AN AIR SHIP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1588, 18 June 1887, Page 3

AN AIR SHIP.

"The Aerial Steam Navigation Com tiny of San Francieoo Is constructing an ilr ah'p wbloh will soon be tested," reports the "San Francisco Bullentin." "The « drawing! Indicate that the vessel will be • ttfpr-ahaped, the opper portion being the balloon proper, the lower half the deck upon which the freight and passengers are to be carried. It Is expected by the pro. lectors that the machinery will be sufficient to lower and raise the vessel without retorting to the old device of increased or lessened ballast. William Patterson, who haa the work Ih oberge, says that Iho machinery will consist of three 12---borae engines ; one let to oparate the tiro auxiliary propnllers, located at cqu°l dlstanoe* from each other tt the bottom of the oar, and one operating the driving prcpelfar at the Stern, which Utter acto also aa the rudder. The sole offioa of the auxiliary propallers is to aid In raising and lowering the ship without the losi o> gas. The fuel will be coal oil and etoam ?>ray, fed to the furnaces by an injsotor. he boiler, which has been already negotiated for, will be a 40-horse power Htrachoff, and will be furnished by 0010 Bros., of Lochport, NT. Paro hydrogen g«s will be used, and will bo generated m the uinal way* Mr Patteteon says the •bip will be ready for use about August 1. He expects It to reach a speed of one mile -per minute. Qead winds and advuree eurnrats will be avoided by going above or ! belew their level by means of the * axillary - ptopeUen. Should the balloon burst, the -• ship will be gectly lowered by means of a : parachute. The balloon will be divided |Qt9 three compartments, separated from each other by a partition of the aarae material of which it is constructed, and eaoh •ntirely Independent of the other, so that if any of them ahonld oollapae the others will remain intact. The leDgth of f:he •hip over all will be lEOEt ; breadth ovejr all, 48ft; depth of oar, 12ft, capacity of balloon (hydrogon), 182,000.000 cubic feet ; engines (12-horse power), 3 ; lifting capacliy, 10,0001 b; total weight 5 tODs,"