The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-03-11

a trif1e boastful.
Howard is a genius" said War
den Smith, of the prison. "Just
how practicable his inventions are
I cannot say. He has gained a repu-
tation as a builder of airships ana
other things, but of course l can
not say of what utility they are. He
is tractable as prisoner, and after
he has finished his daily task of
eight hours in the blacksmith shop
we have no objections to him carry
ing on his Independent work"
Howard, since he became an in
mate of the penitentiary, has perfect
ed model for an airshfp which he
is sure will revolutionize air travel
The plans are in St. Louis, and pat
ents are to be procured. To the
World correspondent he said:
Howard, of course, is not my real
name That was the name under
which I was sentenced, and that it
will remain until I am out of pri-
son. l do not wish to give my right
name, because it would be Distress
ing to my relatives and friends.
Machinery His Hobby.
81 was born in Missouri, below
St. Louis, nearly 40 years ago. Ma
chinery has been my hobby ever
since 1 have been old enough to
understand the use of tools. Ten
years ago I took up the study of
air navigation and have been work
ing on the problems at intervals
since. My plan is similar in some
respects to that of Count Zeppelin.
but believe my model is an i'm
provement. 1t is an airship COM
bining the principle of both the
dirigible and aeroplane, but radical
ly different from that of the Zeppe-
lin creation. Instead of being a
huge collapsible gas bag for sustain
ing power, mine will be rigid alu-
minum gas cylinder or chamber,
large enough, of course to cores
pond with the number of passen-
gers to be carried in the basket.
"This gas chamber will contain
just enough gas to hold the ship in
air. A system of planes will act as
the motive power, and also serve,
in case of necessity, to carry the
ship upward. The propulsion will
not be by direct gasoline power. 1t
will be by electricity generated with
a gasoline engine combined with a
dynamo.
Danger of collapse or other acct
dent with my ship will thus be re-
duced to the minimum. The gas
chamber can be made to sustain any
weight deemed necessary, but it will
be only secondary to the planes for
propulsion and weight carrying pow
er. A chamber two hundred feet
long will probably carry rs passen-
gers.
Count Zeppelin is certainly to be
congratulated on his success, but
except for my unfortunate arrest
believe I would have beaten him in
the inventive race. I think l con-
ceived the idea in advance OF him. y
Also Has an Aeroplane.
/ Towards inventive genius has not
stopped with his dirigible aeroplane.
He is preparing plans for an aero
plane somewhat on the lines OF the
Wright and Farman biplanes. A pre-
liminary model has already been
prepared. Not much attention was
paid to the model at first, but How
ard stuck to his work, devoting most
\ of his time to his dirigible, the prob
lem he started to solve long before
airships were seriously discussed In
this country or Europe.
II Howard admits that he has never
been a passenger In any airship and
has never seen one in successful
operation, but insists the principle
is right, and in his mind he has 1t
clearly pictured. His legal advis-
ers have also confirmed him in this
belief.
Howard has been an inmate OF
the prison since March, 1907, follow.
ing his conviction for robbing the
residence of E. T. Swobe, manager
of the National Fidelity company, oil
Omaha. Before his conviction he
invented a cigar-making machine
which he sold to the American To
bacco company for $1,000.
Expert ON Locks in Many Ways
A mail box lock, invented by him
had been favorably reported by thu
government. Locks had played al
important part in Towards trou
bles and successes The charge o