The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-02-14

~ HE National Balloon Park
(M which our army 10 building
H at Fort Myer. across the
Potomac. near Washington,
w viii be the most modern
~ post OF the kind In the
world. II will concentrate
signal corps instruction TO
one place. the posts at Fort Logan.
Col, the Preside. San Francisco. and
San Antonio, Tex, having Dcen abol-
ished.
One OF the largest balloon barns in
the world has been erected within the
new park. THIS Is a great. rectangular,
corrugated iron building with a slant
Ing roof and great doors which throw
open the entire front end OF the struc-
ture. The size OF these swinging doors
gives some hint as TO the proportions
OF the monster which will make its ex-
its and its entrances through them.
A dragon Is TO abide within the iron
walls OF this great barn. This dragon
=; to be employed TO help fight Uncle
SANS future battles. II all things come
TO pass as they are now being prophe-
sled by army officers. this war dragon
will belch forth FIRE. like ia mythical
ancestors. will devour men by the hum
dreds; will wipe formidable fortresses
from the face OF tho earth.
Uncle Sans war dragon ia the twin
brother OF the flying monster with
which the German army lately equip
ped itself II Is an airship which com
blnes all OF the virtues OF the man
carrying kite and captive balloon;
which eliminates the evils OF both To
stray rather broadly from classical
smile. II may be best described as a
giant sausage, tilted mp on one end and
having smaller sausage curled up
over its lower extremity after the fash.
ion Of the squirrels tail. This smaller
envelope sucks UP air which presses
against n diaphragm or partition with
in the larger envelope and thus keeps
the covering OF the lattor always snug
ly tight, regardless OF how much the
gas contained therein may expand or
contract; The entire balloon Is held by
cable and remains poised at the same
angle which the kite presents to the
upper air currents. Like the kite. II
files higher and higher tho faster the
wind blows, whereas tho ordinary cap
tive balloon dips lower and lowci at
the speed OF the breeze Quickens.
Inside tho great barn Is 20 be In.
stalled every equipment for filling the
| t,nuet.- nua HE ,au.,rt. ,,fffh .r,a 10,
imitation hydrogen will be employed. A
complete plant for It's manufacture viii
be an interesting adjunct TO the biz
balloon house a smaller corrugate,
iron building has already beon erected
The ges manufacturing and compress
ing plant will later be installed within
Il. The hydrogen will be compresse
into cylinders eight feet long. three O
four Inches IN diamether, and with cor
tents OF ono cubic foot OF the gas. yer
highly compressed. Hundreds OF thos
tubes. after having been charged at IN
new COMPRISING plant, will be born
10 the balloon house In wagons an
connected to the main valve OF the ne'
klte-halloon by rubber pipe.
The army now has two other ne'
captive war balloons. Both OF these ar
. OF the poor-shaped class. The large
, In 40 feet In diameter, has a capacity q
1900 cubic feet OF gas and will carr
four men. The smaller holds 10000 Gu
bic feet OF gas and viii carry tire
e men. with all necessary signal appara
q tus.
/ The envelopes OF these two pear
z shaped balloons are made OF goldboat
ers skin, membrane taken from tn
ontralls OF the bullock and subjected I
various stages Of curing. Each anlma
furnishes one piece, about Is by ?
inches In diameter.
Ultimately. regularly scheduled bal
loon drills will be held at the ne'
. post
l Some time ago it was prophesied 4
| the public prints that Uncle San
! would have to equip himself with