Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-16
AIRSHIP A LA TURBINE
Ferryboat Pilot Believes He Has
 Devised Practical Craft.
EAGER TO TAKE NORTH POLE TRIP

Captain James 4. Clinton of Brook. lyn h Willing to Take His Six Lit- tie Children on Q Test Voyage. Turbine Propellers Important Fac
 tors of the Machine. Captain James A. Clinton, for twen-
 ty-five years pilot in and around
 New YorkA is confident that he has
 solved the secret of practicable air
 ship, says the New York World. To
 prove it he is willing to take the air
 route to the north pole. guiding his own
 craft and taking his six little children
 as passengers.
 A propeller driven by turbine and
 capable of either raising or lowering
 the airship is one of the secrets of the Clinton craft Another is the driving propeller, which forces air against the rudder in manner which enables the ship to be always under control of the navigator, independent. of contending air currents. which have proved the undoing of other airships.
 Captain Clinton secured in 1896 a patent on his turbine device, which he will install in his airship. He has now applied for letters patent on the com pleted ship.
 It is dirigible craft. sustained by cigar shaped balloon eighty feet long and about twelve feet at the central diameter. The balloon will be con strrcted of oiled silk and divided into compartments so that puncture of the covering will affect only one com partment. The balloon will be fnfiat- ed at the will of the navigator from source of supply installed in the sus- pended car.
 A gasoline engine of about two horse power will compress air, which in turn will drive the turbines that revolve the propellers. The car for carrying the engine. turbines and passengers is sus- pended by guys from the balloon. This car with it's contents will weigh about 250 pounds
 The raising and lowering propeller, with blades eleven feet from tip to tip, will be placed in the center of the car. The driving propeller, of the same di- mensions as the other, is placed at the rear of the car.
 Captain Clinton estimates that he can drive his ship about fifteen miles an hour against ten knot wind, or thirty miles an hour under normal conditions. In case of accident to the gasoline en- zine it can be disconnected and hand device used. Manual power will easily work the turbine wheels.
 Captain Clinton lives at Poplar street, Brooklyn. He has been for many years pilot on the Pennsylvania railroads annex ferryboats.
 q have worked on my airship for nineteen years," Captain Clinton said the other day. T believe l now have it perfected. have invented it on an en- tirely new principle of air navigation. The same barriers found in air naviga- ton are those present in water naviga- ton. except that in the air one must contend with forces assailing from every direction. AS long as it's alu- iron and silk hold out the ship will find its way all over the earth and against all winds. and never higher than at safe distance.
 'I am experienced in the United States geological survey and have not the least doubt of whatI have invent ed and patented. wodld like chance to prove. as I believe can do. that at least one American knows more about airships than any Frenchman who ever tried his hand at the work"
 Captain Clinton is seeking capital to build his airship.