Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-17
READY FOR A|RSH|PS
War Department Awaits Sky
Pilots at Fort Myer.
COURSE HAS BEEN LAID OUT
Officers Expect Baldwin to Make
Good.
HAS NOT ARRIVED HERE YET
Chances Of the Aeroplanes for Cross
Country Run-President Might
Attend Balloon Events.
Has NOT ARRIVED HERE YET

Everything in the way of aeronautical
experiments by the War Department
awaits the arrival of the aeronauts in
Washington for the tests that will begin
at Fort Myer not later than July q. 1t
had been thought that the first of the
aeronauts, Capt. Baldwin, with his diri-
gible balloon. would be on the ground this
week. but he has not appeared and the
officers at the War Department say that
they have heard nothing from him. The
big ba loon house of the Signal Corps al
Fort Myer Is swept and garnished more
or less and Is ready for the assembling
Of Capt. Baldwins drigibie as soon as
he arrives.
Water has been run to the big cavalry
drill ground. where gas will be made for
the balloon and a big tent, something like
circus tent. but with the poles on the
outside. will be used to house the balloon
after she Is taken to the drill ground, to
save the trouble of taking the craft over
the bad road to the balloon house.
There is little doubt in the minds of of1l-
GERS who have followed the subject that
Baldwin will be able to do all that is re-
quired with his steeraSle balloon. The
limitations of a dirigible are rather mar
row. but they have been tried out enough
to be quite certain what they can do.
From Fort -Myer to Alexandria.
The course that has been laid out for
the air craft is from Fort Myer to Alex
andria and return. or to Falls Church
and return. according to the direction Of
the wind. There Is rough country over
the course, but this will not matter so
long as the airships keep in the air, where
they belong.
If they come down and get into diff
culties on the ground, that is their own
fault. and in that case the War Depart
will be no trouble, Of course, in the bal
loon keeping over the hills and tree
tops, but II the aeroplanes can negotiate
the cross-country run, they will have
established a new record In aeronautics;
All of the flights of Henry Farman and
Delagrange have been made over clear.
level ground, usually at a height Of not
more than fifteen or twenty feel from the
earth. But Gen. Allen Of the Signal
Corps explained that an aeroplane that
was no good to the sw6r Department. and
the course has been laid out with a view
to testing the utility Of the machines to
the utmost.
The. Wright brothers, who are looked
upon as the most sk.llful of the heavier
than-air fiiers, say that they Will be able
to do all and more than is asked Of them.
But few people have actually seen the
Wright machine fly, and the most exten-
sive Of its flights that have been reported
have been over the l-vel sand beaches OF
the South Carolina coast.
President Roosevelt Is much interested
in the development Of aeronautics in the
War Department. 1t is stated that when
Congress reassembles he will try to get
much larger appropriation for the work
than has hitherto been granted. It Is
just possible, also. that he may take
a run down to Washington to see the
flight of the aeroplanes II there prom
ises to he anything unusually interesting
on hand.
Board to Pass Upon Tests.
The board that will probably be ap-
pointed to pass upon the tests-to time
the flights, determine the speed and see
that all the conditions are lived up to-
will consist of Lieut.. Frank p Lahm,
who won the James Gordon Bennett in
ternatfonal aeronautical cup at Paris.
France, in 1906; Lieut.. Thomas E. Sell
fridge. who is member Of the Aerial
Experiment Association at Hammonds-
the Signal Corps: Lieut.. Benjamin D.
Foulois, who recently graduated from the
signal school at Fort Leavenworth, and
either Maj. George A. Squier or Maj.
Edgar Russell Of the Signal Corps. The
board will report to Gen. Allen. who will
pass lludlty Oit SlC ICSultS u tue IlSnlS.
Lieuts. Selfridge. Lahm and Foulois will
probably be selected to become familiar
with the operation of the successful air.
ships.
Army and navy officers here are greatly
interested In the coming of Henri Far
man with his aeroplane to this country.
If the dates fixed for the Frenchman
do not conflict with the tests to be held
at Fort Myer several army and navy
officers may be present to witness Far
flight RriR Cen Allen will r,rnh
ably detail Lieut.. Foulois. who is in
charge Of the aeronautical work at Fort
Myer, to attend the flights to be made
by Farman.