220 THE ZEPPELIN AIR SHIP. 



One very noteworthy feature of this latest air ship is the sliding 

 weight — made of lead and weighing 3<)0 kilos — by means of which the 

 balloon is raised or lowered at the })ow or stern. In our illustrations 

 of this article, particularly' the last picture, we may observe the bal- 

 loon at a decided angle in the sky. This shows the work of the sliding 

 weight. It was secured in the center of the dragging-cable, the ends 

 of which were fastened fore and aft. As the dragging cable was about 

 328 feet long, with a slack of about 75^ feet, the stability of the vessel 

 was greatl}' improved. The heavy, deep-hanging weight acted as a 

 regulator of the pendulum-like motion of the air ship. In order to 

 provide for a descent into the water the sliding weight is inclosed in 

 a water-tight box filled with air, which causes the box to tloat when it 

 touches the water. The value of this piece of mechanism was proved, 

 as is hereafter shown, when the first experiment in flight was made, 

 although an unfortunate accident occurred to it, which brought the 

 flight to an abrupt conclusion. 



One word more and we are done with the technical construction of 

 the balloon. The steering apparatus consists of rudders placed at the 

 bow and stern of the balloon, and controlled by wires attached to 

 the two cars. Each rudder is made of cloth with a framework of 

 aluminum. 



The Government lent its aid in a manner worthy of emulation by 

 governments which are less up to date. When, for instance, the in- 

 ventor discovered that by allowing his building to float freely about 

 on the lake he was hampering himself with considerable difficulties, the 

 naval dockyards at Kiel came to his support with the loan of four 

 gigantic anchors, by which the floating workshop could be fastened. 

 The Kaiser was interested in the air ship throughout its construction, 

 and only the inventor and his inunediate colleagues will ever know 

 how much the imperial aid and interest stimulated them in their 

 endeavors. 



The 30th of June last witnessed a tremendous gathering of scientific 

 men and others on the shores of Lake Constance, who had come from 

 far and wide to attend the experimental trials of the Zeppelin balloon. 

 Experts from various countries were present, and the Kaiser, always 

 keenly interested in the problems of aeronauters, was represented by 

 several Germans of wide experience. It was a day when the fate of 

 an old man of 70 was to be decided — a man who, with exceeding 

 enthusiasm in his hobby, had put £20,000 into the construction of a 

 flying machine that had not yet taken its first flight into the air. 



The Balloon Company, which had been formed with a capital of 

 £40,000, half of which was contributed by Count Zeppelin, chartered 

 a steamer on that day and carried the experts to the scene of the trials. 

 A delay in filling the balloon occurred and the trial was postponed. 

 The following day the trial was delayed by a stifl' wind, but in the 

 evening the balloon was drawn from the shed, ballasted and balanced, 



