Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-08
INVENTOR TO FLY
GREAT STEEL BIRD

CHICAGO, jan 5--Wrn. G.. Morgan ex-.
poets within the next few weeks to make
the first test of a flying machine witch
he calls the Chicago Bird and with
which he hopes to be able to sail $50 miles
an hour through the air.
Without making use of gas balloon
principle in any form, but trusting en-
tirely to a powerful little gasoline en-
CINE and a dozen big eight-foot wings,
he thinks that he Las the flying machine
problem well on the way to solution. Mr..
organs machine is receiving its finishing
touches In a ma chine shop at 755 Ogden
avenue. It is the third machine he has
built as the outcome of thirty years of
study.
The fret. a simple affair of bamboo.
operated by hand power. encouraged him.
three years ago. to raise money to con-
struct machine of aluminium. The sec
ond was built last summer. but just
when it was ready for trial the big storm
OF July II blew down the tent in which
it was kept and completely wrecked 1t.
1t has cost $1,000, but the inventor was
not daunted, and has worked steadily on
to replace it. Imagine a big cylinder Is
feet long and in diameter, with pointed
ends, six long wings on each eide and a
ten-foot tail of peculiar construction;
hang under it light framework. which
supports an engine and a. man, and has
bicycle wheels at each of the four cor
ners, and you get an idea, Of what the
new airship will loo. like when it is
finished
At present it has only one row of wings,
its body is not fully covered, and instead
Of resting on wheels it has half dozen
upturned buckets to support 1t.
The first merit Mr. Horgan claims for
his machine is its fine construction. He
ses aluminium throughout, and has SPAR
ed no expense TO get the best possible
material. The main cylinder or body of
! the machine weighs only fifty-six pounds.
yet he says, is strong enough to support
a ton. Inc ten-foot tail. or rudder, which
Is framework containing two interest
i ing planes OF aluminium. That widen
from few inches in breadth at the
point of attachment to the cylinder to
five feet ut the fartherest extremity, is
SO light that a man can hold 1t alofr IN
one hand. The six-horse power engine be-
ing built for him will weigh only forty
pounds,
In the next place. Mr.. Hergan takes
pride in the fact that he is working along
the lines of nature.
mo bird says he. ''is provided with
a gas bag Birds depend on the strength
Of llir wings and the wind for flight.
Even a fat old turkey gobbler can fly to
/, he roof Of q house if he gets running
start. Now I use the same principles.
My wing surface will be $50 times thai
OF four-pound duck, while the total
weight of my machine, with two men In
it. VIII be be only no times as great. IN
deed. It shall have theoretical lifting
power OF 5000 pounds, with only sos
pounds of weight to carry"
Mr.. Horgan will make the first as
cent himself. and In order to hurry the
test he Will not wait til! ne can secure
aluminium sneeting to cover the cylinder
and the wings. bu. will trust himself to
canvas coverings on an aluminium frame
work substituting the metal later on.
Santa Fe officials Reelected.
NEW YORK, January Fat the annual
meeting to-day of the Atchison, Topeka,
and Santa Fe. directors, all the outgoing
officials were reelected.
Senator Perkins Re-Nominntcd.
SACRAMENTO. CAL. January -
George G. Perkins was tonight renerni-
rated bvs the Republtea n caucus as United
States Senator to succeed himself. The
vote In the caucus stood: Perkins. IS j;
Irving NJ. Sect. !.
& Referring to the disappearance OF Lieu
'fnant Perkins from, Leavenwortl,, Kan.
when his wife arrived. the Newport News
''st.r Herald MAKES this comment: She
learned that Lieutenant Perkins was
passing as g single man and counting
syoUns. women here <r51ay, she ma rdarr,,,