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THE GRAPHIC
TUESDAY, JUNE 10.
A gentleman offers to give Professor Wise one thousand francs for a letter delivered in Paris, by balloon, sixty hours from New York. This is hardly a fair offer. Mr. Wise is willing to venture his life in a balloon voyage across the Atlantic, but he runs the risk of atmospheric currents landing him in Spain or England. It will be sufficient success if he crosses the ocean in his first voyage, and lands anywhere in Europe. His attempt deserves more liberal patronage. Only three thousand dollars is required for the voyage, and that should be paid in beforehand. The proprietors of THE DAILY GRAPHIC will be one of thirty to contribute equally to the expense of the enterprise-paying one hundred dollars for the delivery of a letter to Europe by balloon. The experiments made in this country and in Europe show that the voyage eastward is perfectly feasible. It would be a shame to our national spirit of enterprise were the project abandoned, and a disgrace to the city if $3,000 cannot be raised here. If necessary, small sums can be contributed on the same principle as larger ones, viz.: that no payments shall be asked until the whole sum is subscribed. What say our merchant princes and citizens who have our local interests at heart? There ought to be a balloon started from every city on the Atlantic coast this summer; but if this cannot be done, New York surely is able to try the experiment.

and eighty miles in nineteen hours, the longest and most valuable trip on record. Such experiences as these have gone far to lead men's minds to consider the possibilities of aerial navigation. Yet there has been a lamentable want of faith on the part of this eminently practical generation, whenever the question of inaugurating a voyage of aerial discovery has arisen. The past history of steam and electricity has failed to inculcate its lesson. But for the support of science, and the aid of a few willing hands in the wide circle of business men, this year would have witnessed the rejection of the greatest projects of the century. Now, the whole country stands on tip-toe with expectation, waiting for the word that shall send upon her swift way the first ship that cleaves the ocean of air between America and Europe.
It is true that those who have pursued aerostation with high hopes have many a time been doomed to disappointment. But it must be remembered that this particular branch of science ought not to be expected to deviate from the regular rule, and develop for itself a precocity unlike its fellows. Discovery only follows untiring research and labor. And it may be that the world is not yet prepared to find in the atmosphere the great highway of all the nations of the earth. The aeronauts tell us that neither astronomy, geology, steam, electricity, nor nautical knowledge made one bound to perfection. It is now ninety years since the first balloon sailed through the air, and in that time its various appurtenances have undergone such improvement as to amount, in fact, to reconstruction. The difficulties to be surmounted are such as only to urge to new attempts. Comparatively few are in the fields of study and practical experiment, and their labors are necessarily desultory. They complain, and with some show of reason, that men pay little or no attention to what they have already accomplished, and thus really discourage renewed effort. Happily, this accusation has now been generously met.
The dream of aeronauts carry them into a realm which, to the sober thinker, seems Utopian. They prophesy that the children of to-day will find balloon transit around the earth, and from one portion of it to another, safer, cheaper, and far more rapid than any other means of locomotion. They say that there will be stations in the air, as on the great railroad and steamship lines of travel, at which the aerial chariot may stop and take in 

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But the clouds have other ministries besides those of giving showers to the earth and weaving a mantle of snow. They regulate climates [[?]] extremes of heat and cold. [[?]] offices, and take to them[[?]] the sunbeam and the wind [[?]] other place. There is on [[?]] than the atmosphere [[?]] all parts of physical [[?]] most wonderful. The [[?]] laws as undeviating as [[?]] the planets in their [[?]] atmosphere is something [[?]] trackless waste - more [[?]] ocean at the bottom of [[?]] Whence and what [[?]] the breath of morning [[?]] the gossamer cobweb [[?]] from shrub to shrub, and [[?]] it may level the stateliest [[?]] and leave miles of ruined [[?]] forgives the gas that fills our [[?]] ways for other uses the [[?]] great cities. Upon the [[?]] the health and well- [[?]] depend. Any one, [[?]] our knowledge of the [[?]], is the world's [[?]]
[[?]] store of knowledge [[?]] aeronaut comes forward [[?]] support. His researches [[?]] him that there are [[?]] beyond conception, in the [[?]] so far as to say that [[?]] us in the folds of its [[?]] earth, if we will but [[?]] to that end. Timid at [[?]] up without a [[?]] safe descent. Then he [[?]] care, and found that [[?]] ,if wisely watched. [[?]] formed the first journey [[?]] more than a thousand, and [[?]] aeronaut purposes a [[?]] three thousand miles, above the broad surface of the ocean, and confidently gives assurance of its accomplishment.  
What is the reliance of the navigator of the air? In his journey from America to Europe he relies upon the easterly current, which experience has shown to be constantly in motion at a rate of from fifty to one hundred and fifty miles an hour, at a distance of half a mile, or more, above the surface of the earth. It was because of the known existence of this current that Mr. Charles Green, the celebrated English aeronaut, said, in 1840, that he should fix upon America in preference to England as the point from whence the attempt should be made to traverse the Atlantic in a balloon. To use the language of the report of the Smithsonian Institute, in 1865, "the existence of these (easterly) currents is an established fact of science, confirmed by every day's experience."
The existence of the upper air current that moves forever eastward is rather a fact than a theory. Scientists differ as to the reason why the atmosphere moves in the same direction as the earth, only more slowly, and ascribe it to different causes. For the use of the latest Argonauts of the air, it would be sufficient to say that the current exists (as they have abundantly tested for themselves), and is waiting to carry them across. A French savant speaks of the current as "a decrease of participation in the rapidity of the rotary motion of the globe." Professor Wise's theory is, that the upper current of the air, in the temperate zones, moves from west to east, because of the mingling of the southwest and northwest trade-winds in their circuits, in accordance with the laws of temperature and the aerial motion of the earth. These two currents slide over each other, and the balloonist who understands his business can train his air-ship to the eddy currents, or, rather, to either of them, or between the two, and thus go east. In other words, the zone lying between the thirty-fifth and sixtieth parallel is a nodal zone, in which the southwest and northwest winds induce an intermediate current, the barometer will lay the lines in cloud-land, and the chronometer will mark them lestones, at the rate of one hundred miles an hour.
The fact of the existence of this current is sufficient to stamp the expedition of Professor Wise as not scientifically presumptuous. Meteorologists have faith in the possibilities of the new highway of travel, though they cannot, as men, divest themselves of their fears. They will welcome the stores of knowledge that the expedition will bring back with it. Then, after success has led to a knowledge of the condition of the atmosphere across the sea, and of the commercial relations existing between the ocean [[?]]

Air-Current

The proposed balloon trip of Messrs. Donaldson above the Atlantic is no [[?]] announcement of such a design. In June [[?]] Professor Wise wrote a letter to the [[?]] that he proposed making the attempt [[?]] summer of 1844, in a balloon one hundred [[?]] in diameter. But the project was able [[?]] as the time was not ripe for the scheme [[?]] subsequent two years, one or two [[?]] attempts were made to excite the public  [[?]] this theme, but they all came to naught [[?]] just as well as these endeavors fared [[?]] did. The time that has elapsed since then [[?]] has enabled science to make new discoveries in the air, and has brought about a [[?]] perfection in apparatus that insures [[?]] of the adventurers, and pledges the best [[?]] from the voyage.
Early in January of this year, Mr. W. [[?]] announced his determination [[?]] funds for building a balloon in which to [[?]] to Europe. In conversation with a [[?]] of the [[Italics]]Sun[[Italics]] he said: "I shall cross the [[?]] in July. I can travel east at all times, [[?]] certain height, say two and a half miles [[?]] is a constant current of air blowing to the [[?]] I shall ascend to the required altitude, [[?]] undertake the journey, certain that I can [[?]] reach the other side." Sixty hours from [[?]] York to the coast of Ireland was the [[?]] limit of time the young adventurer [[?]] for his daring trip. Hearing that his idea [[?]] borne such good fruit, Professor [[?]] wrote to Mr. Donaldson  advising [?] they should join forces, and make assurance doubly sure. Thus [[?]] of the two came about. The man [[?]] studied the winds and clouds for [[?]] allied to himself the daring adventure [[?]] feats in cloud-land had thrilled the [[?]] those who had never dared leave the [[?]] face of the earth.
On the evening of February 21, Professor [[?]] lectured on the proposed mid-air trip [[?]] ocean, at the hall of the Franklin Institute Philadelphia, and demonstrated the [[?]] of the easterly current in the nodal [[?]] showed that the voyage was not only [[?]] cable, but in every way likely to reach [[?]] careful culmination, and that afterwards [[?]] be an easy thing to make the egg stand [[?]]. He sought something of more value [[?]] the mere demonstration of crossing the [[?]] with a balloon. Success would go far to meteorological science, and give the more intimate acquaintance with the [[?}] of the grand aerial ocean that surround. Thus he argued, urging the vital need thorough understanding of the [[?]] functions of the atmosphere, and scientist listened and applauded. But Philadelphia had no words of encouragement for home [[?]] and buttoned up her pockets with [[?}] when it was proposed to raise [[?]] start the bold adventurers on their trip.
Nothing daunted, Messrs. Wise and [[?]] turned their attention to Boston-the America. There the City Fathers [[?]] spend fifteen or twenty thousand  dollars  [[?]] proper, patriotic celebration of the Fourth of July. The aeronauts had every reason [[?]] that the inhabitants of this historic [[?]] be glad to send out the pioneer [[?]] above the Atlantic. Their reception [[?]] as flattering as they had expected. [[?]]  promised, and announcement was made [[?]] Independence Day the great balloon [[?]] from the Common. But a disastrous [[?]] the city and made the authorities [[?]]. Looking upon the proposed voyage as [[?]] amusement, and forgetting the benefits [[?]] confer on science, they declined to [[?]] promised three thousand dollars, and [[?]] the limbo of dead hopes.
One would have thought that our [[?]] would now give up the enterprise [[?]], but disappointment seems to be [[?]] tat feeds the flame of their courage [[?]] classical Boston they came to [[?]] York, and here made appeal to the rich [[?]] the metropolis for the modest sum [[?]] asked of Boston. But the appeal to our [[?]] in behalf of commercial advantages [[?]] fruitless as that to Philadelphia for the [[?]] science, and to the "Hub" for Fourth amusement. Some subscriptions were  [[?]] but it was soon seen that the hardest [[?]] work would be to raise the last fifteen [[?]] dollars. In this emergency, The Graph Company came to the rescue, and made the [[?]] a success.
It ought to be gracefully acknowledging the public that they are beginning [[?]] he press for leadership in all great [[?]] on behalf of science and humanity.

Transcription Notes:
Since part of the article is cut off, should we just put [[?]] for half of the words? There are whole articles later on in the page.