PEOGRESS WITH AIR SHIPS. l7l 



weather, for on the jouriie}" to Mantes it was said that rain, accom- 

 panied ])y a considerable wind, prevailed. 



The greatest speed recorded is 11.80 meters per second (or over 25 

 miles per hour). Ascents have been made at all times of day, from -i 

 o'clock in the morning to 8 o'clock at night, even in fog and in frost. 

 The balloon has recently remained for one hundred and ninety-sijc days 

 inflated. The ascents were all conducted by the aeronaut, M. Juchmes. 



BARTON'S BALLOON. 



Another large air ship, though it has not at the time of writing yet 

 made an ascent, should be nearly' read}^ for its initial trials. This 

 machine is very different in design to those I hiive just described. 

 The shape of the gas vessel is to be somewhat like that of a shell, that 

 is to say, C3'lindrical, with an ogival head and a blunt stern. Schwarz's 

 balloon was roughh' of this shape. It is composed of well-varnished 

 silk, and will have a "chemise" of similar fabric unvarnished to go 

 over the top instead of a net. Portions of the envelope, especially at 

 the head, are stiffened with bamboo ril)s. The balloon is about 170 

 feet long and some .50 feet in diameter. Underneath this is suspended 

 a huge framework of stout l)amboos, lashed together and trussed with 

 wire stays. This is 140 feet long, and supports a deck which can be 

 walked along from end to end. There are three separate engines, each 

 of 50 horsepower. There are to be three pairs of propellers, each 

 having several superposed blades. One of the main features of the 

 apparatus is a series of aeroplanes, which are to assist the horizontal 

 stability and the raising and lowering of the machine. The whole air 

 ship is very ])ig and cuml)ersome, but it has very powerful engines. 

 If anything should go wrong with the latter, however, it will be a 

 difficult balloon to manage. 



OTHER AIR SHIPS. 



An enormous machine is being constructed in San Francisco for 

 Mr. Stanle}". It is to be made almost entireh' of aluminum. The 

 shape is cylindrical, with conical ends, and it is 228 feet long. Pro- 

 pellers are to be fixed at each end as well as on the top, the latter being 

 to regulate the rise and fall. It is supposed to take ''at least 30 pas- 

 sengers." Another machine, but of more ordinar}' dimensions, is 

 nearing completion in London. Mr. Beedle, the inventor, proposes to 

 place a propeller at each end of the frame, but the front one is to be 

 so arranged that its axis can be turned to one side to guide the vessel. 

 It contains 2I:,000 cubic feet, and ^"-^ engines of 1C> horsepower. 



