The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-10-26
THE BALLooNING TRIUMPH


A finish so close as to be dramatic
.intensifes the interest of the world
.in the international balloon races
held at st. Louis and managed so
ably that no incident or hitch occur
red in the preparations, the ascen-
sions, or the remarkable flights
through the air. says the Globe-Dem-
ocrat. The result under the rules,
was so evenly balanced that the OFF,
cial decision had to be awaited. III
was decidedly not race in which one
was first and the rest nowhere. Each
of the balloons made a good voyage
and several halted only at the edge
of the Atlantic. If the American bal
loon that descended in Canada had
kept on It would have bad the adj
vantage OF the greatest reach OF land
Ito the east. and might not only have
won The race but broken all records
las 90 distance Travelled by any balloon
The worlds long-distance record isl
the only one that stands. All the rest
we're disposed of by the international
race of this week which. as a whole
was incomparably ahead of any 9TH
er. Americas long-distance mark
which had stood for forty-eight years,
was surpassed by several this week,
and both the average performances
of the balloons and the endurance
were far greater in 1907 than in
1906.
Several of the balloonists in this
years competition aimed to reach
New York City, and came near doing
1t, fact impressing the idea that the
gas balloon of the best type is more
dirigible than is supposed. 1t is, when
'capably run, delicately balanced ma.
chine that responds at a touch to
varying currents and weights. An in
stants release of gas causes it to
descend. and a handful of sand
thrown out sends it upward. If the
aeronaut knows the air currents as
they overlay and overlap each other.
and as they shift from time to time,
he can regulate the course to a con-
siderable extent. Both the German
and French balloonists who reached
the most easterly points in the race
seem to have prepared their machines
carefully for endurance, and to have
made the most of the resources of
maneuvering at different heights,
especially toward the end. But for
the danger of going out to sea they
would have arrived at New York
City in an hour or two more. II the
atmospheric currents were more fully
known II would be quite possible to
conduct a St. Louis to New York aer-
ial line with a reasonable assurance
that It would seldom fail to make its
destination. ship is not the sport
of the winds. nor is a balloon, if con-
Istructed and differed like those in
the now historic st. Louis race.
The utility Of such races is fully
confirmed. Balloons have established
their merit in military operations,
and are moving into their rightful
place for commercial purposes and
recreative pleasure. Their safety I'M
der proper conditions has just been
notably demonstrated. In speed they
practically equal an express train.
They have emerged from the stage of
a toy for the adventurous and
mere curiosity. future of useful
ness is before them. The motor air
ship experiments at st. Louis have
been interesting and prove progress
in that department also. This city Is
glad to have performed its important
part in a manner that gives the most
complete satisfaction. It now stands
credited with the greatest information
al balloon races as well as the great
est international exposition. There
are powerful reasons why st. Louis
should be considered the best balloon
ing center in the world. 1t has the
geographical advantages and offers
the needed facilities in the best form.