2.—Some Technical Features of the Competing Balloons

Extract

There was no great novelty about any of the balloons. They were all spherical, with the exception of the “ City of London,” which is pear-shaped. Nearly all had ripping cords attached, and most of them (but none of the English balloons) had small awnings over the valves. This latter arrangement may be most necessary in a long voyage, as if the balloon is exposed to rain quite a pool of water would collect over the valve, and if the balloon then ascends to a considerable height, this water may freeze, and, even though it did not prevent the valve opening, might render it useless by preventing the egress of gas. Several of the foreign balloons had valves of a rather peculiar pattern. Instead of having two equal semicircular doors, they had but one door, covering, perhaps, three-quarters of the disc of the valve.