Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-30
AIRSHiP FOR THE ARMY.
Government to Spend $4,000 for Dir.
iuble Balloon

Acting Secretary of War Oliver has
approved the action of the army ord
narce board in allotting the signal corps
$4,000 to be used in getting dirisi-
bic balloon for scouting purposes. says
Il Washington special dispatch to the
New York Times The last efforts of
the war department to conquer the air
were made rihder the tutelage of Pro-
fessor Langley. who thought he had
worked out this problem of flight by
means of the aeroplane, but in the
final test five years ago his contrivance
came to grief in the tawny waters Of
| the Potomac. The experiments made
at that time cost more than 100000.
and for them the government has moth
ing to show today but a pretty little
engine of aluminium, which it is as
| serted can develop ten horse power
| and weighs but 800 pounds.
| The science of aeronavigation has
been almost wholly developed since the
death of Professor Langley, and now
| il will be purely business matter for
the government to advertise for bids
and get It's wants in the shape of
| skyShip. General Allen. chief of the
| signal corps, has sent to all the leading
| workers in aeronautics in the United
| States and abroad Il tentative invi-
tation with specifications for such
dirigible balloon as the army needs.
1t is not expected that with the amount
allotted b. the ordnance board salts
factory balloon can be had, but a be-
ginning can be made. and as expert
ence points the way larger and more
complete balloon can be procured
The present specifications call for a
two man balloon capable of carrying
gasoline enough for Il three hours
flight. The plan is for one man to de-
vote his attention entirely TO the man
agement of the balloon, while the 9th
er is left free to reconnoiter. make pho
tographs or draw Typographical maps.
The idea is to use coal gas, for reasons
of economy, and the minimum speed re-
Quired is eighteen miles an hour in still
air and from thirty to thirtyfive miles
with the wind. The balloon must
make a 100 mile trip successfully
fifty miles out and fifty back. The
price to be paid will doubtless he based
on the speed attained, the successful
contractor receiving bonus for every
mile over the maximum set by the de-
partments specifications or losing pro
rata for every mile under the average
speed called for.
There are several experts in the
United States who have been at work
in cooperation with the army students
CT aeronautics who think that the re
quirements laid down by General Allen
can be met successfully here.
1t is intended to conduct balloon
drills after the dirigible is bought and
5 gradually work out many problems
that now confront aeronauts. Ulti
mately it is hoped dirigible viii be
built by the government with the com
f bined skill and ingenuity of all the ex
p pert army officers turned on the job.
1t goes without saying nowadays thai
balloons are to be recognized equip
ment of armies hereafter. Already oul
. artillery experts are at work on ord
nance to combat balloon reconnaissance
L High angle firing is being practice(
with howitzers and special shrapne
Y charges are being tried. 1t has beer
s found that it takes different marks
2 manship to hit a balloon target higl
e up in the air from what is required a
4 a distance on the surface Of the earth