Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14
AN AIR SHIP STATION OF TOMORROW.

thing was almost inevitable in a crowded
town. though situated on sheltered bay
Every one recognized the danger at the
Tune. AS the young navigator of the air
returned from his first Monte Carlo flight I
remember that Mr.. Robert Cook $50 long
the Captain Bob Cook who coached Yale
crews to victory said
The airship has not yet its dock Some
KIND OF starting and landing stage will have
to be devised"
Caused an Accident.
The Monte Carlo accident was caused
really by it's lack. The airship, loaded
with ballast until it was a trifie heavier
than the surrounding atmosphere. had to
be. towed or helped out of the balloon
house and across the street before At could
be launched in the air over the dangerous
sea wall. drop part of it's water ballast,
start It's motor, point its nose slightly up
ward and dart off on it's aerial voyage.
That sea wall was always danger: but on
the day of the accident the balloon happen
ed (by the negligence of an add to be i'm
perfectly inflated. This would, perhaps.
make little difference were they not forced
to point its nose at a considerable angle
lifting 1t over the sea wall AT that in
slant the heat Of the sun was dilating the
hydrogen which naturally rushed to the
higher point. 1t made the balloon point al
most perpendicularly, aided by the pull OF
the guide rope. The oil stopped, the no
and Santos-Dumont had to wreck his mo.
g. to save his life.
There will be nothing like that at the
new depot?" said to him.
mo, there will be ample starting and
landing space"
And in the case Of a race. equal chances
for ALL
This is also the idea of tine architect
Glaizot, who happens to be working, quite
apart from Santos-Dumont. on his own
lines.
Will Be of Great Service.
Recent experiences show that airship
experimenters are terribly handicapped by
certain material difficulties that have moth
ing to do with the principles Of the inven-
lions themselves" he says. 1.-The creation
of an aerostatc center will therefore rem
der them the greatest service.
my union airship depot he continues,
will be furnished with every possible con-
venience Of modern science. 1t will permit
experimenters to pursue their works in a
more rational way, more economical and
less dangerous. Especially 1t will suppress
the perils of unprepared departs and land
ings.
"At each corner Of the facade, in the plan.
you see an observation tower. These will
serve for meteorological observations. for
juries. for the timing of races, for signals
and wireless telegraph plants"
1.-The airships might carry wireless tele-
graph plants. too 1 suggested.
Hum! hum! murmured the inventor.
I think he was put out that had thought
of 1t first.
An Elaborate Plan.
"The plan includes sleeping rooms for ex-
perimenters-you know they always like to
make an early start. before the wind rises.
There will be bath rooms, douches, bar,
restaurant and station for the Red Cross
I>ah y-Ir
Illuminating gas plants so that experiment
ers will not have the gas question trouble
them They will only have to pay for what
they actually consume, for the gas remain
ing in their balloons on their return can be
pumped back into the reservoirs
"That is new idea, tool" said.
"There will also be balloon envelope work.
shops for repairs. changes, and so on;