The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-01
HAS NEW DIRICIBLE PLAN
PROFESSOR LOWE WOULD CIRCUM-
 NAVIGATE GLOBE.
Aged Aeronauf Declares His Ba,Ioor Can Go For Years Without Replenishing Gas--Compares
 With ZeppeIfn,s.

NhtN 6CEVCAhhH.
 union, $. C., Oct. 31.--A plan to cir cumnayigate the globe in a dirigible balloon without having to stop to re- pienish the propelling power-hydro- gen-is regarded as entirely practica- ble by Professor Thaddeus S. c. Lowe. the noted aeronaut and scient- list. and head of the Mount Lowe Ob- servatory, near Pasadena, Cal, who is now constructing an air craft designed to accomplish this remarkable feat.
 With an experience in aeronautics covering more than half a century, and holding the worlds balloon speed record. made in flight from Cincin- nati to Pea Ridge. s. C.. April 20. 1861, when he covered distance estimated at more than 500 miles in less than nine hours the announcement of Pro- lessor Lowe's new venture in this field will attract widespread interest.
 The details of Professor Lowe's plans are made public for the first time In letter to Allan Nicholson, editor of Progress. local newspaper. Refer ring to his long flight in 1861, Profess sor Lowe says:
 If this Is not sufficient to hold at least the speed record for 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 I am now get- ting out plans. that believe will cir cumnavigate the globe without having to stop and replenish the carrying power. hydrogen. The new vessel will be capable of propelling to any part of the globe desired."
 Continuing, Professor Lowe makes the following comparison between the famous Zeppelin alrship and the pros: spective Lowe airship:
 'The Zeppelin machine, 45e feet long by 50 feet in diameter, has a surface shape and necessarily cumbrous con- struction. 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 fact presented to the wind. Owing to It's lightor and still stronger con- struction. 1t will carry eight tons of surplus weight. What is meant by surplus weight, In both eases. is that in addition to the fuel and provis- ions. which surplus Is used for freight and passengers.
 with only one-quarter headwind. the Zeppelin could make no headway in a nfteen-mi1e breeze, while the Lowe airship can easily make twenty-five miles against the same wind. and can ascend to the high attitudes and select favorable currents, which the Zeppelin cannot do. The Lowe can rise and lower perpendicularly, and land on a small surface, and rest its heavy weight, without the loss of either gas or ballast, and can anchor in any de- sired spot indefinitely, and resume operation at any time. with the same lifting power, without additional ex- pense of any kind. except that used in propelling the craft.
 "The most important feature of all is being able to do away with expen- sive balloon houses-as was fully dem- onstrated with all Of the Lowe war balloons from 1881 to 1887, both for war. scientific and pleasure purposes. All other air crafts, including balloons of ell shapes, as now constructed. have to be housed at great expense, and their gas has to be frequently replen- ished, also at great expense. while with the Lowe method of construction the ordinary balloon would hold its gas for continuous operation for three months without reinfation. while the larger Lowe air crafts-built for cir- cumnavigating the globe. If desired could hold their gas for a year at time, owing to so vastly less surface in proposition to contents between a sphere 30 feet in diameter. lifting $40 pounds. and one of 100 feet in diame' ter. lifting 32.267 pounds"
 Professor Lowe expects to have his new airship ready for the initial ex- periments within the next few months.