The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-19

It's total capacity 10 about ten
tens. About $4,000 has been spent in the
construction. the plans having been APP
proved by the German government. Mai.
Baden Powell says II is hoped to drive
the vessel at the rate of twenty-five miles
an hour.
Rumors have been heard from time to
time about this airship, but details were
lacking. and none Of those connected
with Its construction could be induced TO
say "a word. The picture and description
of the balloon which are printed hero
make the first authentic and detailed
news to reach the world about this the
most ambitious attempt of modern times
to solve the great problem of navigating
the air.
Count Won Zeppelin Is German soldier.
famous for his desperate ride into the
heart Of the enemy's country In the
Franco Prusstan war. He has been work.
ing on the plans for the airship for years.
and long before he began the building OF
his monster he had examined and ac-
quired every patent that seemed to him
ut all available. Thus. when he was
ready to begin building he had at hts
command hundreds OF improvements and
appliances without the embarrassment of
having to decker with their possessors.
Emperor William has been enthusiastic
about the matter, and Count Won Zep-
pelin has had ample and ready aid In the
last two years during which the balloon
has been under way
The idea of building the airship In a
floating building was adopted for many
reasons. One was that II made secrecy
easy. Another. and more important one.
is that II will enable the makers to
launch the balloon readily and to make
trial trips with II at will. Therefore. the
building was erected on ninety-fve ex-
ceedingly buoyant pontoons. and 70
anchored that II can swing with the
wind, always turning its rear end to the
breeze. 1t will be possible. therefore. to
launch the balloon in the direction Of the
wind at any given time. In addition. tho
building In arranged that the part
which holds tho airship can he hauled out
like the drawer Of desk, and when Il IL
so hauled out II floats on separate pom
toons. This VIII give to the balloon
free start ut any time. and Will make IL
easy tn return II 10 the building.
The balloon is 3T5 feet long. shaped like
torpedo. and It's diameter IL 30 feet. The
skeleton In Of aluminium, and It's base
consists of sixteen ribs OF aluminium
shaped IA polygons. with twenty-four
angles. They are fixed and braeed In
their positions with aluminium wires,
which radiate from common centers like
the spokes OF wheels. This skeleton is
separated into seventeen sections. which
are movable Independently of each other.
The whole is cnmeshed with ramie fiber
netting. to hold IL together 30 that tho
airship really liz seventeen balloons
fastened together with an outside COW
ering.
The texture with which each balloon
skeleton Is surrounded TO hold the gas IL
"A new material made OF cotton and rub
ber combined.
Together the balloons have a capacity
Of 1850 cubic yards. The carrying abii-
ity Is what Mai. Baden-Poweii says II Is
ten tons But the inventor and builders
say that thia weight can be- carried even
should one or more Of the balloons be-
come disabled.
The motive power will be furnished by
benzlne. This has been selected. despite
it's !nfiammatory qualities, because II was
found that even the best OF electric ac-
cumulators were too heavy. The engines
for utilizing the naphtha are wonderfully
light being built OF aluminium bronze.
and they are designed 40 that practically
IL will be impossible for FIRE 10 reach the
balloon In addition the atrshtp IL 10 be-
dressed with non-combustibie material.
The engines and the passengers will be
carried I'm two aluminium gondoias. each
about thirty feet long. which will be sus-
pended under the body of the balloon
with firm aluminium efrders. The two
gondoIas will be connected with swing
Ing platform If aluminium netting.
The crew lie To consist OF FIVE men.
Count Won Zeppelin. In command: two en-
glneere and two macifinists They Will bo
enough 10 handle the engines and tho
weights which tn determine the po-
si,ion and direction 81 the craft. These
weights are suspended under the Eon-
doias on cable which permits them 10
be moved from enc end OF the balloon 10
the other. When they are hauled to the
stern the airship will point upward IL "
il desired 70 sink the craft the weights
are sent IN the bow This arranzenens
faksr much unnecessary work from tire
engines ard enables them 10 devote their
power 90 the great propeilsrs. Of which
there are four. They are made OF alufnt-
mum and shaped like the screws OF
ship and they arc attached 10 the sides,
not the ends Of the airshsp. The ends
are given up ia immense ruddsrs.
II IL known that great sums Of money
have been furnished from official sources
for this work and the king OF Wurt~m-
berg az well as the emperor of Germany
has visited the building often in the last
year The tlrst trip II to be taken before
the end ~ November.
nnstsutstfs. 81