Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-22
BY BONITA WITT

AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 22.-This is
the story of two homeless orphans.
Dry your tears, gentle reader, the
orphans are giant dirigibles, not
starving children.
They really aren't in such a sorry
plight after all, for no fewer than
five cities are bidding furiously to
gives these orphans a home.
Money has been appropriated by
the federal government for their con-
struction, but where they are to be
built is a moot question. Baltimore,
Nd, Cleveland, Ohio, Akron, Ohio.
Los Angeles and San Diego, Calf,
have made alluring offers. Akron is
believed by many to have the inside
track because the ships are TO be
built by an Akron rubber company,
which submitted the prize design for
a lighter than air craft in a gov
eminent competition. The design is
the work Of DR.. Karl Arnstein, in
charge of the engineering department
Of the concern.
An Alluring Payroll
Eagerness of the cities to capture
the dirigible plant is readily UNDER
stood when one realizes the annual
payroll Of the industry would be
81. 5 900 and approximately 1000
men would be employed.
The two ships to be CONSTRUCTED
are a part of the governments five
year program Of a~eronautic de-
velopment. In June, 1926, congress
authorized the construction of two
airships of approximately $500, 900
cubic feet gas capacity. In March,
1927, an appropriation of $200,Cs0
was made to start construction on
the first of these ships. Five months
later the bureau of a~eronautics of
the United States navy awarded first
place to the Akron company for the
best airship design submitted in the
open competition. In December of
the same year another appropriation
of 5000. 900 was made 20 cover con-
struction costs.
According to the terms Of the
bill, work is to be begun prior to
July /, 1928.
Gigantic Home Needed
When the controversy over the
siv Of the plant Is settled the prob
lem Of a hanger must be met. Ex-
perts predict DR.. Arnstein himself
will have to build a home for his
airships. as no other engineer cares
to undertake the tremendous project.
Since there can be no supporting
posts within the shed. a difficult
engineer feat presents itself.
Hangers will have to be 1000 feet
long. 266 feet high. and 335 feet
wide. The Woolworth building, New
York, which is 792 feet high, could
be tucked away into one corner OF
the dirigible shed.
The hanger at Lakehurst, N. j..
which houses the navy's largest air.
ship at present, the Los Angeles, is
$500 feet long, 276 feet , ide, and
200 feet high.
Their Tremendous Size
The new ships, according 10 pres
ent specifications, are to Be 700
feet long and 135 feet IN diameter
with $685. 900 cubic feet gas ca
pacity. The Los Angeles is 642 feet
long and has a gas capacity Of -
4T2.o00 cubic feet.
Gas capacity Of the giant new
ships is three times the volume oil
the Inflated Shenandoah. which
crashed near Ava. Ohio and, although
the new ships are to be only IL
per cent longer. the diameter will be
so per cent greater.
When a home is finally found for
the orphan dirigibles work will be
begun under supervision Of Or. Arm.
stein. who Is a former engineer OF
the Zeplin company in Germany. H
is the builder Of the Los Angeles and
90 other rigid airships.
money IL il fails.-Adv. (5)
Dickey's Old Reliable Eye Water
cools and heals red eyes. Doesn't
| gists.-Adv. (4)