The Washington herald., 1909-08-03
FIELD FOR FLIGHTS
Officers Considering Ground
Near College Park.
MAY BEGIN NEXT MONDAY
Gen. Allen, Chief Of Signal Corps,
Reports Satisfaction with Wright
MRchine-Practice Flights OF Army
AviatOrs VIII BE Open 20 Public.
Dates Not to BE Announced.

No formal acceptance OF the Wright BIZ
plane, tied up in a pink ribbon. viii be
necessary at the hands of the War De
partment. according TO Gen. James Allen
chief signal officer Of the army. DE said
yesterday the board OF judges Of the off,
cial tests. in eporting the time Of the
two flights. and the distance Of the Alex
andria trip. stated the the performance
Of the biplane was up TO specifications in
every way
That carries with It the governments
acceptance" said Gen. Allen yesterday
NO other report viii be made. The ma
chine is satisfactory in every way.
Although the place for the training Of
Lieuts Lahm and Foulois by Wilbur
/ Wright has not been definitely selected,
we are negotiating now for q field Of
about leo acres near the College Park
station Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, and on the Laurel line OF the City
and Suburban Railway, about ten miles
| from Washington. The War Department
viii rent the field from the owner, build
a new shed FOR the biplane, and have
tents out uD for the Signal Corps men
who VIII sleep beside the biplane. and for
the officers concerned in the flights. The
/ biplane VIII be carried there on an army
wagon without being taken apart. II viii
be ready for flying when It arrives at the
/ field
The flights VIII commence IN a weel,
/ or ten days. as soon as the necessary
preparations are made and Wilbur
, Wright comes back to the city The first
flight may be made next Monday
VIII Have 20 Take Chances.
Although there will be no restrictions
against seeing the flights. we 90 antici-
pate much OF a crowd. The field VIII be
open TO all corners. but they will have to
! take their chances OF seeing anything. as
no announcements viii be made concern
ing the intentions or plans Of the b.
plane"
Wilbur Wright said before he left the
city that he would fy at any time OF the
day. whenever the conditions were best
That means that excursions may be made
early IN the morning. which. with the
/ time around sunset, Is supposed 20 be
the quietest period OF the cay. as far as
Wind goes.
In addition TO the field near College
PARK. another open space. near Fort
" ti.t''lIl zion. Is unQer consideration.
about ten miles down the river. That
field. however. IS not as large as its com
peutor, which has O circumference Of
about a mile and a quarter
Gen. Allen announced that there IS
now nothing more doing between the Sig
nal Corps and aerOnautical inventors.
The slate IS cleared, and viii remain so
until the Signal Corps finds 81 advisable
20 issue another set OF specifications. and
call for new set OF bids. That applies
also 10 A. NJ Herring. Of New York who
recently overstepped his time limit after
having had an extension.
Regarding future appropriations FOR
aeronauucal work. Gen. Allen said he
Rad no idea what Congress would DO in
the matter. II the appropriation is ap-
piled for, il viii he included among other
items in the budget OF TIE Secretary Of
War
The check for $1,000. which is coming
10 the Wright brothers, consisting OF
5000 as provided in the contract for a
fcrty-mile speed. and $500 as q bonus.
Will be paid 10 Wilbur after hts return 70
this city. His training OF the Signal Corps
officers IS part OF the return 20 be made
10 the government before the money Is
finally won.