The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-11-27

The fact that serviceable airship
is actually cheaper than fast auto
mobile may not prove sufficient in
ducement to turn prospective purchas-
ers from the automobile market to the
factory of the airships, but fact it is
nevertheless. And there is this adj
ditional fact which is worth consider
ing and that is that the maintenance
of the airship will prove less costly
than that of the auto, that is, If the
airship is not taken out for flight
vided, further, of course, that some
thing does not happen and the thing
come kersmash to the ground. The
wages of regularly licensed sky pilots
and their helpers, the cost of aero
dromes, of planes, anchors and other
necessaries are, of course, definitely
fixed. The cost of gasoline per mile
of flight varies, of course, according 10
speed, but averages less than Tor an
automobile. Aerial navigation is
sport well within the means OF those
with moderate incomes.
type of airship your machine may be
purchased this season for $1,5OO. 1t
will carry two passengers and DO
about IL miles an hour. 1t may be
kept in your private aerodrome at
slight expense, and brought to your
front door at any time at few min
utes' notice. Trade promises to be
brisk, and an airship to be delivered In
the spring should be ordered now. 1t
is difficult to have one delivered IN
less than 60 days. The initial cost OF
an aeroplane is greater, although the
subsequent cost of maintenance is
likely to be rather less. There are
several aeroplane builders in Ameri-
ca and Europe who will fill your order
for car carrying two and capable OF
doing from 20 to 40 miles an hour
for $4,000 The manufacturing OF air
ships has passed it's experimental
stage. The manufacturers have taken
their places in the business world, and
will guarantee the fulfillment OF their
contracts. aF
One of the novelties of the season
is a convenient little aerial runabout
or motor balloon, which brings air
flights within the reach even of those
who cannot afford motoring. The new
airship is fitted with pair OF cones;
they may be attached to an ordinary
balloon, thus converting it into the
dirigible type. The motor is attached
hol1O w
the rudder extends outward from the
opposite side. The airship will run
from 8 to IL miles an hour, carrying
two people, The runabout is an
American invention. 1t costs but $500.
Even the cost of maintenance and
of actual operation may now be cal
culated as definitely as in the case OF
automobiles or horses. The cost of
an aerodrome is as definite as that of
a garage or a stable. The average
wear and tear in running dirigible,
for instance, may be foretold with
quite as much certainty as In the case
of a fast automobile or a valuable
horse. If one compares the cost OF re-
pairing and the tuning up of the motors
with that of repairing an automoDlie
and of shoeing, grooming and doctor
ing a horse, the advantage will be
found to favor the airship.
The actual expense of propelling an
airship is less than in the case OF an
automobile or even horse. 1t has
been calculated that the cost of gaso-
line per mile on touring automobile
is between three and four cents
mile. The cost of fuel for the airship
per mile is scarcely one-half this. The
fuel is, of course, the same in both
cases. Incidentally it is the recog-
nized etiquette in air navigation for
the guest who is invited on the flight
to pay for the gasoline. 1t is perhaps
a picturesque survival of the old prac-
tice of a guest in riding in the past to
pay the toll. These calculations are
made on the assumption that the air
ship is kept in ones private aero
drome, the automobile in the private
garage and the horse in ones private
stable.
In ordering an airship one has a
choice of surprising number of de-