The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-15
AIR SHIPS.
A hIzs Of 100000 10 Be
Offered for Most Successful.

ST. Louis. Jan. 15.-An exhibition OF air
ships in operation has been determined
upon as one or the great novelties for
the Louisiana Purchase exposition Of 1903.
Messrs. Charles W. Knapp and Nathan
Frank members OF the executive COM
mittee OF the Worlds fair were recently
appointed as a subcommittee TO consid-
ar the question OF an aerial tournament
TO be a feature OF the fair These gen
tlemen have called into consultatio Pro
fessor S. Z. Langley, secretary OF the
Smithsonian institution at Washington
ID. C., and Octave Chunate, OF the West
ern Society of Engineers of Chicago, two
distinguished scientists, who have given
special attention TO aerostation.
IL Is proposed 10 offer prizes OF not less
than s2o0.0o0 The matters TO be deter
mined by the subcommittee and those
who have been called upon To confer with
them; the recommendation OF a chief OF
the aerostatic display: the rules govern
ing the tournament and the conditions
under which the prizes will be awarded
cablegram from London says that Sir
Hiram Maxim. the American inventor
expresses much interest i'm the proposed
contest. and is willing to spend 500 0oa
as participant in the effort 10 win the
prize
IftSinent DaNlu X. Francis. OF the EN-
position company says that Mr.. Maxim
win he invited TO participate as soon as
the committee OF aerial experts has crys-
talized the plan for the contest I'm con-
nection with the tournament there will
also be held an aerostatic congress I'm
which tho subject will be exhaustlvely
discussed by those who have undertaken
practical experiment I'm seriai navigation.
The director Of exhibits, Mr.. Frederick
j Y Sklm In naaLfpU I'm hfs ola L
for the exhibit departments of the
Worlds fair. some time ago. included I'm
the department OF transportation. I'm
group No. u, provisions for aerial uavi-
cation. The group is arranged In four
classes. Class sl relates To balloon con
struction: fabrics, varnish. cars, valves
netting, cordsgo; appliances for stopping
balloons, such as anchors and grapnels:
the generation of hydrogen and other
light gases. captive balloonF
Class fS2 relates To aerial voyages: the
use or balloons for the study OF tho at
mosphere, air currents. clouds. tempera
ture az great heights. optical phenomena.
etc: drawings. maps ot Journeys. dia-
grams. photographs Glass fS3 relates IN
military ballooning; military captive bal.
looms and their accessories: winding
drums. transport wagons; apparatus FOR
imitation. Class fM relates 10 aerial naNi-
cation; dirigibe balloons and guiding an
naratus; flying machines screw propel-
lors, aeronlsnes and psrachuteS.
The fourth class mentioned Ia the one
having particular public interest at the
present time.
IL was early recognized by officers OF
the exposition that the NAVIGATION of thn
sir is one Of the great problems for
scientific solution. aud that this cNposi-
tion would not fulhl its duty 10 .he
world unless II lent It's ENCOURAGEMENT
and furnished an opportunity FOR thos.
WHO are skilled in this difficult science 10
demonstrate The results ~ IN. n sndeay-
ora
The experiment Of NJ santos Dumoft a.
Paris last wear. when he accomplished
The feat ~ sailing in an air ship around
the Einci tower and back again % tho
place Of heginaing Trip of 20 niru,rs
dura ion. sil bat sniyed thc problem. of
aerial navigation. The nsEullctut prize
winch the Louisiana Purchase exposition
proposes 80 offer unkcs the matter one
or sensational interest. ani tho tourna-
msrt VIII Do ore pf the most novel in
history. Sccretray Walter = stevens OF
the Words fair reports thst there II now
q -rrnrrect of NJ least 100 entries rrpre-
s~ssins- not 4.ss tliasf -en ecthtr'rs.