The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-23
ALL TRYING TO FLY
MIND OF MANKIND IS BENT ON
 THE PROBLEM.
United States Consul Jackson at La Rochelle, France, Sends Account of Experiment With Drouil-
 lard's Balloon
 Float.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building,

Colorado Building. Washington. Dec. 2.
 The best part of the world appears to be trying to do something with f1yirg ma chimes. United States Consul George H. Jackson, at La Rochelle, France. sends to the Department of Commerce and Labor the following account of an experiment recently made in France with Drouillard's s drii ter balloon float:
 The drifter balloon float is an ingenious and very simple apparatus which Is used and vice versa, rope by means of which the pas. engers aDd crew of the vessel can be rescued
 It is formed by a specially shaped bal loon, which presents to the wipd a plain surface Is meters long, L3 meters high, and 12 meters wide at base C1. 5l and H inches) This balloon tows an apparat s formed by two pieces of timber joined to beam is meters long and 0 55 meter high G9.7 and 21.6 inchesl and the horizon- tai p4ece 1.2 meters by 03 meter wide (47 by 11.S inches) In order that it may be maintained in proper DO iti n there is lead attached to the under s.de as ba last, This 'drifter" again lows rope l,5O) to 2.O0O meters q SIS to 6,5GO feet long wht. h Is to be used as a pass rope between the vessel in distress and the land.
 The drlfter Is conn acted with the balloon float by a regulating arrangement by thrown at sea, an az from 50 degrees to % degrees from the direction of the wind Is supposed to be obtained.
 The balloon float is composed of three a special tissue. When not In use 1t folds up like an accordeon and occupies very small space.
 The apparatus as used for experiments Is covered with cotton cloth but when in practical use 1t is to ne covered with strong sail tissue In order to De able to stand heavy seas and contact with the rocks when landing. To use it one draws the folds apart and 1t infiates itse aut ,- maucally: the valve is then closed and the balloon is fastened to the drifter. The Imitation can be completed, If necess lry, by various means indicated by the in ventor; its weight is Kilograms Q5.4 pounds).
 When not in use the drifter is folded up into four parts by means of hinges and occupies a very small space. When in use its four parts are maintained open by two hooks and all iron bar; the re- quired ang'e Is then regul1ted by means poYed as a pass rope s attached, and the whole apparatus is thrown into the sea. The weight of the driILer Is about % kill ograms (66 pounds.)
 The balloon float then draws the dr!fter to distance with a speed and strength proportionate to tNe force nf the wind for the stronger the wind the m ore effic lci0us .thc appliance; the drifter steers t ike rudder
 On tn, arrival of the line carrier either on board the ship in distress or on the SIEFc, IL Is lEi' VII OIS Gl tHc w ter. IT ashore the pprs r who receivss it d avs oTt the iron rod wbl, h maintains thA yer al pie of timber on the hort1ont l one. and izcl 'ses q steel ha rmer weIgh- ine. S5 k gv ms G,7 pouaas) and an on $ lfe o' the s7ne weight which arr h. ClseI in the vert ca tinlNer. The st ke Is tAen drive in:o the Il the W inc , s1 idly fastened to 1t and c0nnacti m Is thus established between the land and the sl:i'. m CirtrCss.
 1 The ra loon float Is provid q externally with h 'ps and strugs to whi h in case of coll sion or foun Ter ng of tha iD. IS to 70 pers ms can cling and there wait f r help They may be carried to land by the balloon float.
 | On September IT and IS 1902. a smell model apparatus drifted against the wind at an angle of 120 degrees in the course of trials carried out in tho roads Of Ro- van In the presence of deputies and prom | inent persons.
 During the trials which took place at La Pallice- Rochelle on the 18th of Sep- tember. 1908, the inventor proposed to carry a rope from lana to a ship in dis tress Ca buoy vas moored instead of A lshipl. The apparatus. set at 30 dersaS.