The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-09-17
THE AIRSHIP HAS ARRIVED,
The Conquest of the Air Adds
Another Vast Domain to the
Empire of Man.

The Conquest of the Air Adds
Another Vast Domain to the
Empire of Man.
Baltimore Sun.
American inventive genius and
American persistence and enthu-
slasm are combined in the young
Americans who are now the
acknowledged leaders Of the
world in the navigation of the
air. Only a few years ago
Orville and Wilbur Wright were
at work in their little bicycle
shop at Dayton, Ohio. Today,
one of them in France and the
other in America, theyare achiev-
ing triumphs that have made
them world famous.
They were deeply interested
in the problem of aerial flight,
but without funds to solve it.
Pretty soon they had invented a
machine that would really fly,
and, while inventors in other
countries have achieved success,
the Wrights have steadily led
the field in heavier-than-air ma
chimes. Though it was "un-
official, the flight of 243 miles
in 38 minutes and 20 seconds,
made by Wilbur Wright, at Day
ton, Ohio, October 5, 1905, re-
mained the record until Orville
Wright, at Fort Myer, on We'd
nesday remained in the air on the
first flight 574 minutes, making
nearly 40 miles, and the same
day a flight lasting l hour and
Z minutes, at times flying as
fast as 81 miles an hour. Yes
terday he eclipsed even this rec
ord, flying for IS minutes and 80
seconds while a stiff breeze was
blowing. This was net made in
a straight line, but over a circu-
lar course that imposed every
test of guidance and quick change
on both the machine and it's
operator.
Many persons will agree with
General Murry, Chief of Artil-
lery, who exclaimed with en-
thusiasm: The problem of
flight in the air is solved!" This
view is supported by Captain
Won Hildebrandt, the German
Army expert, who SAYS that
after this no one can doubt the
practical value of the flying ma
chine. " He points out that the
principal drawback to the pres
ent aeroplane is the fact that ii
requires a heavy special track
for starting. This is the case
with practically all the success,
full flying machines of today. Il
some method can be discovered
by which the machines can be
started without a cumbersome
fixed apparatus, their practica
bility will be firmly established
Count Won Zeppelin's expert
. ments in Germany demonstrated
, the possibilities of the dirigiblt
balloon. These have been showr
! repeatedly in this country, anC
the army has just acquired the
, dirigible built by Capt. Thoma:
r S. Baldwin, whose test flights a
Fort Myer attracted wide in
! terest. The exhibitions of Lin
! coin Beachey and others il
! Baltimore have made the peopl,
familiar with the gas balloon
Y that can be guided by its operator
But the aeroplane, the mono
: plane and other "heavier-than
= air" machines mark still furthe
2 progress in aeronautics. For thes,
4 machines really "fy like a bird.
s Of course, there are many diff
5 culties to be overcome before the,
are perfected. At present the,
Y find it difficult to maintain thei
: equilibrium, so to speak. The,
t are unable to fly without DANCE
in heavy winds; they require a
elaborate starting apparatus. Blu
we who have watched the rapi
development of the automobil
o and the motorboat have no reaso
:. to doubt that inventors wi
. quickly overcome these difficu
a ties in the perfection Of the aero
i plane.
= There is justification for tn
=, enthusiasm of those who declar
. that ''the airship has arrived.
n For the conquest of the air ado
l. another vast domain to the en-
% pire Of man.