The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-14
OVER OCEAN FLIGHT
WAS PLANNED IN 1878

ST. LOUIS. Feb. There has recent
ly been discovered here. in private col
lection OF old papers. magazines and
books. a copy of the New York Daily
Graphic OF Thursday, June 10, 1873, the
first page of which is devoted TO an IL
lustration OF an airship in which it was
proposed that Professor John Wise should
make flight TO Europe Professor Wise.
who was librarian of the Franklin Insti
tute. had previously distinguished himself
by flying more than 1000 miles from ST.
Louis, in n northerly direction. to the At
lantic coast OF Canada. This flight al
thought not Officially recognized" is ad-
mitted by aeronauts to be a feat un-
equaled in the American history of bal
looming
At the time OF the proposed flight TO
Europe Professor Wise. whose plans were
thwarted by his inability to raise suffi
cient money for the trip. announced that
OF worth as a rapid carrier of the Europ-
can malls" and the editor Of the Graphic
went so far as TO suggest that the bal
loon might ncyentualiy bead be adopted as ,, the
at that time, however were not making
the round trip between London and New
York in a little more than one week The
article in the Graphic explaining Profess
sor Wise's plan follows:
Prof. Wise's Balloon Trip.
II is certain that the proposal to send
balloon across the Atlantic from New
York this summer has been received with
much approval by our citizens. Ten years
ago IL might have been looked upon as
dream, but now the most thoughtful OF
men see no reason why the voyage can
not be made. The air has its highways
as well as the land and ocean, and they
have been partially explored already. Mr..
he 10 ,-ll five al,,,,, t,.i,1
in balloon, and one of his voyages was
over thousand miles In length. Not
more than this had been accomplished by
naVigators OF the ocean when Columbus
set sail on his shaIlops. and steered due
west IN search OF new world. Strange II
was that Columbus travelled from court
ereigns in his designs, and only achieved
success with Isabella OF Spain after the
labor OF many years. But is Il any more
strange than that of man who proposes
should have to go from enlightened Bos-
ton TO New York in search OF $4,000 to
complete his outfit? Fortunately for the
credit OF commercial New York. we be-
lieve that the money will readily be raised
here. and we believe, too. that Il will pay
the city a thousand fold. II letters can
cross the ocean with twice and thrice the
speed of the fastest steamer. the balloon
must be adopted eventually as the regular
mail carrier. II would be the best cele-
bration OF the Fourth of July that this
II a balloon could on that day start with
a European mall and land 1t safely on the
other side within three days.
Whatever is done in behalf OF this en-
terprise should be done quickly. Thirty
persons subscribing one hundred dollars
each would complete the sum needed,
or II may be made up In smaller amounts
The Daily Graphic has already sub
scrlbed 500, and w. &, Sawyer OF Wash
ington. D. c.. pledges another 500. a
gentleman of this city sends us the fol-
lowing letter:
ITO the Editor of the Daily Graphic:
'It seems rather strange that In a city
so largely given to the utmost extrava-
gance-where thousands OF dollars are
nightly spent AT the theaters. and mil
lions in the course OF the year for cigars
and drinks-not three thousand dollars
can be obtained for Professor Wise's
balloon trip to Europe. The professor is
certainly sincere. and his plan undoubt-
edy practicable. yet so small n sum as
three thousand dollars stands in the way
OF the experiment. III the Daily Graphic
umns shall be glad TO contribute. Y. s.
New York. June tS.'
If "X. g. will name the amount he |
desires 10 subscribe. we will add IL 10 |
ing that no money will be asked for until |
the entire sum OF three thousand dollars
is secured.
II Is evident that the time has arrived
for making the experiment since there
does not appear to be a single objection
which has not been fairly smet and an
swered. With the time the man has
made his appearance, ready to take all
and life against a few dollars-and to
that question New York must neoessari-
" return a generous reply.
The day has gone by when wise men
can afford TO laugh at the essays OF an
inventor. or set bounds to enterprise.