The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-03
To THE POLE
BY AIRSHIP
WeIIman Almost Ready TO Start
On His Aerial Dash
to the North.

to the North.
CHRIsTIANIA, June 1.-THE great |
est interest is being taken throughout
Norway in the airship experiments OF
Walter wellman. the American, VINO
is contemplating an airship dash to
the north pole, Ia Jules Verne. Ae-
cording to the present plans Of Mr.
WeIIman, during the first week Of July
there viii be trials of the airship until
it is demonstrated that the latter is
ready for the voyage. The start for
the pole will be made on the first
favorable opportunity afterward, prob
ably between July 20 and August 10,
but. il necessary, Mr.. Wellman is pre-
pared TO start as late as August 20
TIE members of the expedition are Mr.
Walter Wellman. Mai. Hearsey (execu-
tive officer and scientific observer),
who has been sent over by the United
States government: Chief Engineer
| ZIMMERMAN, DR.. Fowler (surgeon), ana
M. Castor Hervier, the aeronauticaI
engineer and the only Frenchman on
the staff About thirty men constitute
the total expeditionary force, though
Of course. some of these are sailors
and mechanics and have nothing TO
do with the expedition besides aiding
lin handling the balloon, car, gear, etc,
at Tromso and at Spitzbergen.
Discussing his plans. the American
/ explorer said: There was no question
iof last years expedition having been
a failure. An enormous amount OF
work had to be done at Spitzbergen-
work which was found TO be too much
for one short arctic summer
This year on arriving at Spitzzoer-
gen there is little work to be done IN
the matter of the erecting Of buildings.
we have constructed an entirely new
lairship with which we hope to accom-
plish the end we have in view, namely
Ian aerial journey from Spitzbergen to
the pole and back
| SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES.
"One of the most important changes
we have effected has been the enlarge
menr Of the balloon of the airship.
This has been made eighteen feet lon
ger and it's lifting power increased by
5000 pounds, giving a total lifting force
of 1880 pounds. The balloon IS 1S4
feet long and fifty-two feet in its
greatest diameter its cubic volume be-
ing 165. 600 feet. With the single ex-
ception of Count Zeppelin's airshlp
this is the largest ever built. The next
important change in our last year,
aauipment is that we have built an
entirely new car and mechanical equip
nent. all of that used having been dis
carded. The new ca consists Of
framework of steel tubing rs feet long
IN feet high and feet broad This IS
susnerde5 close under the balloon al
sucb distance that those standing on
the TOP of the car can easily reach the
balloon. The keel or backbone OF the
airship consists of a steel tank eighteen
inches in diameter and 11o feet IN
length. with capacity Cor holding
1900 gallons Of petrol.
1.-The top of this tank viii be really
the deck of our ship. By this disposl-
ton we make the weight Of the tank
which is about 1000 pounds, do double
duty. for it is not only safe reservoir
for our petrol, but at the same time
gives rightly to the structure Of the
shin. This tank is divided into four
teen compartments to prevent the DAN
ger of explosion. and the petrol can be
pumped from any section Of this tank
81 as to trim the ship. The car Is
incIosed with tightly-stretched silk, the
two sides forming a vertical plane ana
1.-THE wide roof a horizontal plane, al
/ constructed for giving stability To the
ship in the air. AT the stern OF me
| vessel is a rudder of some 900 square
] feet in the form Of a bicycle wheel
| which despite its great size only weighs
| thirty pounds. A little forward OF tne
! Icenter is pIaced a very heavy motor
| built for endurance and safety, o.
! seventy horsepower and having
| weight Of goo pounds. which is war
I ranted TO run constantly and steadliA
] for as many. hours as we wish. In TINS
Inew afrship the propellers, Whlcn ar'
! of the same type as those used II
I / French military airships, are placed II
| ! the center of either side OF the vessel
! They consist of TWO blades OF stee
| eleven feet in diameter and capable
! | of $50 revolutions per minute.
| THE LIVING QUARTERS.
! s.The living quarters of the airshiE
( are in triangular bunk-like space
within the inclosed car These ar
| capable of accommodating ten o.
] twelve men and twelve dogs, togethei
[ with our provisions and equipment
] | Suspended from the roof of the air
! ship and running on light rails is {
tank containing 600 pounds OF proVl
: sions, which by means Of WIndlas'
1 in the navigating room can be run tn
! entire length of the car, so as TO sup
MY our food wherever necessary ant
] also to balance the ship The tota
1 weight Of the steel car and tank Is z2os
| pounds. The motors, screws and ma
chinery weigh 1850 pounds. We carry
1 | in our tank $500 pounds OF petrol, ca
| pable Of running the motor for ID
hours at q normal speed of fourteen
knots per hour. giving total radius
of action from the liquid fuel Of 20
| knots. The weight of the cargo W.
/. | carry diminishes on an average 90
pounds per day by the consumption o
4 petrol for the motor, while the loss o.
Il H., - h~DH