The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-19
BUILT AN AlRSHIP
Hutchinson Pioneer Designs
Engine for First Dirigible.
Met Girl Who Became Wife
Working on Balloon.
WIND WRECKS BIG BAG
Electric Cooling Devices Now
Claim His Attention.
Pioneer in Aviation Reno County
Settler Since 1872.

Hutchinson, Kan, May 19.-The de-
signer and builder of the engines OF the
first dirigible balloon, the first air
ship to be built in the world, is living
a retired life in Hutchinson.
This pioneer airship builder is B. j.
Hobson, one of Hutchinson's Oldest
residents, and for years active in this
city's Industrial circles as salt manu-
facturer and owner of foundry and
machine shop and elevator.
1t was while working on his first
dirigible balloon in Washington, D. C.,
in 1852, nearly sixty years ago, that
Mr.. Hobson became acquainted with
the girl who became his wife.
She was in charge of the girls who
were sewing the big silken bag for the
cigar shaped balloon. That chance ac-
quaintance led to courtship and mar
riage, and the worlds first 'airship"
match proved to be a very happy one.
Steam Engines Used.
THAT dirigible balloon was on the
plan of the cigar shaped dirigibles OF
today" said Mr.. Hobson. Rufus Por-
ter, first editor of the Scientific Amerl-
can, was the designer. He engaged me
to design and build the engines for it.
OF course there were no gasoline
motors in those days. We used a steam
engine. The balloon was equipped with
rudders, planes, wheels, and other
equipment similar to the flying ma
ch1neS or To-Day.
"It was 60 feet long and IA feet wide.
The building of the flying machine at
tracted national attention. The gov
eminent was interested, and congress
was helping to build it. Just a few
days before the test flight was to be
made a tornado struck Washington
and wrecked the big ship.
"a smaller model, 16 feet long and
six feet wide, was built and gave a very
satisfactory exhibition of flying, prov
ing that our ideas and plans were cor
rect. The dirigible balloons Of today
are all constructed on the lines of the
first one. built nearly sixty years ago"
Mr.. Hobson, now 50 years of age, has
spent all of his life inventing ingenius
mechanical contrivance. He has re-
Gently devised an apparatus for cooling
theaters, auditoriums and even resi-
denceS.
Has Many Inventions.
The inventions in which Mr.. Hobson
has been engaged in during the long
and busy life have included the flying
machine of 60 years ago, to atmospheric
telegraph, pneumatic carrier tubes,
granite cutting machines, distilling ap-
paratus, and many other valuable de-
vices, many of them now in practical
use.
During the sos Mr.. Hobson went be-
fore congress, and interested the gov
eminent, through the assistance of
United States Charles Summer, in
financially backing him in the building
and testing of an atmospheric tele-
graph"
This was the origin of the pneumatic
carrier tube used in the large cities to-
day for transmitting bags of mail, and
in large stores for carrying bundles, ''
said Mr.. Hobson. 1.-THE idea was TO
construct a tube, from which the air
void be pumped. Then by means of
pneumatic or atmospheric action bags
of mail, packages, even living beings.
could be transmitted at high rate of
speed
Mr.. Hobson was one of the earliest
settlers in Reno county, coming here in
June 1872.