The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-23
Capt. Homer w. Hedge,
Founder of Aero Club,
Predicts Success.
BALLOON POINTED
WAY TO AIRSHIP
Aeroplane viii Become Practi-
cable, But Dirigibles Likely to
Be Used Sooner.

NEW YORK, July 23.-'T confidently
predict that within two years aerial
navigation Will be an accomplished
fact"
This astonishing statement by Capt
Homer W Hedge. founder and former
president of the Aero Club of America.
one Of the recognized authorities on
the subject of aeronautics. Will IN
doUbtedIy awaken great interest. not
only in this country but in Europe.
where the popular interest in dirigible
balloons and aeroplanes amounts to
something akin to a fever at the pres
ent time because of the exploits of the
German inventor, Count Zeppelin
There will be a thousand minds at
work for every one at present." adds
Captain Hedge. "and notifications and
improvements will soon bring to per-
lection the first successes In war. su-
preme, almost to the adjustment Of
war! Il peace, delightful beyond con-
ception!
Balloon Commands Respect.
Crude as was the balloon, pure and
simple. IT has fulfilled it's mission. The
big. helpless gas bag that rose or fell
at the turn of temperature or shift OF
wind proved so much which before its
advent had seemed impossible that for
all its inutility it commands respect
Remove the motive power from tina
greatest ocean liner afoat. and it be-
comes as helpless as the balloon and is
equally at the mercy Of shifting cur
rents of wind and wave.
From the days Of Darius Green, or
IL a.
minion over the unseen, intangible
realm of air was a demonstrated fact
Failure 20 improve on it in no wise af-
fected the fact itself. Failure in exper-
imentation is ever the stepping stone
10 success. Failure is one form Of
discovery. This is the day and gen
Grafton OF cumulative invention. Mod
srn ingenuity profits by the labors.
failures. and discoveries of former
thinkers. The very dreams Of dreamers
are turned TO account, as witness the
submarine. conceived in the fanciful
brain Of Jules Verne.
Lack Of money has been the great
hIndrance. It takes money and lots OF
81 to experiment. and eXperimenters
have no time to make money. But until
she man Of money has positive proof
thar there Is something in it mere
While balloons could only go. with no
positive return. they did not appeal 10
The man Of dollars and Of sense Now
mat the open sesame OF proof has been
given. the purse strings are loosened,
and inventors, always longing 10 pry
apart the worlds secrets with their wits,
but unable to put ideas into practice
without means. are stirred TO enthusi-
asm and still further stimulated by COM
petition.
Secret Has Leaked Out.
''The Wrights were right. and our Gov
eminent is right. to keep the knowledge
gained by experiment secret until abb
solute success is assured. but already
more is known by the few Than is
dreamed of by the many.
What fear Of failure is there when
we can inscribe such names as Wright
brothers, Farman, Delagrange, Herring,
Ludlow, the late Langley. and Of Bea-
chy. Knabenshue. Stevens and Baldwin,
the last four being dirigible balloon en-
Ihusiasts- Speaking OF dir1gible bal
looms naturally suggests Zeppelin. His
latest airship. built under the auspices
of the German government is 445 feet
long, has motors aggregating 4O0-horse-
power, and carries twelve people Fur
Their. it is equipped with apparatus for
wireless telegraphy.
while the aeroplane will undoubted-
" become practical, though with what
carrying capacity none can say at pres
sent, the dirigible balloon is likely TO
lead more quickly 10 success Ultt-
mately there will be as many methods
Of air travel as there now are on the
surface, from bicycle to electric motor
engine, from push-cart 20 flyer.
Won Faith Of Money Power.
Honor and thanks are due TO the
Aero Club Of America. which took the
initiative, and TO such men as Gen.
James A Allen and Cortland Field
Bishop, who have won the faith Of men
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