Evening star., 1938-12-18
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

WIN SCneOuleQ tranSOcednlc and
transcontinental aviation service now an
et, established unit in the
= transportation system, the
ou'oon following news item from
fh9nt New York, printed in The
Star of December II, 1888, is an inter-
esting item in the history Of flying:
"a balloon ascension, under the direc-
ton of the Novelty Airship Co., was made
yesterday afternoon at Coney Island.
The inventor of the airship, Mr.. Peter
C. Campbell, South Brooklyn jeweler,
had engaged Mr.. James K. Allen, pro-
fessional aeronaut Of Providence, r. l.,
to make the ascension. Pure oxygen gas
was generated on the spot, and at 4
o'clock the balloon was inflated Mr..
Allen stepped into the light car in the
center of the airship, and gave the signal
to cut the rope that held it to the earth.
With easy motion the airship moved up
ward amid the applauding shouts of an
excited crowd. To prove the entire COM
mand that Mr.. Allen had over the air
ship, Mr.. Campbell signaled him to de-
scend after he had reached an altitude
of 200 feet. He did so without the
slightest difficulty, and the balloon grace
fully descended and settled over the very
spot from which it had been liberated.
Then it sailed away to the height of 800
feet, and there it remained stationary
for several minutes. Finally, under the
direction of the aeronaut, it moved about
in different directions. After maneuver-
ing in the air for half an hour the ship
took a northeast course and came to
the surface in the village of Sheepshead
Bay, near the Catholic Church building.
"Mr. Campbell has been a manufacture
ing jeweler for Is years in Fifth avenue,
near Ninth street, Brooklyn, and has
been engaged in his scheme of building
a successful airship for about 10 years.
He has interested a number of his
Brooklyn neighbors in his project, and
Ex-Judge Jno. Delmar and many other
real estate agents have stuck by him with
the faith of Keeler motor stockholders.
He has formed company with capi-
tai of 100000. Mr.. Campbells airship
combines the principle of a balloon and
flying machine. 1t is cigar shaped, go
feet long and 40 feet in diameter in the
center. The car and flying machine is
suspended from the balloon by means of
bar running lengthwise under it. A
propeller is provided, whereby force may
be applied to raise and lower the device
or to propel 1t in a horizontal direction
through the air. The car is provided with
seat extending around and slightly be-
low the rim of the car, and has arched
guards. Extending fore and aft from
the car is arranged vertical keel made
of light framework, supporting a web of
woven material. A propeller is worked
from the forepart of the car, and also at
each end of the rigid bar, to assist in
turning the ship around rapidly. All the
machinery is worked by electricity from
the center of the car"
** X
The best material for street paving
was still subject to argument half CEN
New York tury ago and the following
I'm editorial in The Star Of
Neeos q December 10, 1888, gives
Shepherd evidence that washington
was lesding the country in the use of
asphalt:
"At the meeting of the New York
Academy of Sciences last evening, when
street paving materials were under dis
cussion, Prof. John s. Newberry pro-
nounced, without qualification, his opin-
ion that asphalt would be the pavement
of the future. I bless Boss Shepherd
when see Washington pavements, said
he. We want Boss Shepherd in New
York There Is no doubt that he could
give that city points in the matter Of
improving its streets which would make
a world Of difference in the comfort Of
the people obliged to traverse them daily,
either In vehicles Or afoot."