The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-18
CONQUEST OF THE AIR
BY FREDERIC J. HAskIN.

The official trials Of the Wright aero
plane at Fort MyeT, Va, which are about
20 begin, Will work a renewal of intense
popular interest in airships. The flights
OF Orville Wright at Fort Myer last fall,
which terminated in the death Of Lieut.
Selfridge, the injury Of Wright and the
wreck Of the aerOplane, were only tests.
The fulfiilment Of the contract Of the
Wright brothers with the government
viii yield them $4,000, with a liberal
bonus for extra speed.
The Wright brothers proved in the
United States their claims as pioneers in
the realm Of the birds, and then pro-
ceeded TO astonish Europe. They are
selling aeroplanes in France and Italy,
lhe French government having paid the m
$4,000 for their patent rights in that
country. a company has been organized
IN Germany for the construction of
Wright aeroplanes. The brothers will re-
turn to Europe later this year and give
demonstrations in England. Germany and
perhaps other countries. The machines
which they are now building will carry
Two passengers, but they say the aero
plane eventually mdN~be capable of car
rying fourteen OF sixteen passengers
Sixty Wright machines are being built
in France, at a cost of $500 each. The
Nrights have already eliminated the
awkward starting device which was a
feature of their aerOplane, and are said
to have evolved great improvements in
the steering apparatus.
Miss Katherine Wright is no longer
designated as the sister of those crazy
Wright boys" She participated in part
OF their European triumphs and the
three received a royal welcome when they
returned to America, The city Of Day
ton, O., the home of the aviatOrs, broke
all records for real home coming
celebra ton, at which nothing was left
undone which would show the pride
which their fellow citizens and neighbors
took IN the achievements of the inven-
tors The brothers received medals from
their state and CITY, from the Aero Club
of America, and, finally from the United
states government President Taft him
self, in the historic east room of the
White house, pinned upon the bOsOms of
the champion naYigators of the air the
beautiful gold medals awarded them by
congress.
The records Of the patent office show
that over 400 patents on flying machines
of various kinds and their parts have
been granted. of which fifty or more were
issued during the last six months. Two
of these were granted to the Wrights for
improvements on their aeToplane. Rep
resentative Butler Ames of Massachu-
sets, grandson of General 3. f. Butler
has applied for a patent on a machine
the principal feature of which is that the
planes revOlve on horizontal axes. The
inventor is said to have obtained the idea
for this scheme by watching flutter to
the ground a bent paste board card, which
he had thrown into the air.
The AerOnautical Experiment assOcia-
ton, of which the moving spirits were
Alexander Graham Bell, inventor Of the
telephone, and G. C. Curtiss, has been
dissolved. It was organized to perfect
a successful heavier-than-air flying ma
chine. After long series of experiments
at HammondspOrt, n Y, and in Nova
Scotia. this was accomplished. The as
ISOLATION built and operated the June
Bug" the Red Wing and the Silver
Dart all successful aerOplanes. The
last named was the first heavier-than-
air machine to fly in Canada. A factory
established in that country.
DR.. Bell recently sailed for Europe on a
vacation, but while there he may get
some new ideas for improving his tetra-
hedral kite, "Cygnet II" This was sue
cessfully flown in Canada last winter.
and DR.. Bell is satisfied that il can COM
pete with the aerOplane as soon as he
obtains a suitable engine for his machine.
Instead of having large planes, "Cygnet
II is made up of number Of small
triangular cells. which afford a larger
surface for lifting than mere planes. but
which, at the same time, confine the air
pressure to a small area of each cell, so
that the apparatus is said to be very
steady in gusty weather.
A. NJ. Herring of Philadelphia has con-
structed for the war department, under
a 5000 contract, an aeroplane to be tested
at Fort Myer. He claims that the chief
features OF his machine are automatic
control, and an engine of extraordinary
small size and light weight Walter
Wellman is in Paris and is due to start
for the pole from Spitzbergen in an air
ship in August His ship is said to be
the second largest in existence. Emile
Berliner and J. y. Williams are expert
menting with a helicOpter near Washing
ton, which is the type of flying machine
favored by Thomas A. Edison.
Aer0nautiCs is becoming a practical
science. Flying machines are no longer
toys. Military experts say their utility
IN time of war for scout work, for the
quick transportation Of dispatches, and, |
possibly for transporting troops and
forts and ships cannot be
questioned In France. scientists are
finding an entirely peaceful use for the |
balloon. On the approach of a hailstOrm
explosives are sent up in one of the big /
ships Of the air. and when at a great ele- |
7atiOn, are touched off for the purpose |
IF dissipating the storm which threatens /
he vineyards. The United States weather /
bureau uses captive or free balloons and /
Kites in its station at Mt. Weather, Va. |
10 ascertain the temperature, barometriC |
pressure, wind velocity and humidity in /
high attitudes.
Professor Todd. a noted astronomer. !