The Elk Mountain pilot., 1909-06-17
NATION HON0RS
WRIGHT BROS.
PRESIDENT TAFT PRESENTS NED
AIS OF THE AERO CLUB
OF AMERICA.
SISTER ALSO LI0N|zED
DISTINGUISHED GATHERING OF
STATESMEN, DIPLOMATS, AER-
oNAUTs AND SCIENTISTS.

Washington.-The appreciation. good
will and congratulations of the Ameri-
can people were Thursday extended 10
Wilbur and Orville Wright, the Ameri-
can aviators, by the President of the
United States.
The occasion was the presentation
of the gold medals awarded 10 the
Wright brothers by the Aero club of
America to commemorate the con
quest of the air.
In the presence of distinguished
statesmen, foreign diplomats. members
OF the cabinet, noted scientists AMI
prominent aeronauts and aviators. the
two inventors OF the first successful
flying machine heavier than air. re-
oeived the first public recognition of
their achievement from their fellow
countrymen. President Taft expressed
keen admiration for their work ard
ventured the belief that their machine
will be the basis for the future aerial
craft and prophesied that the dawn OF
the age OF aerial flight is here.
The WriShts were introduced to the
President by Representative Herbert
Parsons OF New York. who paid
glowing tribute to their personal quail
fications.
A. Holland Forbes. winner OF the re-
cent national balloon race. and acting
president OF the Aero club OF America,
turned the medals over to the presi-
dent on behalf of the Aero club.
Miss Catherine Wright. sister OF the
aeroplanists. accompanied her hus-
band and was quite as much lionized.
President Taft said to Miss Wright;
And | want to congratulate the
most important member of the fam
ily"
The day was one OF celebration In
honor OF the Wrights from the time
they arrived until o'clock at night.
when they left for Dayton.
The two brothers consulted Gen.
James Allen. the chief signal officer.
sbout the official trials of their areo-
plane. which are to be resumed by
Orville Wright.
G. f. Taylor. the mechanic who ac-
companied Orville to Fort Myer last
summer. will set up the aeroplane at
Fort Myer and II is expected the
flights will be resumed June 2lst. The
tests must be concluded by June IS,
but II is believed the time will be ex-
tended II necessary.
Orville Wright said the machine will
be practically identical with that used
by him last year. with the exception
of an improvement on the guy wires
supporting the rudder. The same mo-
tor that was used ON the machine that
was wrecked viii. be used in the new
aeroplane. II will be sent to Washing
ton early next week. Their contract
requires them to complete the tests by
June IS.
In presenting the medals President
Taft said:
Il consider 1t n great honor and an
opportunity to present these medals 10
you as an evidence of what you have
done. 1t is especially gratifying thus
to note great step in human discov-
cry by course that We of America
like to feel is distinctively American
by keeping your nose right at the Job
until you had accomplished what you
had determined to do.
ut has been said that this Is the
first presidential recognition OF aero
nautics since President Washington
Well, all have to say is that have a
predecessor who II aeronautics had
proceeded as far when he left office as
they have today. would not only have
gone down under the water in sub
marine boat, but would have gone up
into the air in flying machine. No
one had a more earnest interest.
more active interest. and greater de-
sire to see into the things that make
for progress than my predecessor.
II don't like to think. and l decline
to think that these instrumentalities
that YOU have invented for human use
are to be confined In their utility to
war. l sincerely hope that these ma
chimes will be increased in usefulness
to such point that even those of us
who now look at them as not for us
may count on their ability to carry
more than thin passengers in times
of peace.
you planned what you wished to
find and then you worked 1t out until
you found II.
81 congratulate you on the result.
congratulate you. on the recognition
you have received from the crowned
heads of Europe and congratulate
| you that in receiving 1t you main
tanned tie modest and dignified de-
meanor worthy of American citizen
ship"