Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-08
RAIN PREVENTS
BALLOON TRIPS
WIND MAKES IT. DIFFICULT TO
MANAGE BIG BAGS
ASCENSION is. POSTPONED TO
LATTER PART OF WEEK
Attempt Will Be Made to Keep Air.
ships inflated So as to Pre-
serve Gas Which They
Contain

Because of the rainstorrn the bal
looms United States and American were
not sent up by the California Aero
nautic society yesterday, but they
caused Capt. Mueller, who has charge
of the big bags, considerable maneu-
vering to keep them on the ground
during the gale of wind which devel-
oped about 4 o'clock yesterday after
noon. He sent an emergency call to
all parts of Chutes park, and enough
employees were marshaled to make
pulling the rips" unnecessary. The
whipping of the envelope against the
netting cut a few small holes in each
balloon, but these were easily repaired
by Capt. Mueller.
The ascension was postponed until
later in the week, and an effort will
be made to hold the gas now in the
balloons, perhaps unGh next Sunday.
The society may celebrate the hun
dredth anniversary of Lincoln'S birth
next Friday by sending one of the pa
triotically named balloons aloft.
Il have no fear about the gas" said
Capt, Mueller yesterday. "That we
can hold, but it is the wind makes
trouble" Although Mueller treats the
balloons as tenderly as though they
were alive he carries a fierce looking
knife in readiness to stab both the
United States and American in case
there is a certainty an unruly wind
will carry them off the ground He
does not believe that such an emer-
gency is likely to arise in Los Angeles.
No Trouble Experienced
'In the east there would have been
many times trouble with the wind, Z"
he said, but here not so much. The
01iY1 70 ic fo Il -,
geles to ballooning; the people here do
not appreciate that-what it means.
If Mr.. Ferris idea of crossing the con-
tinent is accomplished, which is pos
sible the city will be awakened 1t
will be done, maybe this year, maybe
in five years; perhaps 1000 miles, per-
haps to Cuba. L should like to be the
first to do this, but it is expensive.
On the continent the people generally
take more interest-note how they
subscribed a million dollars in Ger
many for Count Zeppelin-but in the
United States they are slower to start.
1T would bring Los Angeles much
return if the business bodies would
encourage achievements like the trial
to cross the country, which would at
tract attention in all parts of the
world. When l was last in New York
said the west was the best for bal
loon experiments and that the currents
would be found to drive to the east.
They laughed at me, for they pay not
so much attention to the west; but it
is so. Los Angeles should che consid-
cred one Of the best places in the
world for ballooning and aerial expert
ments. This will be developed only
when men Of means come to see the
possibilities and take the interest in
them that they do in the east and
abroad =.
Urges Combined Airships
Capt. Mueller is convinced the most
practical method of aerial navigation
lies in a combined airship inflated with
hydrogen gas and an aeroplane at
tached together as one craft The
dirigible airship will give lifting power
into the air while the strain when
speed is attained will be taken from
it by the aeroplane which can lift the
load while travelling through the air,
according to his theory. He believes
this assures greater safety and also
will allow fast travelling for longer dis
tances than is now possible
This idea has been worked out with
models by Capt. Mueller. and he has
been commended by Brig. Gen. Allen,
chief signal officer, and others inter-
ested in aeronautics. He is endeavor-
ing to interest Los Angeles capital in
the hope of constructing an airship on
his lines, and after demonstrations.
going into commercial building. Capt.
Mueller says that an initial expendi-
ture of $4,000 should construct and
operate a combination airship
Dick Ferris and Charles A. Coey
have definitely arranged to make their
long distance trials a competitive con-
test. They will race eastward for a
purse of $1,000. and each will accom-
pany his own balloon. Mr.. Ferris will
probably take the United States. The
race will not take place until more
settled weather-probably toward the
last of March.