The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-28

4 Out Dotn working along different lines.
One of these schools. represented by
such aeronauts as Santos Dumont, the
Lebaudy brothers and Professor Carl
| Myers. conducts its experiments upon
the theory that the dirigible balloon
will solve the problem of aerial naviga-
ton. The measure of success attending
these experiments, which have been
rather more spectacular than scientific,
are pretty well known to the readers
of the newspapers who are interested
in the subject.
That the balloon air ship will work
under certain atmospheric conditions
has been amply proved by Santos-D u-
mont and the Lebaudy brothers. but
whether it can be made to work in all
conditions of wind and weather Is
matter of doubt.
The other school of aerial navigators,
to which belong such scientists as Pro
fessor S. F. Langley. DR.. Alexander.
Graham Bell and John P. Holland.
contends that the theory of the dirigi-
Bile balloon is unscientific and impracti-
cable aud that experimenting with it is
q waste of time. The theory is that the
successful and practical air ship must
simulate the motion of the wings of a
bird in flying. and the experimenters
are devoting all their mental energies
to the development of the flying ma
chine IS against the floating device.
Among the most interesting and ap-
parentIy most successful experiments
with flying machines are those lately
made by Dr.. Bell. the inventor of the
telephone. If all accounts are true he
has flying machine that will fly. 1t
is an ingenious structure, composed of
what mighta Termed q multiplicity
Of silken wings upholding sort of
boat which is of such remarkable
buoyaney that 1t will fly or float by IT.
self when the supporting part of the
apparatus has been taken away. The
Hlszshine is in effect an artificial bird
constructed on the kite principle, but
in accordance with entirely new ideas.
It is. in fact, multiple kite composed
Of great number Of triangular boxes
Of silk held III shape By sticks One
side Of each box is open to the air. the
other sides being covered with silk and
in shape and position suggesting the 4
wings of a bird in the act Of flying.
THUS the whole apparatus. being made
up of such boxes. is like a bird or.
rather. like a whole flock OF birds
whose fight is directed by a single inn
pulse.
In describing his invention DR.. Bell
says:: II have had the feeling that a
properly constructed flying machine
should be capable OF being foWn as
ute and. conversely, that properly
constructed kite should be capable of
Use as a flying machine when driven
~ its own propellers. Given a kite Sc
haped as to be suitable for the body /
# flying machine and so efficient /
hat It will fly well in a good breeze
rhen loaded with a weight equivalent I
Q that Of man and engine. then 1t /
Gems to me that this same kite pro-
'fded with an actual engine and man
q place Of the load and driven by its
Wn pr0pellers should be sustained in
aim air as flying machine.
In one of DR.. Bells experiments the
aachine was operated in d dead calm
= attaching the cord, strong manila
ope, to a galloping horse The horse
FINISHED to the apparatus a power of
ropulsion equivalent to that which an
nyine might have given. and it rose
nd scared beautifully. 1t was an APP
LEGATION OF the same principle as that
mploged hy the small boy who when
BE breeze IS too light to raise his kite
nrls with 1t along the ground
lAnother experimenter who has no
nth in the dirigibIe balloon is John
!. Holland. The inventor Of the subma-
ne torpedo boat. He says: he solu-
on Of the problem of aerial naviga-
on Is much easier than thar 81 sub
lariIle travelling The nractical method
aerfaI navigation Will be with