Cleveland Morning Leader

Air Currents—Explanations of Mr. Wise

In a letter to the Tribune, Mr. Wise insists that experiments have demonstrated that there is a current of air blowing from west to east continually, and this can never be less than fifty miles an hour; often sixty or eighty. As we ascend higher in the current, it runs faster until we find it changing a little south of east. The lower current, near the earth, runs toward the north of east. Prof. Henry thinks it is the return current of the trade winds.

Mr W. states that the reason why the late trip was not made direct to the city of New York was that some of the party did not provide themselves with extra clothing. Immediately after leaving St. Louis the balloon was taken to an altitude at which it was making due east. In this current the thinly clad soon shivered with cold, and begged to be let down into more congenial temperature This was done, and it was found that the lower current would take the air ship over the Lakes. This was desirable, as the voyage was experimental The trip of 170 miles was made over Lake Erie, at no time over 600 feet above the water. This was satisfactory, as many aeronauts have stated that balloons will not keep up over water The propelling machinery was not used at all It was ungeared while hitching on the car and boat to the balloon, and it was thought dangerous to attempt to screw on the fans while aloft Mr. Wise has no faith in the contrivance

Mr. Wise says that he is now convinced that balloon trips can be made from St. Louis to New York with system and precision, and from New York to London. When he can raise $6,000 he proposes to demonstrate the ocean voyage