The Washington herald., 1908-08-18

| DaIuNln last night after learning Jla
the board Of test Of the Signal Corr
recommended the sum Of S5.757.
At that price, however, I viii los
s2.ooo or more in actual cash. TO say moth
ing Of my time and labor. but
glory in the fact that have succeede,
1 IN fulfilling my contract with the Wa.
Department and II is something 20 o,
proud Of 10 be known as the first mar
who ever sold dirigible balloon 10 IN.
/ United States government. 1 know evsry
/ member Of the board. and believe IN.
/ plicitly in their judgment They hguree
I out what the balloon was worth 10 ma
| Signal Corps. and viii recommend thai
/ be paid that amount for it.. Mr.. Curtis.
and myself are perfectly satisfied
Speed GauEed Price.
At the meeting Of the board at the
War Department yesterday It was figured
OUT that capt Baldwins highest speed in
the tests on Friday was 1851 miles an
hour The price which Capt Baldwin
was 20 have received for his sky yacht
nad il made an average speed Of twenty
miles an hour was $3.50 As the specif-
cations stipulated that l. per cent Of The
contract price be deducted for every mile
under twenty that Capt. Baldwin made
in the speed tests. and there was No pro-
vision for credit for fractional ps--s Of
miles. Capt. Baldwin-s speed was est--
mated at nineteen miles fiat. and he re-
ceived only IS Per cent OF the contract
price
Capt Baldwin's machine has passed al
the tests 20 which IL will bz subjected
Before he receives a check for the dfri--
ioie- ne must comply with another re-
qllrenent OF the specifications Cant
baldwin must instruct the officers Of the
sigma! Corps iu The art Of sailing his
craft. and teach the enlisted men how N
III IL with Eas. get the motor in condition
Tor flight, and obtain an even balance
OF the entire machine There are scores
OF other technical points on which he
VIII coach both the officers and men
Begin Trimming To-day
Weather permitting. Capt Baldwin viii
begin his Instructions this -no-rfns. At
80 O'Clock Lieuts. Lahu. SeIf-5dga. and
Foulois, the three signal Corps men who
have widest knowledge Of aerouauti-s. VIII
meet Capt Baldwin in the balloon tent
at Fort Mys-. and take their primer les
son in the art OF handling the dirigfb-e
and navigating IL Lieut. Lahm may make
an ascension this morning He probably
VIII rUD the engine In the front OF the
machine and steer the forward planes
by which the motor balloon Is elevated
or lowered while Capt Baldwin looks
after the rudder. Before the course of
instructions is completed. each of the
officers OF the aeronauucaI board VIII
have made an ascension Capt BALDWIN
expects 10 remain in Washington until
the first Of September.
Dinner to Press Club.
Capt Baldwin entertained a number .of I
bis friends AZ an informal dinner Al the /
National Press Club. 1215 F street north I
vest last night Those in the party were I
Lieut. SelfTidge. United States SiEnaI /
Corps Prof Albert Zahn. Of the Cath /
'lic University Augustus Post. secre-
ary Of the Aero Club Of America. c. 4. 4
,laudy. a balloon expert and MAGAZINE
writer jerome Faniciuui. Associated
Press; Hal Smith. Baltimore Sun. Fred
rick Stechman. St Louis Republic. Rob
IT pUgsn, Washington Star Russell II
IcLennan. New York Herald. Wingrove
5athon. Washington Post. and Louis A.
iacMahon- The Washington Herald.
Lieut.. Selfridge Is one OF the brightest
.oung men in the Signal Corps. snd he
.as devoted the past ten years TO the
tudy Of air navigating MACHINES. He
esigned the propeller used on Can't
Saldwin's 5 dirigible. which shattered every
altoo0 record lass week. and the vet
ran aeronaUt was unsfinted in his
raise OF the propeller and its inventor.
r. Zahm Is professor Of theoretical and
ppied mechanics al the Catholic Uni
ersity. and was Of invaluable assist
nee % Capt Baldwin during the tests
Z Fort Meyer. GIr. Post is one Of Cant
,aldwiu's most ardent admirers and has
zen with bin every minute Of the time
pent at Fort Nyer-
Balloons and ToaSts. =
Aeroplanes, aerodromes. dirigibIes. cap c
We and free balloons. henocopters. and I
any other machines flew through the at
osphere during the dinner. and between O
le aerCEaucical discussion a VERY. erf7v- F
Die repast was served. Congrs+uIa- 7
ny speeches were made by the princi- Y
II guests and Capt Baldwin responded
2 predicted bright future for the dfri- .
be in war peace. and commerce. es- !
.cially emphasizing the latter. q
Capt Baldwin stated that within -ba
xt two or three weeks he would sic, u
contract with millionaire GHdden vvs-r n
Town in aUtomobiling circles for a =
,mbeT Of dirigibles TO run from Boston n
New York Mr. GIidden proposes es- n
blishing a passenger line between those y
70 cities. and viii give Capt. RaIdv-f, q
order for several dirigibles large "
ough 20 carry number of passengers G
Prof Clayton. Of the Blue Hill Oh OF
-vatory. was sent TO Fort NIyer last X
'ek BY Mr. Glidden for the purpose
ascert aiming the speed and endurance NJ
the Baldwin ciTigihle and make re- N
RI on Il Prof. Clayton returned 10 L
ston after making his investigation. "a
d on the strength Of his report the n
iionaire communicated with Cant. q
ldwin and requested that work on the r
Icons for the aerial transit line com II
nee az the earliest possible date. 80
PIT Baldwin said last night that he =
j received several private orders for :
7licates of mis- army dirigible EnEi- I /
ar Curtiss. he said. has also received |
number Of orders TO manufactsl~a !
lne Bug" aeroplanes. such as the one II
made his successful flights in several II
lrs ago.
Propose Aero Club.
r. Post seriously discussed with the
er guests the idea Of forming the !
-shiHgton Aero Club for sport. and | 3
Il. Zahm was enthusiastic over the or
Iization Of a scientific aeronautical So :
y. Il is believed that both these I
anizations viii be perfected in Wash z
ton before many months. ,
ieut- Selfridge told Of the need Of :.