The Washington herald., 1909-07-27
Arrival Of the President.


President Taft arrived at the aeroplane
shed shortly after g o'clock. with him
were Senator Bourne. his golf accom-
plice. and his military aid. Capt. A W.
Butt
The crowd about the shed Immediately
gathered around the big automobile from
the White House so that the Presidents
special policemen. who had followed on
motor cycles, had 90 clear a way 10 the
rope about the shed
As President Taft came up 10 the rope
ne was greeted by Col Garrard. in com
mand NJ Fort Myer. and Mai. SQuler. OF
the Signal Corps
ia Ike 20 see that machine" said
the President, as the party moved toward
the wooden shack. Mrs. Nicholas Long
worth saw the President coming. and ran
forward 10 meet him. He linked his arm
through hers. and entered the shed.
on the inside. Mr.. Taft shook hands
with Wilbur and OrviTe Wright, whom
he had not seen since he gave them a
medal few weeks ago In the East Room
OF the White House. The party in the
shed was soon joined by Speaker Can
non. Former Senator Hemenway and
Postmaster General Hitchcock were al
ready there. with a group OF other men
In official life.
The Wright brothers saw that their
visitors met their sister Miss Katherine
Wright. and then laid themselves out 70
show the theory Of their flying machine
They demonstrated what the different
levers did, how the different planes con-
tributed 20 the general effect. and fiexed
the wing tips to explain how the machine
turns corners without tipping over side
ways.
After a general conversation, the Presi-
dent moved toward the door. where he
had a talk with Mrs. LOngworth. while
the photographers lined the rope outside
and kept up Il constant bOmbardment
He then entered his machine again and
was driven 10 his tent al the other end Of
the ileld, from which he saw the flight
IF the weather to-day is good, the
Wright brothers VIII try TO get both the
endurance and the speed flights out OF
the way before dark. Nothing will be
done IN the morning. but with good
weather conditions. the official tests may
be commenced early IN the afternoon.
Three trials are allowed IN each test. II
needed. The speed test Of five miles to-
most spectacular flying trip that has ever
been made IN this country. Aviators IN
Europe have flown for greater distances
across country. but they have always
chosen perfectly level, titled ground.
Never since heavier-than-air machines
came into being has one Of them flown
over country as broken as that on the
course 70 Alexandria.
The biplane is required to carry a pas
senger, who viii probably be Lieut. FOu
lois. since It is expected Lieut. Lahm
VIII be carried in the endurance test pre-
ceding the speed flight
May Complete the Tests.
If the biplane makes the ten miles at
an average rate Of forty miles an hour.
the Wright brothers will receive S25,O
from the United States government, and
the contract will be closed with the
training Of two officers in the use OF the
machine. For each mile the machine
makes less than forty and down 70 thirty
six miles an hour, 10 per cent will be
deducted If the biplane makes less than
thirty-six miles an hour. it will be re-
jected. For each mile more than forty
an hour and up to forty-four, 10 per cent
VIII be added TO the $4,000. so that n
Orville makes the speed flight successful
ly, and at a speed Of forty-four or more
miles an hour. he and Wilbur win receive
in all $S5,OOO
A small army balloon will be anchored
at the end Of the ive-mile course, and
the time Of arriving and leaving that
point will be sent back by telephone TO
the starting point The machine will
have the beneht Of flying starts at both
fnds Of the course. with time deducted
Tor the turn at the far end.
In speaking yesterday afternoon Of the
fights he had just completed Orville
said it was the first time IN a public
fight he had ever risen from the ground
without using the falling weight, but
that in the preliminary trials OF the
previous machine both he and Wilbur
depended simply on the impetus given
by the propellers.