Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1873 — Balloon Voyages. [ARTICLE]

Balloon Voyages.

The projected balloon vayage of Professors Wise and Donaldson, across the Atlantic, will make the following account of this method of travel somewhat interesting. The theory of the balloon seems to be quite ancient, blit it was not until 1670 that Lana, a Frenchman, we believe, constructed a machine to fly in the air, which may be considered the first real attempt to use atmosphere as a medium of transit. A genius by the name of Oalien, in 1755, constructed an air ship, but his machine came to grief, and no description of it has been preserved. In 1767, Professor Black of Scotland, presented the proposition that a vessel filled with hydrogen gas would float suspended in the atr. No actual experiments seem to have been made until 1782, when Cavalio put the proposition to successful tests made with soap bubbles filled with hydrogen gas. But the first balloons were filled with hot air, and were named Montgolfiers, from the name of the aeronaut who first made ascents in them. These balloons are very simple in construction, and are still popular with. many aeronauts. It is a well-known fact in philosophy that hot air is specifically much lighter than cool air. Heated water rises to the surface of the vessel in which it is contained, and the surface will therefore be found several degrees hotter than the water at or near the bottom of the vessel. The upward rush of steam is another experiment which shows the tendency of heat to rise in the air. This principle is used in the Montgolfier balloon. The air within it is heated until it is difficult to restrain the balloon. When it is released it mounts the air with great rapidity. In some of the hot-air balloons the combustible material is carried along, and, when ignited, assists in keeping the balloon at the desired elevation. The most popular balloon is that which is inflated with hydrogen gas. In such balloons long trips have been made from time to time. The first voyage in such-a machine was undertaken by Professor Charles, of Paris, in the year 1783. He was accompanied by two brothers named Roberts, who were mechanics of great ingenuity. It is said that the balloons of our day differ in no important particular from that constructed by Professor Charles and his companions. The voyage was undertaken November 26, 1783. It is said that threefourths of the population of Paris were witnesses of the singular spectacle. They rose to the height of 2,000 feet, and sailed a distance of thirty miles in perfect safety. A balloon crossed the English Channel on the 22d of February, 1784. It was small in dimensions, and to it was attached a letter, which was afterwards returned to the owner. It was found in France at a considerable distance from the coast. In 1784, Blanchard, a noted aeronaut, tog ether with a Dr. Jeffries, crossed the hannel to France, where, after many vicissitudes, they landed in safety. In the year 1836 a remarkable journey was undertaken from London to Germany by Green. The distance traversed was twelve hundred miles, one of the longest ever accomplished'. The aeronaut set out from London November 7, with two companions. In the narrative describing this journey we are told that Green provided himself with a quantity of provisions for a long tripy and passports were also provided to all the states in Europe. The balloon rose at mid-day, floating southwest wardiy, and at half past four they arrived at the channel. The graphic historian of the trip tells us the waters of the channel were crossed in an hour, and the lights of Calais sighted. “The whole surface of the earth for many leagues around showed nothing but scattered lights, and the face of the earth seemed to rival the vault es heaven with starry fires. Every moment in the earlier part of the night clusters of lights appeared, indicating large centers of population.” At midnight the -travelers found themselves above Liege. The balloon descended in the Duchy, of Nassau at seven o’clock the following morning. One of the voyagers tells us that “the best answer which one could give to those who would be disposed to criticise the employment of these peculiar means we made use of, or to doubt Uieir efficiency, would be to state, after having traversed without either danger or difficulty so large a portion of the European Continent, we arrived at our designation still in possession of as much force as, had we wished it, might have carried us round the world.” . It would seem from the success which attended this trip, it is possible to make extended voyages in the air. It is a theory among practical aeronauts that there is a constant easterly current by which a balloon can be transported to Europe. From the voyage of Green this idea gains some support. How much this atmospheric current is affected by other currents at a great distance from the shores of the ocean, can only be determined by actual experiment. The present project of Professor Wise seems to be pushed forward in New York with great energy. The results to be attained may not be immediately important, but a successful passage across the Atlantic may provoke further investigations which may prove beneficial to mankind. The daring of Professors Wise and Donaldson in attempting such a perilous trip is something greatly out of the range of ordinary pluck. —Newtown (Pa.) Enterprise.