Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-04-02
PATRIOTISM OF
AN INVENTOR,
!. F. Scott Declares His Aero
plane Is For America Alone.
WILL NOT AID FOREIGNERS.


ment Didn't Care For Reward-Be-
lieves' United States Will Reach
Greatest Heights In Civilization.
James F. Scott of Chicago, to whom
the government has awarded $4,000
contract for an aeroplane, says that
withiIf five years the development of
flying apparatus will have gone so
far that aeroplane ships carrying crews
of twenty to thirty men will be max
ing regular flights of 1000 miles at a
clip. He looks for progress to be
made similar to that with the automo-
bile. which has reached it's present
state of perfection within decade.
Mr.. Scott is a scenic artist forty-five
years old. He has made at least doz-
en- working models, and the apparatus
to be built for the war department Is
to consist of two main perfectly hor-
izontal planes, with several smaller In
termediary planes, the whole weighing
1,500 pounds. The maximum surface
of the planes will be 1000 square feet,
and the machine will carry two men.
Mr. Scott is intensely interested In
the subject of aerial navigation, has
decided ideas as to how a patriotic
Americans knowledge and studies and
Investigations in any line of scientific
endeavor should be used freely and un-
reservedly for the use of his govern
ment and for the advantage of no 9th
er and is firmly convinced that the
need for all naval strength will be en-
tirely done away with when aerial
navigation by aeroplanes shall have
been perfected. The possibility of
building a feet of air craft which can
destroy the mightiest leviathan of the
sea by dropping explosives he regards
as sure in time not only to revolution
ize all warfare, but absolutely to do
away with 1t.
II was born in Clinton, Ia. forty-five
years ago." said Mr. Scott as he sat in
his modest home, 673 South Rockwell
street. Chicago, and talked 10 the New
York Herald representative. "At tif
teen | was determined to see something
of the world, and l came to Chicago,
which has been my home though with
frequent breaks, ever since.
"As young man l was attracted to
art, and | did good deal of portrait
painting. | also decorated the interiors
of many fine Chicago residences.
"No, | never have attempted TO eX-
hibit. left that for other artists.
know a large number of artists in all
fields, whether of portrait work or in
commercial lines. Later in life l took
up scenic painting. and the work upon
theatrical scenery has taken me to
many parts of the country.
But all these years have devoted
most of my time to my aeroplaneS. |
have made money in scenic painting.
but it has been n means to the end that
] might use the money so earned in
supporting my wife and two children
and myself While devoted my thought
to aerial nar' -ation.
"My SOL Ro' ert. who is fifteen, has
a naturally inNrutive, mechanical mind.
l bought him Il motor cycle recently,
and 1t wasn't a day before he had the
machine all apart. 4 must see what
is in 1t, father he told me, and he has
been of very material assistance to me
in my experiments. Often l have been
perplexed with certain problem. and
he has come in and apparently intul-
lively OWNED how 1t should be solved,
and his solutions have in a large num-
Der Of cases proved absolutely sound
"The reason | wrote the government
authorities that my invention would
be at their service for $4,000 unre-
servedly is that | believe all patriotic
Americans should devote their efforts
to the welfare of their government pro-
vided their lines of endeavor lie along
lines like mine and that q prohibitive
price should not be put upon their
work. | have the greatest faith in the
Idea that the United States is the coun-
try which is destined to reach the
greatest heights In civilization, holding
up the beacon for other peoples, and |
believe every true American patriot
should further this advance with all
the earnestness that in him lies"
To emphasize his patriotic motives
Mr.. Scott said in the course of the In
terview: "If the representative of any
foreign England, France, Ger
many or other nation-came to me and
told me that f1,O00,0OO lay in a bank
subject TO my check provided | would
turn over to him even the diagrams
of my aeroplane | would refuse such
offer. No amount of money could per
suade me to sell my invention TO for
eign power.
81 ask for no ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or the
plaudits of the multitude. | only hope
TO earn Il fellowship in the RANKS Of
those whose only aim is to do good.
by their works ye shall know them
| do not even ask to be given credit
for good intentions. | have devised
an aerial war craft that In the hands
of a great and good people can be used
to abolish forever the black reproach
to humanlty-war The butchery, the
legal murder of the brave and beautl-
full flower of the nations. sacrificed to
lust for power, for greed and for all
that is basest in human thoughts, must
cease.
II never have sought publicity in
my work. | have not Joined the Chi
cago Aeronautiqne club because have
preferred to keep the work to myself.
The prize am sure of receiving from
the government will help some OF
course: but, as n matter of fact,
didn't care whether | received It or