76 



BALLOONING, MODERN. 



Amboy, N. J., considerably less than 100 miles 

 from the starting point. 



The balloon is capable of much greater devel- 

 opment than is dreamed of at present. It is 

 possible to make one that could sail around the 

 globe ; but until there comes a demand for such 

 a wonder it is not likely to make its appearance. 



The Care of Balloons. Oil-varnished bal- 

 loons are constantly changing in appearance, 

 weight, strength, and condition of the oil film. 

 At first the varnish scarcely discolors the cloth, 

 but it soon begins to yellow, and in 

 time darkens to a brownish hue. If 

 too much exposed to air it will dry t 



hard, and if kept an undue time from 

 the air it will become soft and sticky. 

 Fresh coatings have to be given from 

 time to time until the accumulation 

 of weight impairs its carrying powers. 

 The "life" of a balloon may be 

 doubled by simply sprinkling it over 

 with kerosene oil after each ascension. 



Montgolfler or Hot-air Bal- 

 loons. Unbleached domestic cotton 

 is mostly in use for hot-air balloons, 

 and the rule already given for cut- 

 ting may be applied in this case, ex- 

 cept that the neck has an opening of 

 from 8 to 12 feet. Stays ara stitched 

 at intervals across the cloth, and a 

 wooden hoop is usually attached to 

 the neck. The fabric is improved with 

 a little filling. Flour paste, paste and 

 whiting, glue size and ochre, are all 

 in use, but the best, perhaps, is a thick 

 solution of soap and whiting, which 

 is first laid on and afterward sprinkled with 

 strong alum water. No net is required ; all 

 weight to be carried is suspended from the 

 wooden hoop or neck of the balloon. No valve 

 is needed, but the balloon is suspended by an 

 iron ring during the early part of the inflation. 



The Parachute. Linen or cotton cloth is 

 the material for parachutes. They are umbrella- 

 shaped when in the air, but have no frame work. 

 They are cut in a similar manner to the upper 

 third of a balloon, and should be well stayed. 

 Strong cords are pendant from the edge or are 

 sewed along the seams, and are of sufficient 

 length to prevent violent swaying in the descent. 

 The cords are concentrated to a point or small 

 hoop, from which a basket or other contrivance 

 may be suspended. At the top of the parachute 

 is a knife so arranged that on pulling a cord it 

 cuts the rope attaching the parachute to the bal- 

 loon. Sometimes a hoop is suspended inside to 

 facilitate the opening of the folds when the rope 

 has been cut. No parachute should be less than 

 30 feet in diameter, to insure easy lighting. 



Inflation. The Montgolfier depends entirely 

 on heated air for its buoyancy. A long, wide, 

 and deep trench is dug, in which the fire is made, 

 and the heat conveyed to the balloon. The trench 

 is covered with iron plates, or logs of wood with 

 earth upon them, and a short, cylindrical chim- 

 ney is built upon one end ; this, with a broad, 

 wooden cover for the chimney, completes the ar- 

 rangement. Two tall poles, with pulleys at the 

 top, stand at a convenient distance, one on each 

 side of the trench. Through the pulleys and 

 through the ring at the top of the balloon runs 



a strong rope, by which the head of the balloon 

 is hoisted after its neck and folds have been 

 carefully arranged around the chimney. Several 

 men seize the cloth and steady it, to prevent con- 

 tact with the fire. The outer end of the trench 

 is filled with light, dry wood ; a cupful of alco- 

 hol, benzine, or kerosene is thrown over the 

 wood, and the fire is started. A man stationed 

 within the balloon stands by the chimney, with 

 the wooden cover, ready to damp the fire, and 

 has a pail of water at hand from which he can 



A SNOW DROP. 



sprinkle the balloon if sparks find a lodgment 

 anywhere. The helpers stand upon the folds of 

 cloth to prevent cold air from entering. From 

 ten to twenty minutes, with a brisk fire, serves 

 for the complete distention of the globe. The 

 parachute, previously attached to cross ropes on 

 the hoop, lies at one side. The gymnast takes 

 his place beneath on the trapeze or other con- 

 trivance, the cover is put on the chimney, all let 

 go, and, with a rush, the ascension takes place. 

 As the heated air soon cools, not many minutes 

 are lost in selecting a place for alighting. The 

 parachutist then pulls the knife cord, which cuts 

 the rope connection, and instantly he is seen to 

 drop, at first like an arrow, but in a moment the 

 parachute catches the air, and then sails steadily 

 down, alighting generally much easier than if he 

 had continued on with the balloon. 



Carbureted Hydrogen Gas. Gas from coal 

 is a practical substitute for hydrogen, although 

 its buoyancy is much less, being only 35 to 40 

 pounds per thousand feet. But its use is more 

 general, because of its comparative cheapness. 

 The necessity for erecting temporary apparatus, 

 the cost of materials and labor, all tend to make 

 hydrogen ten times more expensive than coal gas. 

 Much of the gas now made for illuminating is 

 coal gas adulterated with water gas and petro- 

 leum oil, or consists entirely of the latter. Oil 

 gas is too heavy for balloons, and hence any 

 of these mixtures may be considered useless. 

 Water gas of itself will answer very well, as it 

 is nearly as buoyant as coal gas ; but it must be 

 taken for inflation at the gas works, and be 

 made expressly for the purpose. The inflation 



