The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-31
WRIGHTS PREPARE
TO SELL PLANES
Brothers to Train Number
of Machine Operators for
Demonstrations.
Continued from First Page.)


they have some business with the Ger
man government. This trip is to be
made soon, because il is necessary that
one Of the avlatOrs be in Germany III
September
One viii return to Washington to be
head instructor of the Signal Corps col
lege Of aerOplane operation. Since II
isn't known which one is going abroad,
il seems probable that il isn't known
who is going 10 come down to Wash
ington again 10 do the instructing.
Probably both brothers viii leave
Washington for Dayton tonight. Ger
tainly one Of them and Miss Katherine
viii 90, and there viii be no flying at
Fort MyeT or therea bouts Tor several
days, al least. The brother who stays
here will have as long as he wants to
take 70 instruct the officers and viii
have all of each perfectly good day in
which 10 do il, consequently there
needn't be any rush about #.
Government Now Owns Plane.
On behalf Of the United States Gov
eminent. Brig. Gen. James Allen. chief
signal officer OF the army. today for
maIy accepted from Wilbur and Orville
Wright, the Wright aeroplane the first
heavier-than-air machine 10 meet the
Government requirements framed over
a year ago. The Wright brothers will
chine, representing the contract price
of $4,000, and a $500 bonus for a speed
Of forty-two miles an hour.
The official time made by Orville in
his flight, according to the announcement
made by the aerOnautlc board OF the
signal corps at noon today, was 42.5S3
miles an hour. This was the average
speed, according TO contract require
ments with two men and additional
dead weight 10 make up 800 pounds.
The Official time, according 10 the
computations Of the board, from Fort
Myer 10 Shutters Hill vas $3.50 miles on
hour, and the time from shutters Hill
&c Fort Mye- on the return. A. 43l miles
an hour The great difference Ia time
on the two legs is ascrlDed 10 the wind,
and 10 the fact that OryLle ran OF
his course going down, and Aad 10 make
a long wide sweep TO the westward 70
turn the stake balloon from the right
Orville Earns Bonus.
TIE $50 bonus earned by the
Wrights = for the two additional
miles over forty made on the flight The
contract provided for a bonus or 10 per
cent Of the contract price, OF $4,000 or
$3.50 for each mile made over forty
an hour. No allowance was made for
the fraction Of a nile. the Comptroller
o. the Treasury having decided when
W1s closed JEat the Government could
not, according to its contract. pay for
q fraction of a mile.
Wilbur Wright called at the War De-
partment this morning, and he was no.
tilted by General Allen Iu person that
the machine had been formally accent
ed on the favorable report Of the board
of judges on the flight
Herring Not Coming.
Another important action taken by
General Allen today was the aunuImeul
with A. NJ Herring. Of New York. to
deliver a heavier-than-air machine AZ
Fort Myer. Herring notified the Signal
Corps today that he could not possibly
deliver his machine before September ].
His third extension Of contract time ex-
pired today. and General Allen decided
that he could grant no further renewal
lie MADE tlls decision on the ground
that the money tied up iu the contract
did not belong 20 the Signal Corps. but
II II was part Of an appropriation
Tor The Us eoi the board OF ordnance
and fGrthcdLlOu. This amount viii ne
turned back to the board by General
Allen In consequence there Will be no
further money available for aerOuaulIC
work. IT Is the opinion of General AL
len. however. that another request lu
the board of ordnance and f0rtidcauon
would not meet with refusal. if the Sig
nal Corps wanted 10 acquire another
machine. II is probable that the signal
Corps viii enter into another contract
with Herring IF he can convince the
aeronautic board that his machine IS
worth while.
Thrilling Flight
Aside from being the most remarkable
nighA that any aviator has ever made.
Orviile Wright's cTOss-country dash
from Fort AIyer 10 Shutters Hin. near
Alexandra. last night was By far the
most entertaining 20 the spectators, the
most thrilling, the most inspiring that
he has ever made.
More than 500 persons stood strain
ing their eyes. many standing on tip-toe,
towering up on chairs OF benches. peer
ing our into the haze 10 the south.
where the near-purple of the evening
sky was smUdged with the SCOT Of Alex
andria's c1imneys. making "A lazy, dirty
bEown-biue curtain that not many eyes
could pierce.
More than 500 oheered when Orville,
carrying Lieut. Benjamin ID. FOulois as
his passenger. swung our of the accus-
toned Tut Of his circles. swung into an