New-York tribune., 1908-08-11
FARMAN SEES EDISON
THE WIZ4RD PROPHESIES.
The Flying Machine and Taft Both
Sure Things, He Says.

Thomas A Edison. as a special mark of respect
to Henry Farman the English aviator. sprung
surprise that caused deep fIsh Of pride 10 surge
the face of his guest the Edison laboratories
in Orange. y. j.. yesterday morning. Mr. Edison
. had requested that Mr.. Farman and his party call
him a his play shop at II a yesterday
He them in his magnificent library and
after pointing out many curfosties notably the
marble group of 1.-The Genius Of Light, which
was procured at the Paris Exposition, the guests
taken by Mr.. Edison through all the de-
partments Of his extensive works
II when the lights were lowered in the NOV
ing picture department that the unusual compll-
ment Mr.. Farman said he would never FOR
get was paid him by Mr.. Edison. who sat in
/ the centre of the group and laughed IKE ooy.
From midnight blackness there suddenly appeared
the Farman aeroplane the screen. nrst IN lts
shed at the Brighton Beach racetracR ana after
in flight Farrnan bowling to the spectators
The first time" said Mr.. Edison, that moving
picture of your flights IN this country mas Deei1
by any person except our workInen
Mr. Edison showed great interest In the various
attempts being made In parts of the world
to travel in the air. 1T is coming; some one IS
liable TO solve the problem any day, he said
Don't you think, Mr. Edison, that the problem
is already solved and that all now needed are sclen-
tifc engineering talent and money! ne was
asked.
No. I don't think that 1t isn't solved yet
don't think inventors have been on the right TRACK
The great difficulty Of course, is the tremendous
power required the engine which at the same
time be very light There are lots OF
working night and day on that problem ana
will do the trick Liable to run across
the solution any day now he added
FarInan he had made experiments
fifteen years ago n connection with flying ma
chimes. but had been compelled to give his atten-
ton other things that had since engrossed nin
Speaking the criticism often made OF the
aeropane that when the engines stopped IT was IN
danger of falling the ground, Nj Edison made
a rough sketch showing a slight moclncatloh Oh
old device Of mis-, in which q pSrachu'e "hica
remained closed during the operation OF the motor
would instantly open should the motor stop This
was accomplished through utilization OF centrifugal
force.
Mr. Farman received the sketch gift Mr.
Edison first placing it hts autograph
How about the future of the dirigible balloon,
Edison
1t has no future speaking commercially. II has
no great future any way you take it, was his
prompt reply. 1T may be utilized in some meas
ure in war but the heavier-t than-atr machine that
can GO straight against the wind-ah! that is the
thing that must come
You refer TO the aeropane" somebody sug-
gested.
No" he said. IN tell YOU what I think about
this slzy-saiIing business I said. it's sure
to come. They haven't got it yet but they will
But when the question is solved you will find that
the machine that goes straight in the air
screws itself vertically into the air-has answered
riddle
j
Right answered.
This nv the way involves the very principle
fancifully ascrbed to the marvellous flying ma
chine of "Robur the Conqueror,'' by jules Verne,
a generation ago.
In addition TO Mr. Edison among those who
Interested II the hecopter type of heavier-than-
air flying machine are Professor William H Picker
ing Of Harvard University J. Hoffman, of Berlin
Paul Cornu OF France; Otto G. Luyties. Of Bait
more; J. Williams, OF Derby, Conn, and Wilt II r.
KImbaII, o York City.
The advantages that these inventors claim for the
helicopter thai it rise vertically. Ike
balloon: that 1t turn in much smaller radius
than an aeropane a drigble balloon, that II can
hover spot. whereas aeroplane must al
ways keep in rapid motion, and that it can ma
nteuvre easily in any direction. AS Professor
pickering expresses it. the hehcopter is dependent
on the action Of vertical screw pro-
peIiers and $ of the three known classes Of
fying machines, the other two being such as nave
flaming wings and those called aeropanes.
In recent article Paul cornu says that he
sees as do Archdeaco and others, in the hell
cor ter the mechanical solution Of the problem
of aerial navigation and that in recent commun
cation 10 the Academy OF Sciences al Athens Naval
Lieutenant Tsouchias Artillery Lieutenant
Halkavas both express themselves strongly IN favor
Of this apparatus
In the department where 10000 Photographic rec
orls are made daily Mr. Edison predicted that
William H. Taft would be the next President
i want Taft" he said He's great man Do
o,, know, We have shipped 10 so 900 farmers in
United states records Of speeches by Taft? He
didn't want Jet make them at first. but a
personal appeal telling him il was far more dgnt-
ned for him TO talk TO the people that way than
from the back end of train brought him around
He'll get there. all right You know there is
good deal of machinery. anyway. about politics.
he added, with twinkle.
The invitation was received from Mr.. Edison By
William J. Hammer, formerly laboratory assistant
of MIR Edison MEMO Park, and sent abroad by
him in connection with the Introduction of the
Edison electric light England and Germany
and as his personal representative at the Paris Ex
nositon of 1889 addition 10 Mr.. and Mrs. Far
man the party included Paul F. Mottlelay, the au-
thor no the first translation OF Gibert's
DE Magnetic of 1900 and spent eighteen years on
his photographed History Of Electricity He is
also author OF The Bridge Blue Book.
Charles NJ Manly. for many years the chief as
sstant OF Professor S. P. Langley in his aeronau-
tica work at Smithsonian Institution was
present with Mrs. Manly. He holds the unusual
record Of having constructed the lightest engine
ever built anywhere in the world It steam
engine 52-horsepower and weighed rs pounds
or PHO pounds TO the horsepower This engine
developed an actual horsepower of 81 for many
hours at a time, and was constructed seven years
ago He is completing the United States gov
-ernnent the Langley memoirs As soon as other
engagements will permit he expects to assemble
and test the Langley aeroplane TO prove the cor
rectness OF Professor Langley's theories ex-
enpiifed in machine
There were also included the party Albert c.
Triaca. pilot OF the Aero Club Of France and d.
rector of the international School Of Aeronau-
tics Mrs Triaca Robert Whitaker. well
lnown manufacturer of Philadelphia who
here few DAYS ago especially witness the Far
man flights an the guest Of Mr. Hammer.