The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-15

q Ill He had uncanny knack for IN
derstanding the why and wherefore of electricity
and mechanics. and able to earn his way
through college by doing odd jobs for light and
power concern.
During the four years he put in at literature,
languages mathematics and other subjects con-
tanned In college arts course he tinkerfng
along on the side with toy aeropanes of his own
devising. Russell slowly working out the
details or dream-one of the kind of dreams
that have made Edison, the Wrights Hammond
Bell and Marconi scientific conjurers
After he had received his bachelor of arts de-
gree. this young mamie born Midland
s. D., twenty-seven years ago-went into the en-
cheering school and specialized in physics and
engineering. Then he began to experiment with
his aeroplane for all he worth. Because it
wasn't part of the regular course. Russell had
trouble getting shop space in which to do this
work The school authorities he says had mapped
out a prescribed course and they considered that
deviation from it would mean confusion in the
ranks.
He went before the trustees and made
plea for special concessions. but without success
Sympathetic members of the faculty came to the
rescue, however, and Russell found room in Dear
born observatory to make experiments at night
Dozens of models made, tried out and
broken. The experiments had gone forward with
fair stead-ness for three years and longer when
the young felt that he had discovered and
worked out satisfactorily the principles of aero
dynamics he had sought.
That was three years ago Then he went gun
get simple patents but the inventor wanted basic
patents Simple patents cover processes and
methods. while basic patents cover principles So
after another long wait. voluminous correspond
and endless dealing with lawyers, Russell
notified few weeks ago that the basic patent
rights were his
He carried the glad news to fraternity friend.
The friend carried it home to his father The
father went East business trip and told some
Boston capitalists. And the Boston capitalists
sent aviator expert to Chicago to talk to young
Russell and what he had. What he had
1.-The goods" evidently, for a short time afterward
a company organized, foreign agents-sup-
posed to be representatives of the Anglo-French-
Russian allies-sgned contracts, a big factory
was leased and the inventor went to the plant
to supervise the manufacture of the machines.
Just before Russell went East the Chicago news
papers printed brief accounts about the patent
grants and the companys formation. Very little
was said about the inventor. When he ap-
preached for the inside story of his labors Mr..
Russell wasn't easy to get at" He found in
little chicken-coop office which occupies corner
in the machine shop which he calls his His
sleeves were rolled high and his hands
grimy The catter and whang of machinery made
conversation difficult, but not difficult the
young inventor himself made it-for he is a shy
and reticent person. who would make poor self
advertiser. But once he began to talk about his
machine he whirwind of impulsive speech,
making quick. draftsmanlike sketches to illustrate
his points.
His aeroplane differs in shape from all other
known makes. 1t is a biplane. That is, it has
two sets of wings, set several feet above the
other In other machines the planes spread
straight across and with the body and tail form
a big capital T. In the Russell machine the wings
form double V, like this Wv. The tail is at.
tached to the place where the letters join and
extends to the The narrow points of the
letters form the front of the machine. and the
pilot passengers and engine company occupy
sort of canoe which rests where the wings and
tail Join The lower wings extend forward of the
upper ones-like a man with understood jaw.
The two propellers twirl either side the tail
Just back OF the wings.
Mr. Russell didn't have in mind when he
was working on his invention. His idea conferred
in commercial possibilities. So long the
plane remained unstable-so long driver had
to keep his hands on the controls to prevent the
machines capsizing-it would remain sporting
proposition. But when the time came that by i'm
provements in the aeroplane. the driver need only
crank I'D and guide simply as he would guide
automobile, the fier would be very useful in bust
ness and pleasure.
In the doube-V machine the young inventor be-
Heves he has discovered the great secret Of in
TEcHNIcALiTfEs OF THE IND