New-York tribune., 1908-07-27

his staff will be allowed two weeks expert
mentatf.n beginning tomorrow, before II is
compelled TO undergo the thorough tests re-
quired of it in the presence of board or srny
signal corps experts. The Herring deTopidhe
must reach Fort Myer by August IL, and the
Wright brothers flying machine must be on hand
by August 21. Each of these inventors Will
have thirty days in which to tune up their
instruments to concert pitch to be promptly
followed by the official trials
CAPTAIN Baldwin may win more than Sl0.Vbo
if he accomplishes all he claims for his ship In
the way of speed and endurance; he must win
at least Sc 100. his balloon will be rejected
altogether The Wright brothers will get so
900 as minimum if they meet the require
n1ents and may secure bonus of Siooto'
while Mr. Herring will get a minimum of
So0OaO if his machine meets the mntary
requirements. and has a chance for bonus OF
S. ono more Beyond these immediate premiums,
however will lie much greater rewards for sue
cessfu1 performances, from the potent impetus
given to practical artificial flight military
auxiliary and the reasonable certainty that Con-
gress next year will provide at least million
dollars for machines of proved worth
DETAILS OF THE TRIALS
The board to conduct the trials is composed
of the following officers of the signal corps:
Captain Charles Wallace, Lieutenant Frank p
Iahm who won the international Aeronautical
Cun at Paris in 1896; Lieutenant Thomas E.
Se1fridee a member of the Aerial Experiment
Association of Hammondsport, n. " ana Lieu
tenant Benjamin d. Foulois, recent graduate
of the Army Signal School at Fort LeaVen"or'h'
These tests will be the first serious ones ever
conducted by the United States army. Many
ohserva ton ascensiOns have been maze "lth
elobular balloons of the regular army type man
inulated bv the skilled signal corps squad, and
some excellent drifting with the wind mas oeeh
accomplished. But it is proposed to place
+ba United States in the front rank of nations
in overhead navigation.
The courses of the trials have been Tentatively
selected bv Lieutenant Foulois- Each is over
the open country, with no particular oo''"'
except the natural ruggedness OF the resioi-
These least obstructed courses lie Wlthlh quai
ter circle southwest Of Fort Myer, the pest
living nearest to the south. in the direction OF
Alexandria Numerous open fields In this olrec-
ton present excellent landing places from "nich
new ascensions may be practicable
SPEED AND ENDURANCE.
According to the contract Captain BALDWIN
balloon must carry two persons having d coiii-
bined weight of $50 pounds. in addition 10 l'"
pounds of ballast In the speed test the balloon
the speed to be determined by taking the time
over measured courses of five miles each' poth
before and against the wind. Captain BALDWIN
will also have three trials for endurance III
which he will be required to travel continuously
for two hours at a speed at least 20 per cent or
that which the balloon accompllshes In It's
speed flights The average maintained, or en-
durance speed fs of the most important
siderations. both to the signal corps ana 10
Captain Baldwin, the latter will receive ID
per cent and above the contract price,
81. 100 for each additional mile an hour If less
than sixteen miles hour is accomplished, his
balloon will be rejected.
The army specifications for the aeropanes-
which the Wright brothers and Mr.. Herring
claim to have met-are the most severe yet
issued by any government. The machine must
be capable of carrying two men and some heavy
explosives supported entirely by the dynamic
reaction of the atmosphere, with no gas bag t.
tachment S a target for the enemy. 1t must
have sufficient fuel for flight Of 12J miles. 1t
must fly at least forty miles an hour in still air.
Failing 10 make a speed of thirty-six miles
hour will cause machine to be rejected. The
speed will be determined by flights with and
Continued on tenth pnEes