New-York tribune., 1909-01-02
HIS AlRSHIP A MARVEL
ThurloU Ueed Barnes Plans One
ThatW NeTcr Come Dozen.

Thurlow Weed Barnes. promoter Of the Aerial
Navigation Company Of America. said yesterday
that there would be necessity ever TO come
down 10 earth, far the companys airshiQ ts
concerned. The airshp is to weigh hundred and
forty tons. he said and early IN the spring will
be ready to carry 4 hundred persons To ST. Louis.
II a hundred persons can he found who want to
ST. Louis in an airship guaranteed 70 foat
forever-if not molested.
'Forever2' asked reporter.
Precisely, answered Thurlow Weed Barnes. en-
erseticaly. ''T know Il seems long time out
forty-seven years is a long time too isn't IL tor
A sample Of hydrogen gas be kept locked up in
bottle and be found every bit good At ne
end Of almost half century when il was care
fully gathered and protected from outside infu-
ences? BY forever I mean forty-snver Years or
such matter, which is practically forever when II
comes to riding in airship, near as can
figure it" He said he knew where the bottle vas
that had held the gas.
From ST. Louis the ajrship. said Mr.. Barnes. will
proceed 10 European ports. Both trips will be made
during 1G09 before the end of which the world will
probably accept cooily new airship thousand
long. capable Of carrying twenty-five hundred
persons which il is the purpose % the Aerial Navi
CATION Company of America 10 build in few
months
Mr.. Barnes pointed 10 a sketch showing ar
rangement Of reservoirs for retaining indefinitely
hydrogen gas for in the propulsion ~ The
vessel The airship viii just naturally max" It's
own gas while travelling. he said and everything
jected with a good supply Of IL every little while
For instance. the seats, chairs and other articles
of furniture IN this airship would he made ~
greater than ordinary bulk and of thin sheets ~
aluminium. 70 give them the necessary shape and
hollow character.
II is the intention Of the Aerial Navigation Com
panv Of America to Withdraw the air from The
interior Of the furniture, substituting therefor
fluid Of lighter specific gravity. as, for instance.
hydrogen gas. a seat chair thus CONSTRUCTED
possesses a certain amount II elasticity insur'ng
the comfort Of the passenger said Mr.. Barnes.
Il grant the opportunity for certain amount
OF elasticity" said a well known aeronaut in this
CITY Yesterday. when asked about the plan. but
am harassed bv doubts concerning the comfort Of
the passenger If hydrogen filled furniture is to be
one his chief hopes hydrogen changes with the
temperature" the aeronaut proceeded. and can
see even now. the chairs, tables, footstoos and
rubber cushions cnging eagerly the ceiling II
the cabin"
Mr. Barnes said that he had arranged with Lewis
Nixon. owner OF the Lewis Nixon shipyards,
Staten Island. begin build, early this month,
the 700-foot aluminium airship with which he and
his associates expect TO starte mankind, and inci-
dentaIIv make money on 4 large scale. At the Of
fee Of the Nixon shipyards the contract to build
the airshp vas said TO be signed.
we going back to the original Moses in the
aerona1ItiCal world for basic patents" said Mr.
Barnes Edward Joel Pennington. Of Racine
Wis invented In 1893 the best airshp ever known.
We own the Pennington patents, and Mr. PenninS-
ton will help US operate them
Our airsEip will he able to overcome the chief
obstacles heretofore encountered in aerial navga-
tfon-nanely. head winds. adverse currents and
ordinary atmospheric resistance"
MI Barnes would not tell the particulars OF two
special guns which he said the arship would carry,
one TO snoo the ground, the other TO shoot other
afrships with He said II would he impossible to
hit an apple tugb"at in New York Harbor by
letting something drop from airship. and the
Aerial Navigation Company Of America vessels
would be said be largely used in he and
another mar had decided get something especial
IL good In the way Of guns.