Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-09-03
LONG BALLOON TRIP.
DR.. J. P. Thomas to Sail From Chicago
to New York.

to New York.
In an attempt to make a world :
record against which the competitors in
the international balloon races at Paris
this month will have to struggle, Dr.
Julian l. Thomas of New York VIII
take lis balloon to Chicago and try for
fight to New York. The date for the
start of this long trip has not been set,
but il Will be well in advance of the
races in Paris. and the flight viii be
attempted i'll all probability before the
end OF August. says the New York
Times.
DE- Thomas VIII initiate his balloon
with hydrogen, giving il Il far greater
lifting capacity, permitting him 10 car
r. companion aeronGut and an album
dance OF ballast and provisions. The
imitation of the great silk bulb viii cost
$50. and this sum, with the pay Of
guide. expenses Of the journey west
AMI the equipment for the trip and
other details. VIII mako the ascension
ore of the costliest ever made in the
United States.
1t is my hope" said DR.. Thomas
recently. 20 see America CutStip the
French il their ballooning experiments
aud hold the world records for success
ful flights. We are very near doing
that now and with some OF our very
wealthy men Interested in ballooning
it will not be long before America Will
leave France in the background. our
men have the nerve and the money, and
in n little while the French Will not be
able to compete with us"
In his previous flights DR.. Thomas
has advanced far in the study Of air
currents. With Il great abundance of
ballast, which the hydrogen viii permit
him to take along, he will be able to
search the UPPER regions for swift.
favorable winds. and he believes that
lie can find them and guide the 'Nirvana
from Chicago to New York success
fully
DR.. Thomas may take Major c. J. s.
Miller of Pittsburg with him on his
long voyage Major Miller's successful
flight III the new airship built for him
by Leo Stevens Mt Franklin, Pa. last
Friday aug. 10 and Mrs. Mlllcr's
fight on the next day have introduced
them into the ballooning world rs po-
tent factors in the development of the
scientific sport in the United States
The majors wealth is such that the
cost of an airship or two means no
more of drain on his resources. says
DR.. Thomas, than the purchase OF an
automobile or two. DR.. Thomas is en-
tEusiastic over his advent
HE offered me his airship to bring
along to New York with me when L
was at Franklin" said DR.. Thomas. Il
will have an aerodrome built here and
use the ship for number of flights
In the meanwhile I am having my own
airship built. one that will be radical
~ new 1t has six or eight new de-
vices that will make it different from
others built 50 far, and as any of these
devices may develop into a man killer
we will first operate the machine by
means of electric wires from the earth.
The machine Will he put together out !
side Of the city ana preliminary tests
made without Gu operator III the car.
My own workmen are eEga ged on it, |
and the work IS being done with the |
greatest regard for secrecy"
OF the second fight OF the Miller /
airship at Franklin DR. Thomas re-
ccived a detailed report by telegraph. |
Mrs. Miller, the first woman to make |
an ascension in the United States in !
a dirigible balloon. was reported 10 |
have worn her prettiest pink dress. |