The log cabin Democrat., 1916-01-15
L. MHRZE RNSSEZL
BY JERlE DAVIS.

derstanding the why and wherefore of electricity
and mechanics, and was 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-
famed IN college arts course he was tinkering
aiohs on the side with toy aeroplanes OF his own
ueVlsing' Russell was slowly working out the
details OF dream-one of the kind Of dreams
mat have made Edison. the Wrights Hammond
Bell and Marconi scientific conurers
After he had received his bachelor of arts de-
gree. this young mamie was born at Midland
3 d., twenty-seven years ago-went into the en-
eheerlng school and specialized in physics and
engineering. Then he began to experiment with
his aeroplane for all he was 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 prescribed course and they considered that
a deviation from it would mean confusion in the
ranks.
He even went before the trustees and made a
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 steadiness for three years and longer when
the young man felt that he had discovered and
worked out satisfactorily the principles of aero
dynamcs he had sought
That was three years ago. Then he went gun
ming for patent rights. 1t easy enough to
get simple patents. but the inventor wanted basic
patents Simple patents processes and
methods. while basic patents cover principles So
after another long wait. voluminous correspond
ence and endless dealing with lawyers, Russell
was 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 was
1.-The goods" evidently, for short time afterward
a company was organized, foreign agents-sup-
posed to be representatives of the AngloFrench-
Russian aes-sgned contracts. big factory
leased and the inventor went on 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
said about the inventor When he was ap-
preached for the inside story" of his labors Mr..
Russell wasn't easy to get at. He was found in
a little chicken-coop office which occupies corner
in the machine shop which he calls his His
sleeves 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 shy
and reticent person. who would make poor self.
advertiser. But once he began to talk about his
machine he a whirlwind Of impulsive speech,
making quick draftsmanke sketches to illustrate
his points.
His aeroplane differs in shape from all other
known makes. 1t is a bplane That is, 1t 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 a double V, like this: Wv. The tail is at.
tached to the place where the letters join and
extends to the rear. The narrow points of the
letters form the front of the machine, and the
sort of canoe which rests where the wings and
tail join The lower wings extend forward of the
upper ones-like man with undershot jaw.
The two propellers twirl either side of the tail
Just back of the wings.
Mr. Russell didn't have war in mind when he
in commercial possibilities So long the aero
nlane remained unstabe-so long a driver had
tn keen his hands the controls to prevent the
machines capsizing-it would remain sporting
nroposition But hen the time that, by i'm
movements in thu aeroplane. the driver need only
crank up and guide simply as he would guide an
automobile the fl .ar would be very useful in bust.
ness and pleasure.
Ian the doube-V machine the young inventor be.
Iioyes he has discovered tie great secret OF in.