Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-11-06
AROUND The WORLD
IN AN AIR SHIP
Prof Lowe Expects TO Do
That in a Year.

cumnavigate the globe in a dirigfbIe
balloon without stop is regarded as
practicable by Prof. Thaddeus S. c.
Lowe, the noted aeronaut and scient-
list, and head Of the Mount Lowe OBJ
seryatory, near Pasadena, Cal. He is
constructing an aircraft designed to
accomplish this remarkable feat. Prof.
loves experience in aeronautics COW
ers more than half a century, and he
holds the worlds balloon speed record,
made in flight from Cincinnati to Pea
Ridge, S. C.. April 20. 1851, more than
800 miles, in less than nine hours.
Details of Prof. loves plans are
made public for the first time in a let
ter to Allan Nicholson, editor of Prog
| ress, a local newspaper
Referring to his long flight in 1851,
Prof. Lowe says:
"If this is not sufficient to hold at
least the speed record for a long time,
| the aeronautic fraternity will soon
have an opportunity to not only sur
pass this, but will be given a chance to
try their skill in keeping up with an
| airship for which l am now getting
| out plans, that I believe will circum-
navigate the globe without having to
stop and Feplenish the carrying power,
hydrogen The new vessel will be
capable of propelling to any part of
the globe desired
His Can Garry Eight Tons.
THE Zeppelin machine, $50 feet
long by SO feet in diameter, has a
surface of 22,500 square feet, and, ow-
ing to its shape and necessarily cum
brous construction, is unable to carry
more than three tons of surplus
| weight.
"The Lowe airship, 100 feet in diam
eter, with Its great downward taper,
has less than 10000 square feet of sur
face presented to the wind Owing to
its lighter and still stronger construc-
ton, 1t will carry eight tons of surplus
weight. What is meant by surplus
weight in both cases is that in addi-
ton to fuel and provisions, which sur
plus is used for freight and passeng-
ers.
With only quarter head wind, the
Zeppelin could make no Roadway in a
15-mile breeze, while the Lowe airship
can easily make % miles against the
same wind, and can ascend to the high
| attitudes and select favorable cur
rents. which the Zeppelin cannot do.
The Lowe can rise and lower perpen-
| dicularly and land on small surface
and rest its heavy weight without the
loss Of either gas or ballast, and can
anchor in any desired spot indefinitely,
and resume operation at any time,
with the same lifting power, without
|, additional expense of any kind, except
that used In propelling the craft
i Could Stay in Air Year.
The most important feature OF all
, is being able to do away with expens-
i've balloon houses-as was fully de-
, monstrated with all of the Lowe war
balloons, from 1861 to 1867, both for
war, scientific and pleasure purposes.
. All other air RATS, including balloons
, of all shapes, as now constructed, have
to be housed at great expense, and
their gas has to be frequently repIea-
, ished. also at great expense; while
with the Lowe method of construction
, the ordinary war balloon would hold
its gas for continuous operation for
, three months without reinfation,
while the larger Lowe air craft-buiIt
/ for circumnavigating the globe. If de-
, | sired-could hold their gas for year
|, at time. owing to SO vastly less sur
/ face in proportion to contents, lifting
40 pounds, and one of 100 feet in d.
ameter. lifting 32,725 pounds
{ Prof Lowe says he expects to have
, his new airship ready for the initial
: experiments within the next few
months.