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Professor Wise's Project.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AERIAL NAVIGATOR AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF THE UPPER AIR CURRENTS.

To the Editor of the Press. 

Sir: In Saturday's issue of your paper there is a communication over the initials of "H.C.D.,"suggesting the feasibility of crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon, and soliciting pecuniary assistance to aid the writer thereof in an effort to demonstrate his theory of aerial navigation.

Believing, as I do, that the feat of reaching the shores of Europe by the aid of a balloon will sooner or later be accomplished, and that there exists in the upper air a westerly current of enough force to carry such a vessel over the ocean within, at least, three days of time, I would offer a few suggestions for the benefit of those interested in solving the problem of the upper air currents. The only proper way to test the direction of the atmospheric currents is by making topical balloon ascensions, such as the writer frequently made during the late civil war to observe the movements of the enemy. These topical ascensions are made by the use of ropes attached to the balloon, thus controlling its movements at any height desired. While the balloons were in the service of the United States army there were several hundred ascensions made, varying in altitude from three hundred to three thousand feet. The army balloons were inflated with hydrogen gas, manufactured at the balloon camps, and this fact suggests the feasibility of carrying materials for an additional supply of gas in case an ocean voyage is contemplated. The balloons in use by the army were frequently used, and kept constantly inflated; but the constant leakage (there being as yet no material sufficiently thin and light of weight discovered, however prepared, impervious to the extraordinary inward pressure of gas) rendered in necessary to replenish the loss of gas at least once in twenty-four hours. 

In the attempt to reach a rapid westerly current with a balloon, and so float in the direction of Europe, there are many obstacles which, with the aeronaut's present knowledge, and the use of all known instruments, cannot be overcome. There are numerous air currents in the supper atmosphere, and the exact altitude of the westerly current is unknown. Nor is it known whether or not an easterly air current exists of equal rapidity to the wester, above the latter. Nearly all American aeronauts have failed to penetrate the upper air beyond a certain height, say two miles, and thus failed to demonstrate the existence of the westerly currents, but accident has demonstrated beyond a doubt that a westerly current does exist and travels at the rate of at least one hundred miles per hour. 

Balloons that have been by accident disengaged from their fastenings, and had sufficient power of ascent, have passed out of sight, and soon after losing their buoyancy by leakage or other causes, have been found in a line directly east from the point of departure. 

The whole matter of marking a successful voyage across the Atlantic Ocean depends upon the existence of a westerly current, and now to find that current we suggest that a balloon of sufficient capacity be constructed to lift two or three individuals, and three or four miles of light cord of great strength, and that topical ascensions be made until the desired current is discovered, its altitude noted, and also the altitude of other currents observed. When this is done, and the public convinced by ocular demonstration that a rapid westerly current exists, there will be public-spirited citizens enough to lend their money and influence towards a successful solution of the question, "Can the Atlantic Ocean be safely crossed by a balloon?"

Yours respectfully,  
E.M., Jr.
Formerly aeronaut United States army.
PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 1873.

A Second Letter.

"H.C.D." STILL FURTHER ON BALLOONING.
To the Editor of The Press:

Sir: I should not have troubled you again, even to thank you for your kindly notice of my proposition to enter the lists in behalf of "the Centennial City," to contend in friendly rivalry with the "Hub of the Universe" for the distinction of being the first city of the world to demonstrate the practicability of air navigation for long distances, and over great stretches of water - I say I should not have troubled you had it not been for the honor conferred upon me by the editor of the Evening Bulletin in the following paragraph in his issue of Saturday: 
 An ambitious gentleman insists, in the columns of THE PRESS, that Boston ought not to have the honor of demonstrating the possibility of crossing the Atlantic in a ballon, by that Philadelphia should make an effort to secure the glory of herself. He then offers to beat Professor Wise in an aerial race across the ocean if somebody will let him have eight thousand dollars. Perhaps he would be willing to do it for seven thousand, but this would be his very lowest figure. If any enthusiastic person is inclined to expend money in such a manner, of course we shall not object; but as Mr. Wise proposes to make his voyage at an expense of only three thousand dollars, and as it is not certain he will succeed, perhaps it would be wiser for other and more extravagant aeronauts to wait the result of the experiment. We are perfectly willing that Boston should bear the expense, and other ballon navigators ought not to be unhappy because Mr. Wise is to assume all the risk of plunging into the ocean, or alighting somewhere in the region of the pole.
 Even now I do not ask the valuable space in your columns for the purpose of referring to the covert misapprehensions which other readers of my communication may have fallen into in common with the editor of the Bulletin. The writer does not offer to "beat" Professor Wise in his aerial voyage. There is really nothing in the way of a sporting interest in a mere race that actuates either myself or Professor Wise, whose own son accompanies the undersigned on the proposed voyage. What we both wish is to enhance the interest of the people by a start from two cities on the same day to double the chances of success in the interest of science.
  An exchange of metal services is pledged and will be given in suggestions as to construction and applications to to omissions of certain improvements and contrivances connected with an aeronautic enterprise of such