New-York tribune., 1908-08-11
plan to get such profit they could from their

4 NNA0NN
work.
Tn. natural effect of the reticence Of the
Ruckeve State aeronaIIts was to promote skepti-
csm regarding their achievements. In America
this has been overcome by at least three aSeh-
cies About two years ago The Scienti1c Amer
;can,, made nm elaborate investigation which
confirmed the principal features OF the story tod
by the inventors themselves. Professor A Gra-
ham Bell. who is conspicuous devotee of aero
nautic science, became convinced that the hon-
ors of priority In flight with an aeroplane hav-
ing It's own means of propulsion belonged to the
limited States and took occasion TO say So
Finally when conducting what were essentially
private tests on the Carolina coast last spring
the Wrghts talked somewhat more freely thah
formerly about their work. On the other SIDE
of the Atlantic, however, sentiment had re-
mained almost unchanged, and the men VINO
really deserved the most credit were until d few
davs ago seldom referred to in Europe without
SCOTS.
The situation has now materially changed
In the country in which Santos Dumont, Far
man. nelagrange and others have made promis-
ing demonstrations of the possibilities Of the
aeroplane one of the Wrights last Saturday
gave q public trial of the Dayton machine
Either Intentionally or by chance the exhibition
occurred when Farman was in the United States.
1t also came almost Immediately after what in
spite of the tragic termination OF count Yep
pelin's last voyage, must be considered an amaz-
ing revelation of the merits of another type Of
airship Perhaps the astOnshment created by
Mr. Wright's performance and the lively temper
ament of the French people may in some meas
ure account for the enthusiasm Of the press of
Paris over the incident, but no excuse is now
left for the pretence that the Ohio Inventors
have not solved the problem of fight with
heavier than air. machine.
An encouraging indication of the outcome or
the acceptance trials of the Wright machine to
be held at Fort Myer has been furnished at lie
Mans They will not be begun for at least
fortnight and will probably be made with a
different aeroplane from the one recently taken
TO France Still in design the two will be iden-
tical and 1T Is fair to assume that as much will
be done in trying to meet the contract require
ments Of the United States government as was
done in what might be regarded as an adver'
tisement for European eyes-a bid for foreign
favor As yet 1t is uncertain what speed the
Wrights are able to attain. In period which
Is unoficay reported to have been less than two
minutes Mr. Wright is said to have travelled
nearly two miles. But seemingly neither the
time nor the distance was carefully noted TO
infer that a velocity of sixty miles an hour was
developed. therefore, would be premature, not
TO saw reckless. Possibly the Wrights have IN
store for the world surprise, but If such is the
case their admirers can afford to walt for it,
All that the flight at LIE Mans proved is that
the machine with which 1t made can be
manpuvred with eese IN favorable weather, and
can ascend and des cend quickly and without in
Jury Even that is a great deal.