Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-06-25
WR|GHTS PREPARE
FOR ARMY TESTS
BROTHERS TAKE OFF COATS At
FORT AND ASSEMBLE THEIR
FLYING MACHINE.
TO RESUME LAST FALLS FLIGHTS
New Dangers Confronted at Course on
Account of Building of Trolley
Line-To Attempt Cross
Country Trip.

Washington, June 22.-Promptly to.
day the Wright brothers who arrived
from Dayton yesterday went to Fort
Myer and proceeded to complete the
assembling of their flying machine.
Orville Wright will assume the trial
brought to an end by an accident
last September. The two aviators,
fresh from the honors accorded them
by their home city. took off their coats
and lost no time in getting to work.
They may be ready on Wednesday for
the first preliminary fight. The
Wrights must complete their official
trials by next Monday, and it is evil
dent from the fact that they have not
applied for an extension of time that
it is their belief they can make the
speed and endurance trial by that
time.
Since the flights last year the Fort
Myer grounds have been entirely in
closed by trolley tracks. This makes
1t dangerous for machine flying low.
A telephone wire which connected the
aeroplane shed with the headquarters
of the fort was removed today at the
request of the Wright brothers, be-
cause of the additional danger.
First Cross Country Flight.
The speed trial of the Wright aero
plane which must be made in flight
over course of five miles and return,
will be the first cross country run
ever made with a heavier-than-a air ma
chine over rough and hilly country.
The endurance trial will require the
Wrights to remain aloft for two hours
the machine carrying two mon and
sufficient fuel for trip of 200 miles
Today the Wrights informed Gen.
eral Allen, the chief signal officer, as
to the course which they will take in
the speed trial. Orville Wright has
expressed belief that the course run.
ming from Fort Myer in a southerly
direction to Alexandria, Va, Is the
least dangerous. He objects, however,
to the method proposed by the sig
nal officers for determining the speed
Of the machine. It is Mr.. Wright's
contention that with the machine n.y.
Ing over a rough country, where tho
ground varies from 100 to 800 feet be.
low the machine, 1t is difficult to
keep at the same level. He says that
the time lost through inadvertently
following the level of the earth Is very
great. This morning Orville Wright
expressed belief that the new ma
chine would make an average speed
of 40 miles an hour.
To Have Aid in Readiness.
General Allen has made arrange
ments for the test at Fort Myer. He
will have an outlook at the Fort Myer
observatory to watch the speed flights
of the aeroplane. In case of an aci-
dent. an automobile with medical Of
ticers will be ready to leave imme-
diately. The turning point of the
course will be marked by two small
balloons. Members of the signal
corps will be stationed to take the
time of the turn. Two balloons will
also mark the starting point.
General Allen today appointed the
following officers as members of the
board which is to conduct the trial:
Major George o. Squier, Major G. No
Saltzman. Captain Charles S. Wallace,
Captain G. DesSchandler, Lieutenant
Frank Frank P. Lahm. Lieutenant
Benjamin ID. Foulois, Lieutenant Hum.
phreys and Lieutenant George G,
Sweet. of the navy.