The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-30

starter. Their interest in ths apparatus was sold for handsome sum to cor poration largely occupied in certain branches of the automobile industry. Beth men had earlier served under John H. Patterson in the great industry which Mir. Patterson established at Dayton and which his name identifies. Colonel Deeds has been from the beginning and is now, the chief engineer in charge of the great work in the Mani valley whereby a recurrence of the disastrous flood of 1913 will be made impossible. This work has entailed the services Of many highly competent engineers nearly all of whom will take part in the dedi- cation of the new clubhouse
 A MEETING OF AVIATORS
 Ths gathering at Dayton on Saturday should be of special importance not only to the government but to the people be- cause there will meet upon that occa- sion the largest body, in numbers, of highly skilled aviation experts that has met in the United States. One of the great aviation fields-or it may be called plants-is established at Dayton and 1t is of special interest because with 1t Is associated Orville Wright as consult ing authority.
 Although the United States expects to have completed within few months many thousand aircraft. representing as a whole the best types of air machines. yet there are some problems which are to be worked out before the government can feel perfectly confident that these airships will do all that is expected of thom. There is to be perhaps a new inn proved Liberty motor that will be of avail for very large aircraft, an improve ment over the one which was designed a nd ,arfnp cd hI- ha on who after having made hermits of themselves at hotel in Washington for few days, dem oEstrated that they had constructed the best type of Liberty motor up to this time known.
 Then there is the highly important and puzzling question of fabrication. It is something to which the government has given a great deal of thought. These motors require an especially adapted lu- bricant and the authorities have found themselves recently wondering whether the best lubricant is not castor oil. But if that be the best the use of it entails another problem, since enormous quanti- ties of it must be used in order to lubri- cate the motors. perhaps 5000 gallons day. Will it be possible to secure through the cultivation of the castor bean a sufficient supply of castor oil?
 Germany, it is known. is making use of very small percentage of graphite. one-fifth of one per cent, held in oil. and this is believed by the authorities ta explain the perfection with which the German air machines operate so far as the motors are concerned
 Questions which refer to the perfected air machine will be at least informally discussed among the engineers who meet at Dayton on Saturday, and of whom there may be as many as 400. There are other important questions associated with various aspects of war movements which these highly competent experts will, ir all probability, discuss. There Is sure to be some detailed explanation of the re- markable work which is being accom- plished by the Miami Conservance asso- citation. and there is likely to be some reference to the instant absorption by men of capital of New York of the re- cent issue of s1000o,o00 of conservancy bonds, which was offered by authority of the state of Ohio. and which it Is be- lieved will be sufficient in amount thor oughy to complete the remarkable prof. ects which reflect the energy and leader ship of Colonel Deeds 1t should be reported here that the only service which Colonel Deeds did not abandon when he accepted a commission under General Squire was that of the supervising en- ineer of this great conseryancy work.