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

these things were apparent 10 Stevens
when be became a manufacturer ia con
nection with his performances During
the mrs. years he was iu business SIS a.
manufactures be told me that be made
as many IS Coo balloons year and had
large crews OF acronaufs working Tor
him IN all parts OF the country. During
ail this time he was studying aerial usrl-
gatiou. following the experiments OF tie
aeronauts abroad closely and making
endless tests in his own workshop. lie
spent all bis earnings Oh devices 10 make
balloons safer and more adaptable for
pieasuriug. lie sent TO France FOR his
engines they cost him hundreds OF dol
lars apiece, but out OF the FIRST couslgn-
ments the ratio that be could Use was
about one out OF ten. Whenever be ar
rived at solution that seemed thor.
oughly good he patented Il. Consequently
he holds today every patent or balloons
and airships Issued IN America
such q balloon as / saw in the course
OF construction ia the workshop IS nut
together according 10 a scientific plan
that is figured down to the rnluutest de-
tail on paper. balloon maker ike
Stevens knows the location Of each rome
and each templet and each toggle, and
this part Of the valve and that part Of
the ripcord. just as an architect knows
where he has placed the different thugs
that go 20 make up the house he Is build
maker has his plan always before him
lie works exactly according to his
scale to the most indnifesimal detail. lie
begins by cutting the material OF which
the bag, or envelope. as II is technically
called, Is made, usually OF SILK Or sew
eral varieties Of cotton or linen. The ma
terlal is cut into many pieces shaped like
bricks These vary in size according TO
their location. Then the temples, as
each piece IS called. are sewn ether;
each edge Is folded IN six thicknesses.
This Is done so that II by any accident
the .emplet should be ripped out or tie
seam give. only the particular tempiet
Ia question Is affected and the opening
In the balloon IS not sufficient TO cause
serious trouble. And in this connection
the balloon maker explains that IL is i'm
possible for al accident to happen
through the bursting or a balloon In the
air He shows that even If a tempieJ
should give and all the gas dissipate,
Whatever way you look at IL the balloon
has sufficient area to form a natural par
achute. which would lower the passcu-
gers safely to some landing.
But this IS ahead OF the story. When
all the parts have been carefully sewn
together, looking somewhat similar to
bricks placed one upon another In walt
the entire envelope Is bathcd in the mix
ture OF iinseed oil, varnish and rubber
which i have already mentioned. In the
meantime, while the envelope Is drying.
taking on that yellow oilskin appearance.
the basket, or car. Is being finished This
is simply an enlarged square clothes
basket. built OF very strong rattan and
other reeds. But In the ba skct IL woven
a maze OF strong ropes. which are spe
ciahy manufactured for balloonng. on
the end OF these ropes are exceedingly
strong catches made Of wood, which are
called toggie. These slip into loops that
suspend from the load ring. which IL that
little ring you usually see just above
the head Of bailoonists In pictures. This
ring is the connecting link between the
OF hickory or a similar tough wood.
Meanwhile the netting which goes over
the envelope has been put together. This
IS one OF the incest problems In the
balloonmaker's work. The ropes must