The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-11
BALLOON WILL TRY ID GROSS ATLANTIC Giant Dirigible Plans to Make
 the Trip Soon MANY NOVEL FEATURES Route Across the Atlantic Will Be That Taken By Columbus and Route of the Trade Winds
 '. Will Be Followed
MANY NOVEL FEATURES

New York. February 1o.A(special.)- Early In March a giant dirigible balloon, the ."Suchard," will leave Europe for America, Its exact ports of call being uncertain. Prof1ting by Wellman's ex- Derience. the new transatlantic airship will embody many new ideas. The bal loon will be over 200 feet In length with a capacity of 94o0 cubic metres. It is Of the Periseval type with many original features. The start will be made from Porto Grande on the island of St. Vim cent. in the middle of the trade wind region, which is counted upon to blow steadily during the trip In the car Of the dirigibe is a motor boat 30 feet long and 10 feet in width, which has been so arranged that the screws of the air. shin may be used to propel the boat In the water In case the crew is obliged to take to sea. One of the novel features of the balloon Is contrivance for spray ing the great bag to neutralize the ex- banding force of the sun. The route across the Atlantic planned for the "Su chard" exactly follows that taken by Columbus.
 Provisioning Modern Liner
 Every steamer sailing out of New York e rries provisions enough for at least twice the length of its voyage. In otlter " ords. one of these great floating hotels might go to Europe and return. main taining its elaborate bill of fare without landing. A steamer bound to the tropics some time ago had the misfortune to run aground. where she was held for month, and even on the last day of their enforced Imprisonment the passengers were served with ice cream for desert, which had been prepared before sailing. In addition to the immensely varied sup plies which are necessary to serve. elab- crate course dinners, there is always carried large supply of flour and other staples, so that the floating city would not suffer for food If they were kept at sea indefinitely. With the high price or foods. the butchers and grocers' bills of the steward are enormous. The meat bill of modern liner. like the ''Kaiserin Auguste Virctoria" of the Hamburg American line. alone. Is about $16,ooo ev- cry time she goes into port. s5OO0 poultry bill and a s2000 fish bill are com mon items. while vegetables will add $oo0O to this; the butter and milk bill S2O00 more. and a general grocery bill about s5t0o The total cost of provisioning one of these boats for sea-going population O. $500 or more Is about S5000O.
 Uncle sam's Customers
 The natural and manufactured products of the United States, sold to the outside world last year to the value of $1,S64,- 4s1, ,644 show a gratifying increase in the past ten years of nearly 75 per cent in lthe value of goods sold to- the western hemisphere Europe has increased it's ac- count only slightly in this period, the de- cline in the sale of foodstuffs being es- pecially noteworthy. The trade of the Tar east meanwhile, has increased enormons- ly. China having increased her trade 50 per cent, while the trade of Japan shows a trif1ing gain It Is fin Canada, however, that we find our best customers. In ten years our exports in this direction have jumped from s100.00O,00o to $242, OOo, while Cuba. which imported s27co'ooo worth of our goods ten years ago. last year received s5S, 900, 900 worth. similar increase is found in the exports Of Mexi- co, which have jumped from s3SooO.ooo to sG4. GOO in ten years, while Brazil mas increased it's purchases from $11 5oO.OO0 to s25. coo GOO in the same period.
 A Snug HarbOr Skyscrnper
 Sailors of every nationality may find haven of refuge in the new l2-story Seaman's Home about to be built Tn Ne" York situated convenient to the water front. the new home. which will pro- vide room for 500 sailors. will cost $780, Co0.. The enterprise shas received the ap- proval of the New York chamber or com .nerce. It will be erected by the Sea men's Church institute in New York on non-sectarian lines. Here the 5O old salts will find, in addition to the regular oed rooms. a savings bank. reading ana n nnusement rooms; and a well organised skipping office. providing employment and other assistance. All classes Of New York business men are interested in the erterprise. and nearly $50o.0O0 has already t.,o,, e,,hooribed for it's erection.