Long Valley advocate. (Lardo, Idaho) 1904-1907, 1906-06-14
TO POLE BY AIRSHIp.
DASH WILL BE MADE BY Norpn
EXPLORER.
Particulars of the Daring Ventrro
Contemplation-Craft to Be
Employed-Prospects
of Success.

Mr.. Walter Wellman. that no+ah.
explorer and journalist who has twios
gone to the Arctic region in attemnts
to reach the north pole, expects ~
start from Spritzbergen the first %
August on a third expedition, which
will travel through the air in tbo
largest dirigible balloon ever built
The envelope of the balloon is being
constructed by Louis Goddard, of Par.
is. 1t is to consist of two LAYERS of
rubber-cOvered cotton and one LAYER
the inside One-of rubber-covered silk
In it's central zone, which is the
strongest, the envelope is to have a
tensile strength of $500 kilogrammes
per square meter (abOut 575 pounds
per square FOOT thus giving a factor
of safety of 6 to 1. The average fac
tor of safety is five to one, as against
81 to one of the Lebaudy airship. The
form of the balloon is to be main
tanned by an interior b~allOnette filled
with compressed air by means of a
five-hOrSe power motor and compress
or. On account of the triple rubber
layers (Which are Tapped one inch at
the seams and sewed together, and the
stitching then covered with cemented
strips the leakage of gas is guaran-
teed not to exceed ~ per cent. per
day. The amount of fuel and supplies
consumed daily will more than coun-
~terbalance this. The length of the gas
bag will be SO meters (164.04 feet); its
greatest diameter, 16 meters (54.49);
it's surface, 1860 square meters (21,-
098 square feet); It's capacity, $3.50
cubic meters (224, 244 cubic feet); and
lifting power of 1,130 grammes per
cubic meter) 7,24O kilogrammes, or 49,
900 pounds. The weight of the balloon
is 1850 pounds, while the framework,
steel car, motors, and all other para
phernalia bring this up to a total Of
$500 pounds. This leaves an avail
able lifting power of $500 pounds for
the crew of five men, three or four
motor sledges, a metallic boat, and all
supplies, says the Scientific American.
The airship is to have two four
cylinder water-cooled gasoline motors
of IS and 25 horse power. The larger
motor drives a forward propeller
through reduction gearing, and the
smaller one a propeller at the rear III
the same manner. A speed of 15 miles
an hour will be obtainable with tne
55-horse power motor, and 10 miles an
hour with both. The total distance 10
be covered is about 1,200 miles, whlle
the $500 pounds Of gasoline to be car
ried should drive the airship nearly
twice this distance. This fuel is sui
f1cient for a 140-hour run of the main
motor.
Should one motor break down DE-
yond repair, the travellers can use 'ne
other one; and if the airship gives out
from any cause, the travellers can tah0
to the sledges. A wireless telegraph
outfit is to be taken along, SO tnas
communication can be malntaiheu
with the base as long as possible.
At a meeting of the New York Mo-
tor club on March %, Mr.. Wellman OK
planned fully his plans for the UP
and showed how he has tried to plo-
vide for every contingency. The On
ship is to be transported to Spltzoel
gen, inflated there, and experlmen'I
with during the month of July
everything works satisfactorily
dash will be made in August ana PIX *
visions will be carried sufficient loi -
days. Everything has been SO car
fully planned by Mr.. Wellman, ~
has an intimate knowledge or Wnash
required, that the expedition tnroas
the air, if not altogether successl,
bids fair To he hv no means a ulo"~