Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-01
GREAT PROGRESS IN 1909
TOWARD CONQUEST OF AIR.
History of Year Just Closed Records Giant
Strides in Aerial Observation-Disclosures
full Performances to the Credit OF Many
Of Worlds Daring Aviators.

New York, Dec. 31-The passage
aloft of the English channel by Louis
Plcriot on q day in the year 1909 in n
machine propelled and sustained by
its own power, is one of those mile
stones in the conquest of the elements
by man comparable only to the accom-
plishmentS of Stephenson in the Rock
ct on rails of Fulton in the Clermont
on water
The invention of the steam engine
had preceded the locomotive ana the
steamship, the invention of the gaso-
line motor had preceded the aeroplane
and the dirgible. Neither Stephenson
or Fulton had any adequate vision of
the possibilities of their invention;
neither had undisputed right to an in
ventor's priority of discovery; but
both, by their application of imperfect
ly perceived truths convinced a doubt
ing world. And that is what Bleriot
did His passage in the mist of the
morning across the waters of the chan
mel made aviation an actually: in some
minds a menace, in all minds I'M
fathomed mode of the future tense.
To whatever dimensions the naViga-
tion of the air lanes may unfold. and,
however as a means of transportation
it may affect the relations of man with
man and nation with nation. Pleri0t's
voyage will always be popularity re-
garded as its first triumphant demon
str1tion. and the year 1893 is secure in
history as one of the points of depart
ure in a new direction of human am
bition. 1t gave confidence to Il hope
that has been never wholly out of mind
since the breath of that other first of
the flyers dubbed from the depths OF
the Icarian sea.
Yet in measuring the strides of avi-
alton in the year 1909 it is right to
note chat for other working demom-
strators of the art as distinguished
from a skeptical public. Bleriot's
achievement had no special signiti-
canoe. He mad been surpassed in dis
lance. altitude and speed by both
heavier than air flyers and pilots of
dirigiblc balloons
On Nov. g. Henry Farman of Eng
land covered little over 232 kilometres
Q44 riles) in hours. II minutes, 81
seconds. at Chalons France. and there.
by won the Michelin cup
On Dec. 30. Delegrange OF France
covered 200 kilometres d24 miles) in
the remarkable time of hours, 80 min
ute@, or at an average speed of 1873 kill
ONE tres t4S.9 miles) an hour.
For altitude. Hubert Latham of
France holds the official record Exact
mea surements are difficult of attain
ment and he is variously credited with
an elevation of 500 metres. (about 400
feat and $50 metres (about 1900 feeD.
Orville Wright in an unofficial flight
at Potsdam. Germany, is said to have
reached the same height, and Louis
Paulhan rose to height which he be-
leved to be 500 metres or nearly 1000
feet
Orv'lle Wright also holds the record
for duration of flight with a passenger.
On Sept. is he flew for 1 hour, 80 min
utes with Capt. Englehardt at Berlin.
The cross-country record was made
on the last day of the year by Maurice
Farmun of France who flew 20 kilo-
metres (431s miles, from Chartreus to
Orleans IN one hour fiat
b The year 1909 in aviation was further
notable for the first international av-
iation meet ever held. In this meet at
Rheims, France. Glenn Curtiss won the
Gordon Bennett cup by covering 20 kill
ometres. 0242 miles) in L. minutes, Sc
3-5 seconds.
In the same meet Bleriot covered 10