Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-14
The CREWOF THEAIRSHIp
SUcHARD

rapidly forward the wind cVaDorates the
water from this cloth. and evaporation is
cooling process. SO does the top OF the
airshp afford itself a refrigcrating plant
that may be set to work each morning as
the sun comes up.
But this is not the sole dependence 81
the Cans airship in maintaining the de-
sired altitude. Ii has solved the question
of an adjustable ballast. This ballast L.
nothing more nor less than water dipped
up from the ocean. There is attached To
the motor boat long cable fitted with
buckets especially prepared for dipping
up water from the ocean while travelling
at great rate of speed Whenever IL il
desirable TO take on more ballast the noa,
OF the ship is pointed downward by
pumping air into the front ballonet and
the propeilers are set going. This viii
bring the vessel near the water despite
the tendency of the gas TO expand and
carry IL to higher attitudes There a
sufficient amount of water may he dipped
MP and stored in the cockpit 10 keep The
airship weighted down to a given a.Iit.ile.
Then, when the temperature l. ou;,in-
ming To fall in the evening and the vessel
drops to lower attitudes, notains = need
cd but TO turn spigot and allo" what
ever amount of ballast X necessary Ia
escape. Thus the craft may be iigiItened
with the contracting of the gas in the
evening and weighted down as IL ex-
pands in the morning. and in this way
kept at the altitude desired.
= Z
The Suchard is 80 feet long. with a
diameter of fifty feet al the point OF
greatest expansion. 1t holds about 4a3asU
cubic feet of hydrogen gas. which gives
il lifting power of baout 5000 pounds.
In the motor boat Is a cabin containing
two beds which provide sleeping quarters
Tor four persons. This congested space
will not be the fayorite resort of the
members of the party for suspended from
the balloon and built upon the ropes
which attach il to the boat below is a
gallery ninety feet long. which contains
wooden floor in its central portion ami
canvas over the balance Here may the
voyagers unroll their beds upon the can
vas and sleep to their hearts cont.n.-
For the engines are to be- stilled ih the
nighttime and the great air craft, drift
ing with the wind. will seem 10 rest Ia
an atmosphere that is undisturbed ..
the movement of the slightest zephyr.
For there is no stiler place in the world
than riding upon the crest of srea, SALE.
and keeping exact pace with IL brciiuse
of its command over your vessel.
That portion of the Atlantic over whic!i-
this trip will he made is at times sub
jected to severe hurricanes and typhoons.
The weather records OF the United states
and of European countries fail, however,
to show that there was ever a storm in
this part of the world during the -four
months of the year when the trade winds
blow INCREASINGLY What one of these
great storms would do to such craft as
the Suchard is merely a matter of con-
lecture. But the scientific men back o.
this expedition have absolute confidence
that there is no possibility of meeting a
storm, for the records show that storms
do not exist at this season of the year.
The northeast trade winds blow rect
from the Canary Islands, through the
West Indies, and on TO the northern coast
of South America II is the intention OF
the Cans party to steer to the northern
edge of these winds they near Ameii-
ca and. with the help of their powerful
motors. to guide the craft as far north
as Florida and to land serneN here "A ong
the coast OF that peninsula. TIC posi-
hility OF doing this is somewhat n l,ies-
ton and the landing may he made some
where I'm the West Ind es. Il is eve. pos.
sible that the journey may DE continued
until the shore Of South Aiherica -
reached and that a landing may be made
i'm Venezuela or Colombia.
copyright 1911. by " \. nn Fnyf