Viewing page 155 of 182

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[Newspaper Clipping 1]]

Then the Centennial grounds and new resorvoir [[reservoir]] looking like bald spots upon the shaggy coat of nature, the new bridge and places where others should be, (How would it do to send councils up in balloon to get a proper idea of locality?) were variously noted and commented upon. 

We were now about 6000 feet high. The Richmond coal wharves being below at an angle which gave the impression of such nearness that I wanted to toss a sandwich over among them. By the way, the tracks leading to these wharves form an almost perfect moorish dome. 

Away down past the Horse-shoe, a great cloud of white smoke gave token of Chester. To the west we could see Norristown, snugly reposing beside the dye-fed Schuylklli [[Schuylkill]], and then Germantown, its rural homes crowning many a hill top. The intermediate space between this latter suburb and the city proper now presents an almost unbroken series of brick and white shutters. This calls to mind the fact that we certainly have grown a trifle since our ancestors "fit and died," less than one hundred years ago. Then a ride through the woods to the city was both difficult and dangerous, and the traveller always breathed more freely when he had passed within that line of advanced redoubts, where now runs that little bowery of the Northern Liberties, Poplar street. 

I am reminded that this is not a historical review, but a balloon experience. 

Well, the novelty being now somewhat worn off, we began to scent the flesh pots again, and with sharpened appetites we put away provender "cans ceremony." The question was raised whether ballast thus disposed ceased to be such, and I do not remember if the answer was conclusive. The bill of fare was thusly: 

SOUPS,
None such-the same. 
FISH, 
Left behind-perch. 
Baked, 
___   _____
BROILED 
Chicken (on the wing). 
EGGS, 
Carrier pigeons plain. 
Omelette, Chapeau de Quaker. 
Extras: 
Sandwiches plain, 
Sandwiches plain, turned on both sides.
Parkinson sandwiches, (first used on this occasion, and respectfully dedicated to the three Wise men who got ham.) 
Pastry: 
Pies made from Atmores celebrated mince meat.)
More of the same, 
More of the same Liqnors. 
Silence, non-commattal. 

all this time it must be borne in mind, we were engaged in dissemenating general information throughout the wilds of Jersey, in the shape of circulars, which, as they slowly fluttered downwards, might have easily been mistaken for vast flocks of white pigeons, and I called attention at one time to the sparkling waters of tqe [[the]] Delaware, only to find a moment later that it was only the effect of the thousands of circulars in the sunlight against the dark waters below. Some of these with weighty advertisements on the back. 

FELL AT MORE 
than the usual rate of speed. 

A circular of the Institute, with a request on it that any found at a greater distance than twenty miles from Philadelphia, should be reported, was plentifully scattered. Up to date, however, none have been heard from and I "reckon" none will be.

Clouds now cooled our ship, the barometer going down, the circulars up, and a general appearance of things below told us we were "going to grass." Soon sounds began to come up to us. Then the trees and fences threatened and, with a word of caution from Prof. Wise, to cling to the "ring" in a moment more we struck with a bump that laid us on our beam ends," and threatened the stiffness of friend Cresson's white hat. Then a few more of the same, and we found anchorage in a fine field near Haddington. Here Mr. Cresson alighted, promising to report at the Institute, and leaving him in good hands we again essayed an upward move; but we bumped along uncomfortably until we had to sacrifice the drag rope, which ensured us a rough landing when we next came to earth and we then arose above the wealth of autumn coloring spread out below. Near enough to an-wer [[answer]] calls, to see the affrighted poultry seeking shelter, and note the frantic efforts of returning truck teams to keep even with us, and above all, to distinguish the bright yellow of the chestnut, the scarlet and brown maple, amber scrub oak in contrast with the fitly named evergreen. Now, right before us come into view a large village, transversed by a rallroad [[railroad]], and beyond a swift moving train. We were evidently coming down at a rapid rate

RIGHT OVER THE TRACK.

("Across the continent," first class sensation). Regard for the safety of the locomotive compelled the sacrifice of the last article on hand, retained on account of its pleasant memories, Parkinson's basket. Then we passed almost over the imperilled [[imperiled]] locomotive, and shortly came to earth in a cabbage field, the beautiful exactitude of which was sadly marred by our transit. A loop thrown quickly about a fence post stopped our fretting steed, and our trip had found a period.

A half hour later and the basket filled with the bag, stood ingloriously upon a truck at the station, waiting for the evening train to the city, and the Professor whiled away the time in recalling incidents of his eventfxl [[eventful]] life, additional charm being given the narrative by the simple and earnsest [[earnest]] manner of the recital.

When we arrived at the Institute we found a series of telegrams from all the point passed, or where we were sighted, which gave our friends behind an exact idea of our whereabouts.

That was a rough day on the wires.

SKETCHIST.

[[/Newspaper Clipping 1]]

[[Newspaper Clipping 2]]

Air Currents and Air Floats.

To the Editor of the Scientific American:

It is an ascertained scientific fact that the ocean and the atmosphere are correlative in their thermal values. The temperature of the water regulates the temperature of the air. It salts the air as well, and is of vast importance, in this regard, to the products of the soil and the constitution of the animals abounding adjacent to its direct influences.

Along our Atlantic sea board, we have a Gulf Steam pouring its equatorially heated water northeastward to the coast of Newfoundland, whence it is projected over the Atlantic to the coast of Ireland. It is a warm river, of several hundred miles in breadth, running across the Atlantic.

This river is as available for the floating of air ships from our sea board to England as was (and is yet) the Mississippi for floating flat boats from the Falls of St. Anthony to New Orleans.

A balloon, kedged in this stream, will necessarily float along its isothermal line, and it will float much faster than the stream, since the warm air correlated above it will flow in the direction of least resistance, which has an eastward tendency. Can we kedge the balloon in this ocean river? More easily than the water ship can be kedged to the channel of the winding river down which it floats.

With a device termed a droge, a conically shaped bucket float, open at its wide end, suspended at any desired distance from the balloon and fastened with two cords (one at the point, the other at the open end), it is easy to increase or lighten the burden of the balloon; in other words, to let her up or down without a discharge of ballast or gas. Professor Henry hints at the possible contingency of the interference of a cyclone in such an adventure. That is very thoughtful, but the same contingency holds with regard to sea ships as well. To the balloon, it would not be disastrous, as all the cyclones in this latitude are inevitably dragged eastward by the normal motion of the atmosphere, a meteoric fact too often witnessed with my own eyes while sailing in their vicinity, in their midst, or in their front. I know very well that they turn round on their common centers, and that they have innumerable vortices on their peripheries. The destructive vortices are caused by the interruptions on the surface, and would not, even if they extended to the hight [[height]] of the balloon, be dangerous to it.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Is there not in the land sufficient meteorologic intelligence, coupled with bounteous generosity, to send an air-tossed veteran through this channel for exploration, or some other willing adventurer, more competent than your obedient fellow citizen?

Philadelphia, Pa. Feb. 1875      JOHN WISE.
 
[[/Newspaper Clipping 2]]