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custom for many years to alternate in making flights, and such care has been observed that neither of us has suffered any serious injury, though in earlier flights our ignorance and the inadequacy of the means of control made the work exceedingly dangerous.

"The 1905 flyer had a total eight of about 925 pounds, including the operator, and was of such substantial construction as to be able to make landings at high speed without being strained or broken.  From the beginning the prime object was to devise a machine of practical utility, rather than a useless and extravagant toy.  For this reason extreme lightness of construction was always resolutely rejected.  On the other hand, every effort has been made to increase the scientific efficiency of the wings and screws in order that even heavily built machines may be carried with a moderate expenditure of power.  The favorable results which have been obtained have been due to improvements in flying quality resulting from more scientific design and to improved methods of balancing and steering.  The motor and machinery possess no extraordinary qualities.  The best dividends on the labor invested have invariably come from seeking more knowledge rather than more power.

Very respectfully,

(signed) ORVILLE WRIGHT
(Signed) WILBUR WRIGHT

Addenda:

"In view of the fact that all of the flights which have been mentioned were made in private, it is proper that the names of persons who witnessed one or more of them should be given.  We therefore name:

Mr. E. W. Ellis, Assistant Auditor of the City of Dayton.
Mr. Torrence Huffman, President of the Fourth National Bank.
Mr. C. S. Billman, Secretary of the West Side Building Association.
Mr. Henry Webber.
Mr. W. H. Shank.
Mr. William Fouts.
Mr. Frank Hamburger.
Mr. Charles Webbert.
Mr. Howard M. Myers.
Mr. Bernard H. Lambers.
Mr. William Webbert
Mr. Reuben Schindler.
Mr. William Weber.
All of Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. O. F. Jamieson, East Germantown, Ind.
Mr. Theodore Waddell, Census Department, Washington, D. C.
Mr. David Beard, Osborn, Ohio.
Mr. Amos Stauffer, Osborn, Ohio.

The following resolutions have been prepared by the Board of Directors in answer to this statement:
"WHEREAS, the Messrs. Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, of Dayton, Ohio, have developed an aeroplane type of flying machine that many times has carried a man safely through the air at high speed, and continuously over long distances, and, therefore, of practical value to mankind;
"THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Aero Club of America hereby expresses to them its hearty felicitations on their great achievement in devising, constructing and operating a successful man-carrying dynamic flying machine; and
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of these resolutions be addressed to Messrs. Wilbur and Orville Wright at Dayton, Ohio."

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"At a special meeting of the Board of Directors called by the President of the Aero Club of America it was
"RESOLVED that Mr. Dave H. Morris be chosen Third Vice President of the Aero Club of America.
"RESOLVED that Messrs. Alan R. Hawley and A. M. Herring be appointed on Membership Committee.
"RESOLVED that Section 1, of Chapter 7, shall be amended to read that 'the entrance fee shall be $25 for active members, and the yearly dues shall be $10, payable on the first day of June in each year.'
"RESOLVED that Messrs. Cortlandt Field Bishop, Newbold Le Roy Edgar and J. C. McCoy be appointed Committee on Contests, and provided by Chapter 5, Section 1, of the By-Laws."