New-York tribune., 1902-07-24
WHAT II. SANTOS PROPOSES TO no.

NJ Santos Dumont, who deserves the thanks
OF the public for allowing the abbreviation Of
his full name, declares that he IS now in this
country for the purpose OF showing that aerial
navigation is practicable. Well, he has already
demonstrated that fact There is considerable
room for improvement, and the young Bra
lillian does not deserve all the credit OF de-
veloping the art, but he has carried IL one step
further than anybody else. What Americans
most want to know, though. is what aerial nav
igation is good for. Standing on ones head Is
entirely practicable. but the feat Is chiefly ser.
viceable as source OF entertainment to by
ISLANDERS. This indeed, seems to be the prin-
cipal object Of the proposed trip from Brighton
Beach TO the Statue OF Liberty and back TO the
starting point. There is novelty and risk
enough about the undertaking to fascinate
thousands. Even an ascension Of the old fash
ioned balloon is to-day "a drawing card for
country fairs. 1t is only fair 10 remember that
a successful arshp may be used for few ex-
ceptional and unusual classes of work like
military observations and geographical explora-
tiOns. II Peary had had such craft in the
spring Of 1900, when a broad opening in the ice
north of Greenland baffied him, there might
have been different termination 10 his at
tempt to reach the Pole. But the arship can
never become cheap enough or safe enough TO
be anything but rarity.
When NJ. Santos talks about building shin
which will cross the ocean In two DAYS a little
scepticism is justifiable. To be sure he makes
a gift of $1,000,0O0 an essential condition of
his plan. Hence it is not at all likely that any
one will "cail his bluff" He will doubtless be
able for a long time to come to talk about what
might have been done If he had had the money
Yet even with S1000OO0 one cannot do every
thing Douhinp ha nf
would increase her speed only 20 or % per cent
To treble the velocity of an airship it would be
necessary to magnify her motive power ff-
teen or twenty times. At present it is not feas-
ible for NJ Santos to make much more than
twenty miles an hour. To travel 5000 miles in
fifty hours he world need to travel sixty
miles an hour. Crossing the Atlantic from
America, he would derive some benefit from
the wind, doubt especially IL he kept at a
considerable elevation. But this would be
against him In voyaging in the opposite direc-
tion. 1t will be long time before the world
witnesses an airship journey from Europe to
America, completed in two days, or even in a
week.
Perhaps the most sensible and significant of
the Brazllian's utterances since he last arrived
in this country relates TO his intention to add
aeroplanes to his arship in the future The
III.
English aeronaut. has contracted to supply the
British War Department with flying machine
of that type Possibly NJ. Santos has been in
1uenced by the frank criticism of Lord Kelvin
a few months ago. That eminent physicist
spoke disparagingly of the gasbag airship but
expressed little confidence in the possibilities
Of the aeroplane. Langley and Maxim relied
on the latter means alone for sustaining their
airships. NJ. Santos also makes a limited use
of the principle with his present model. He
takes advantage of the lifting effect of the air
on the under side of his craft on starting and
keeps her nose well up. The particular benefit
which he mentioned In his talk with a Tribune
reporter, though, is Of different character
He expects, with good reason, that an aero
plane under his ship would steady the latter
In it's flight. 1t should serve much the same
purpose AZ the keel OF yacht The latter js
vertical plane. and prevents lateral drift. The