The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-12

CHRISTOPHER J. Lake, father OF ST.
mon Lake of submarine torpedo boat
fame. has purchased Nutmeg parks 1t
was learned by The Farmer today, and
Ia planning to develope that tract or
land. where formerly the thorough
breds trotted and paced, into an aero
d-ome for the purpose Of holding ava
tion meets and starting school OF
aeronautics.
Furthermore Mr.. Lake has perfected
a most remarkable invention-a mo-
torboat which glides upon q film OF
air interposed between the boat and
the water. and which uses air as
method of propulsion instead OF the
ordinary screw propeller.
It is Mr.. Lakes plan, The Farmer
ascertained today, to manufacture
this motor-boat on a large scale and
a factory will be instituted In Brfoge-
port for that purpose in the near Iu-
ture. Then Mr.: Lake intenos 10 ue
yelope aeronautics at his newly pur-
chased park.
The sale of the park was consum-
mated today it Is understood, through
stephen Osborne, representing the
Nutmeg Park company. The consld-
Grafton is not made public. A Farmer
reporter called upon Mr.. Lake VINO
consented to discuss a portion OF MS
plans.
Mr. Lake said: 'In 1901 I made a
statement over my own signature In
7 the New York Herald, that / had a
PRACTICAL everyday airship. regardless
Of ordinary wind or weather. re-
ceived several letters from parties IN
terested. but, being concerned in the
submarfne boat, which was a hard
proposition to handle at that time. I
decided not to enter the aeronautlc
field an Il might be detrimental to
our submarine project.
so I put the airship scheme aside
temporarily and devoted my entire
tina and energies to submarine af-
fairs. until after its success was -es-
tablished at home, by an order from
the United States government yor-
ixfual application for patent was
for a vehicle to travel on land, or
water. or fly In the air. ascending
from and descending to either at the
viii Of the operator.
"This vehicle to have an underbody
or water portion, under which a film
or volume of air could be forced be-
tween the underbody and water so
that the air acts as cushioning and
supporting medium over which the
vessel glides, greatly reducing the wa
suction. which greatly increases with
the speed.
.sThe patent office at Washington
conceded its novelty, but called for a
division, on the ground that there was
more than one invention involved.
contended the point and thus kept
the case alive in the office during
the awakening Of the public to the
possibilities Of our submarine boat.
Since that time ! have obtained sew
eral patents and have several applica-
tfons pending. I have kept in close
touch with aeronautics through the
Aero Club of America and personal
acquaintance, with the foremost men
or the art
; after consideration and advise
ment with my aeronautic friends,
decided not to have my inventions ex-
! plotted and placed before the public,
| as Is the usual custom, until its uti1-
,ity was determined, by actual per-
formances-
"I soon realised that one difficulty
! would be IN finding suitable buildings
and ample grounds for testing out
! and carrying on the requisite expert
ments. Therefore / early secured an
Eoption and have now purchased the 4C
acre tract of land known as Nutmeg