The next step was to construct a large shed for the housing of
his air-ship, and also for the purpose of carrying out numerous
costly experiments. The Count selected Friedrichshafen, on the
shores of Lake Constance, as his head-quarters. He decided to
conduct his experiments over the calm waters of the lake, in
order to lessen the effects of a fall. The original shed was
constructed on pontoons, and it could be turned round as desired,
so that the air-ship could be brought out in the lee of any wind
from whatsoever quarter it came.

It is said that the Count's private fortune of about L25,000 was
soon expended in the cost of these works and the necessary
experiments. To continue his work he had to appeal for funds to
all his friends, and also to all patriotic Germans, from the
Kaiser downwards.

At length, in 1908, there came a turning-point in his fortunes.
The German Government, which had watched the Count's progress
with great interest, offered to buy his invention outright if he
succeeded in remaining aloft in one of his dirigibles for
twenty-four hours. The Count did not quite succeed in his task,
but he aroused the great interest of the whole German nation, and
a Zeppelin fund was established, under the patronage of the
Kaiser, in every town and city in the Fatherland. In about a
month the fund amounted to over L300,000. With this sum the
veteran inventor was able to extend his works, and produce
air-ship after air-ship with remarkable rapidity.

When, war broke out it is probable that Germany possessed at
least thirteen air-ships which had fulfilled very difficult