Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-30
A RECORD
Leroy Taylor, New York
e Yachtsman, Now Seeking
Fame as Balloonist.
PLANS AN EARLY START
Hopes to Fly From Waco, Tex, to
Manhattan, a Distance of
About 1880 Miles.

Hope of breaking the worlds record
for balloon flights, which has stood
for ten years, Possesses Leroy Taylor,
a member of the New York Yacht, the
Larchmont Yacht, Lambs and other
clubs, and he will try to bring the
trophy to America by n flight TO start
within the next few weeks from Waco,
( Tex.
His associate will be Lee Stevens,
a well known professional balloonist.
The balloon is to be the largest Spher-
ical one ever made.
Waco was selected as the starting
point after much consideration, in
which the meteorological observations
Of the weather bureau figured largely.
Favorable wind currents will give a
balloon ascending there the longest
possible fight in the general direction
of New York.
Waco is sufficiently inland almost to
Obviate the danger of being blown out
TO sea- There are few mountain
ranges to be passed, and these are of
secondary Importance so far as size
and effect upon winds are concerned.
Again. Waco is within the zone of
comparatively steady blowing winds
at certain seasons of the year. 1t is in
the hope of getting one from the south
west that the flight has been timed for
January.
The balloon will carry water and
provisions for month. This is con-
sidered essential, as long stretches of
desert land must be passed over and
the aeronauts may have to land where
water and food are unobtainable.
Taylor is an enthusiastic amateur at
the balloon game. He has been in sew
eral competitions and recently few
from Pittsield. Mass, to a point near
there in a snowstorm. He helped or
ganize the fiiers among members of
the New York Yacht. Larchmont
Yacht and Lambs clubs who are in
terested in balloons or aeroplanes.
The present record for length Of
fight is held by Count de Ia Vaulx,
who with st. Victor rode from Vim
cennes. France to Korostychew. Rus
STA. 1 1913 miles. in October, 1900. They
were not in the air long enough, how
ever. to give them the endurance rec
ord. This is held by Clifford Harmon.
who in October. 1910. in a fight from
St Louis remained aloft for forty
eight hours and twenty-six minutes,
though he covered nowhere near the
distance the Frenchman did
JUST MISSED RECORDS.
In the same month Havley and Post
made their sensational fight from st
Louis. 1t will be remembered they
were lost to the world for about
week; then their safe landing was re-
ported from the Canadian backwoods.
1t was esta blished that they had re-
manned up aloft for forty-five hours
and ffty-six minutes and had covered
LII miles, both performances just
short of worlds records.
On an air line the distance from
Waco to New York is approximately
1900 miles, which under highly favor
ing conditions could be covered readily
in less than forty hours. This would
mean travelling at an average speed
of a little less than forty miles an
hour. The balloon now being built is
being developed along lines that it is
hoped will permit it to remain aloft
from sixty to seventy-two hours. The
ordinary duration of a balloons gas
charge is about forty-eight hours.
The craft will take months to build.
1t will have n lifting power of 1900
pounds. As the bag and basket car
rying two men and fully equipped will
weigh about 5000 pounds, this will
allow 5000 pounds of ballast The
bag IS built of two thicknesses of spe-
ciaI linen, with rubber between. 1t
has been found that linen is far bet
ter for such use than silk, not alone
on account of its greater toughness.
but because the silk is too ready con-
ductor for electricity. with its attend.
ant danger to the gas.