The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-02

ing. Association with him is stimulating.
Naturally, most OF the balloons shipped
out of this factory are made for aeronauts
az county fairs and for advertising pur-
poses. These are the staples Of Stevens
business. on his income from this source
ne depends 20 make his experiments IN
aerial navigation He turns out some
thing Ike 10 balloons year for such
uses. He sells these balloons for an aver
age price of Sl35 each. They are made OF
q material similar TO percale. which is
vanished with mixture usually com
posed OF hnseed oil. varnish and rubber.
These balloons are usually filled with HOT
cir aud have none OF the safety appliances
Of the passenger balloons. 1 DID not un-
derstand exactly what hot air was. so
asked Mr.. Stevens. II You are as ignorant
as was u may interest you 20 know that
it is nothing more nor less than the heat
cmanaung from any kind Of fire built I'M
der the debated balloon. This. as YOU
know from your experiments with the
toulth OF July paper balloons, has an as
censlonal power. When an the heat has
been caught up I'm the bulky envelope il
rises, and il continues 10 float IN the
air until the heat turns into smoke The
aeronaut with any experience intuitively
knows when this change is about TO oc-
cur, and just before the heat turns into
smoke and the balloon consequently col
lopses the aeronaut pulls little tackle
which is ciercrly attached to q penknife.
Wulcu cuts the trapeZe ON which he sits
from the dangerous balloon, and down he
sulis ou his parachute. At balloon ascen-
siouS had often witnessed the aeronaut
doing what seemed 20 me To be the limit
az human fo0lharliness in performing
trapeze acts while sailing through the air
Hc would swing from his uncanny perch
on one foot and "chin" the bar and turn
cartw heels. until. sick with apprehension.
/ would turn away ] asked Mr. Stevens
"a dol
performers are always secured so that
they cannot fa.. They are fastened 70
the trapcze by belt which is three feet
long- Most aerou0utS work for someone
Who controls an entire company OF bal
loonists- ON the last Fourth of July Ste
VEINS had 40 men and balloons out work
iug an over the United States
Inc haNoonlst gets SO for each asccn-
Sion and all his expenses are paid The
Wnn who sends him out gets Sl25 for the
service ana is obliged To- furnish the bal
loon ana all the accessories As pro-
ieeSipnal Stevens made his FIRST ascent
ben ne was "a years old. and that time.
Doe Says. the man he worked for received
u.s. much as $500 for one ascension.
While out ~ that uc would nav him S4tg
or 5000. Aud Doc made as many as i've
asceuslons BOB one week. But the money
WAS easy come and easy 90. and the bal
lHouuaLer Says that he would wilma ND
t-e season just as poor as be was when
DE- started. and he would go back TO his
home. ll Cleveland. o., where his father
owned au amusement parb which was
Then known as Beyeriies Park. and later
was known as Forest City There h,
would get position as shipping clerk iu
some mercantile establishment until thc
winter months were over.
The manner iu which he became q hal
io"nis, is amusing and exciting As
boy hr loved 90 tinker around machinery
i.7 was cmlneuty practical one day