Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-23
ACTION ON H0USEB0AT
Belief That Airship is Ready
to Launch.
TUG TO FOLLOW AFTER
ENGINEERS STAKE OFF SHORE
FOR MEASUREMENTS.
They Will Thus Be Able to Gauge
Speed Of the Aerial
Machine.
rug TO FOLLOW AFTER
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
UNDERWATER. Va. July 23.-Activity on
board Prof. Langley's houseboat seemed to
have increased this morning with indica-
lions of completing preparations for an
early test Of model airship. The tug
which came down yesterday remained
alongside this morning. The impression
that it came to follow the model in its flight
and to serve as a means of recovering 1t
from the water when necessary is deepened
In fact. 1t is amply evident from the gen
eral appearance of things on the houseboat
that Chief Assistant ManIey is hurrying UP
for an experiment.
The gasoline engine. which furnishes
power for various purposes within the
hOuseboat, has been used constantly today.
No one Is now seen on top in daylight.
but from the changes apparent there the
men must have been at work at night. The
hosting machines bore a completed appear
ance this morning. They are rugged up
with pulleys and numerous ropes. ready to
lift the aeroplane and its swings to the
launching car. These will be taken out
apart and will be put together just before
the test. The main door is too narrow to
admit of the passage of the completed arr
ship.
Assistant Manley had a party at work
this morning rigging a sailboat out OF one
OF the two batteau tenders. Inc steam
launch was not in service today.
If model machine Is tested soon. as Is
expected. 1t may be launched from the main
car. This is now ready. but the smaller
car is not yet in position.
Engineers Stake OF the Shore.
Both the Maryland and the Virginia
shores Of the Potomac In the vicinity OF
Prof I.angleys boat house have been
staked Off by engineers connected with the
expedition. Measurements were made with
instruments from the boat house. and GER
tain points on the Virginia shore were first
selected. Then the small steam launch was
sent out with a little party Of scientists and
assistants aboard. At the places determined
upon the workmen drove plain stakes firmly
in the beach. They seemed to be placed in
sections about three in bunch. twenty
yards or SO apart. After completing the
work on this side the launch steamed across
to the other side. where the operations were
repeated These points have been accu-
rately measured for the guidance OF the
scientists with experiments either with the
main ship or with models. In reality the
house boat occupies the center OF a broad
area Of water. surveyed and sectioned with
mathematical precision.
Object Of the Measurements.
When the flight of flying machine be-
gins from the center of an immense though
somewhat irregular circular space bounded
by certain well-marked points the difficult
ties attending the measurement OF Its
course will be reduced to a minimum Such
is the idea of Chief Assistant Manley under
whose directions the measurements were
made.
Yesterday evening the workmen were
busy in the interior of the boat house. 1t
Is understood that repeated tests Of the
gasoline motors of the airship have proved
satisfactory. They generated something
more than twenty seven horse power which
was even higher than was expected. as It
was announced that twenty five horse
power would be sufficient for the present
purposes OF the inventor.
One point which. 1t has been ascertained,
must be carefully guarded against Is an
overvibratlon OF the frame by the motion
OF the engines in operation. 1t Is believed
that this vibration will be reduced SO that
1t will offer no difficulty to the navigation
Of the ship.