Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-03
Baldwin Will Go Up if Balloon
Is Shipshape.
MANY THINGS TO BE DONE
Engine Is Tested and Works Like
q Charm.
AEROPLANES ARE COMING SOON
Wright Brothers Machine Will Ar
rive This Week and Herrine's
Flyer on August 13.

Maybe Capt Baldwin's dirigible balloon
will fly this afternoon between and g.
Maybe 1t won't
1t all depends on how long it will take
to do certain things.
The big gray silk bag now mods toward
the roof of the balloon house at Fort
Myer Framework and motor are in place
underneath. There are not more than
3.O11 things to be done now before the big
ship is ready to get out and breast the
breeze. 1t is merely question Of whether
their accomplishment can be crowded into
the time between now and sunset.
The motor was tried out by Glenn Cur
tiss, its builder, yesterday. 1t ran beau
tifully, with about as much noise as a
machine gun battery. There Is sure some
pull to the propeller.
Two husky Signal Corps men had hold
of the frame. which was resting across
two boxes, when the motor started. The
frame started to walk out of the door and
take the men with it. The power was
shut off in time to save two promising en-
listed men to the service
Tying Up Ends.
This morning was partially spent in ty-
ing the thousand spidery cords of the net
work to the balloon frame. Then weights
had to be adjusted, the rudder shipped,
the side planes set and other things.
Then 1t was safe to take the ship out OF
doors.
This was almost an. ideal day for a
flight. The gentle breeze was steady and
did not amount to much in strength
Capt. Baldwin was anxious to ma Ike trlal
flight. He would have liked to make one
yesterday, in fact, as 1t was the fourtn
anniversary of the initial fight Of the Call
fOrnia Arrow, the first dirig1ble flown In
America.
The big silk bag is not yet drum tight
as 1t will be during flight. The balloone'
inside is Debated. A little blower on the
platform can distend this whenever re-
envelope. Also when the balloon gets ou,
in the hot sun the hydrogen will expand
and will fill 1t to safety limit. or course
a little gas will be lost each day by the
big balloon. This is to be compensated
by filing two little signal service bal
looms that will be carried over to the
cavalry drill grounds and used as reser'
vOirs
Cheap Hydrogen Plant.
The dirigible test may furnish the Wal
Department with hydrogen-makinl
plant at great saving to the govern
ment. The signal service has figured FOL
some time past on establishing at leas
one hydrogen making plant. probably a
Omaha. The cost was about $4,000, al
most prOhibitive
Then along came Capt. Baldwin Will
his own plant Perhaps not nickel plated
and rounded off on the corners to the
point of some Of the French government
plants. 1t delivered the goods. or rather
the gas. and did not cost $4,000 or any
appreciable fraction of it.
1t is a simple little plant. but the out
come Of many years Of experience, ex
periments and failures.
The army officers are SO much pleased
with it that they are negotiating for thu
rights for government use.
With the Wright brothers flying machin,
on the way to Fort Myer. the Herrinl
aeroplane due In ten days. and the Bald,
win dirtgfble ready to ny. the army air
ship tests have reached q point Of addet
importance and expectancy
Capt Baldwin. assisted by Glenn H
Curtiss. the eronaut and engine builde
today thoroughly tested the motor and
propeller which will send the new militar,
dirigible through the air.
Yesterday the signal Office received a
letter from Orville Wright stating that
his aeroplane will reach Fort Myer THU