The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1915-06-08

tracts have been awarded by Secre-
tary OF the Navy Daniels for the
building OF two dirigibie balloons, the
lirst ever ordered for the United
States navy. The first contract was
awarded to the Connecticut Aircraft
Company of New Haven, for S45, 636.
This is regarded as the first step
towards the testing out by this gov
eminent OF the value of the Zeppelin
type of aircraft, which has already
played a prominent part in the
European war. The proposals call
for the manufacture of two dirig-
ibles of the non-rigid type, which
will not be over ITS feet long by so
feet high and 35 feet wide, capable
of carrying lead of 1000 pounds
or more. Uncle Sans new dirigibles
must also be able to ascend to at
least 5000 feet with full load
without disposing of ballast and
must be able, also to come down not
slower than six feet per second.
It's not an easy matter to build
an airship under such rigid qualifi-
cations. Not only must the craft
have a speed of % miles or so per
hour but must be able to keep up
such speed for at least two hours.
She will carry a car with an en-
closed body, sufficient to carry four
student observers in addition to a
crew of four men.
Another unusual feature of the
new navy airships will be their
ability, as specified in the proposals
of contractors, to rest lightly on the
water without damage and also, to
move through the water at slow
speed. When completed, the new
dirigibles will be set up at the navy
aeronautical station, at Pensacola,
Fla, where a number of trials will
be made to see that the aircraft
comes up to all requirements. Some
of the stunts they must perform are
interesting.
The first test will be for speed
with the dirigibles loaded to
capacity. She will make five runs
over d measure course and navy Off
Sers will thus be enabled to check
up accurately on her real speed.
The second test will show the crafts
ability to climb from the surface
of the water up to and beyond the
specified altitude at full speed.
Once in the air, her height will
be taken with Paragraph and she
will begin the descent in an effort
to make the. siX-feet-a-second re-
quirement specified in the contract.
After these tests are made, the air
ship will be required to fly steadily
for two hours at speed of 20 miles
per hour or more. She must, during
this trial, maintain reasonably
true course across a 15-mile puffy
wind. In this same 15-mile wind,
the dirigible must be brought to and
moored to mooring mast, released
after one hour, resume flight and
then return to the housing shed.
The final test will be for leakage.
The conditions of the contract
specify that the big balloon must not
leak more than 1 per cent day.
The navy department is throwing
upon the contractor the response
bility for training pilot and crew.
drawn from the navy ranks, who
will be taught to manage the big
aircraft. Until the contractor has
given them a thorough course in
aeronautics, $4,000 of the contract
price will be withheld.
INDIANAPOLIS, June 3.-Vari-
Gus gentlemen of good repute who
are said to own property rented for
immoral resorts, but who have so
far avoided any publicity in this
regard, are trembling in their boots
this week. The Church Federation
of Indianapolis is unlimbering a
large calibre weapon in the form of
a new law that churchmen say will
put the red light business on the
blink.
The new rule law is very similar
to the one in effect in the District
of Columbia and in several states. 1t
allows any citizen or the county
prosecutor to begin injunction pro-
ceedings. These proceedings are
directed at the owner of the prop
erty. "Pitiless publicity" that will
cause the owners of bawdy houses
to run to cover in case they are sail
ing under false colors is expected to
follow when the churchmen get
down to work. The renting of