suggested for balloons, aside from
that of conveying passengers through
the air from place to place. Balloons
have long been used for conveying
rocket signals or fireworks into Tn,
upper regions for purposes Of enter
tanning crowds of people, or conveying
information or orders in times of war
they have also been used to convey
delicate self-registering thermometer,
and barometers far up into the air tc
investigate its temperature and dens
ity. Aside from these uses, however
it has been suggested that they be en-
ployed for a great many other pur'
poses.
All of the schemes mentioned below
have been patented by the government
in due form. So let the reader bcwar,
of infringement!
A great many patents have beer
granted for the use of balloons in con
nection with elevated railroads, il
which the weight of the cars is who'll,
supported by elongated balloons. Be
meath the cars are trolley wires to con
vey the electric current to motors car
ried by the cars in order to propel In,
apparatus. In all of these cases ther,
is a permanent connection between
the trolley and the balloon. A paten
has also been granted for the use o
balloons TO hold anchored in the nj
high up above the earth rope or ca
BILE down which cars are to run b,
gravity, the direction and speed of th'
journey depending upon the compare
tive elevations Of the various balloon
OF the series.
One of the oldest uses of the bal
loon, however, yet suggested, has beel
to employ it to overcome Colorad,
droughts. In 1890 patent wa
granted TO a citizen OF that State for
rain-making apparatus that is alway
to be relied upon. A balloon lonl
enough to extend across field ha
suspended beneath it a perforated pipe
connected with the ends Of this pip
are sections of hose which extend h
the ground and are attached to power
full force pumps. The operation i
simplicity itself. All you have to d.
is to elevate your pipe, guy the balloon
and force the water up to a poin
where it will do the most good.
It has also been suggested to use bal
looms to convey life preservers to ships
and in the Art Gallery OF the Paten
Office can be seen pictures of balloon
sent from lee shore stoutly maxim,
their way in the teeth Of the wind il
their efforts to convey succor to tin
unfortunate tempest-tossed mariner.
In 1853 there was granted a paten
in England on scheme for prevent
ing seasickness by attaching balloons
to the corners of platform holding
susceptible passengers; the theory be
ing that it could be kept from rock
ing.
Patents have also been granted fo
raising sunken vessels by lowering bal
looms to the hold of the ships and ther
initiating them until the ships came Il
the surface.
Every one OF the above mentioned
schemes have been patented in thi
country excepting that to prevent sea
sickness.