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Even now I do not ask the valuable space in your columns for the purpose of referring to the covert sneers in the above, but merely to correct misapprehensions which other readers of my communication may have fallen into in common with the editor of the Bulletin. The writer does not offer to "beat" Professor Wise in his aerial voyage. There is really nothing in the way of a sporting interest in a mere race that actuates either myself or Professor Wise, whose own son accompanies the undersigned on the proposed voyage. What we both wish is to enhance the interest of the people by a start from two cities on the same day to double the chances of success in the interest of science. 

An exchange of mutual services is pledged and will be given in suggestions as to construction and applications to or omissions of certain improvements and contrivances connected with an aeronautic enterprise of such magnitude and importance, availing ourselves as far as it is possible to do with slender means, of all experience and improvements taught by air navigation as lately practiced during the great war in Europe. 

In reference to the expenses of Mr. Wise's balloon, and that stated in my communication to be required, I will say that Professor Wise told me himself that the appropriation of $3,000 proposed by some members of the Common Council of Boston would by no means enable him to fit out his balloon, but that he would in addition have to look to his own and some of his friends' means to make up the large deficit. 

Still further, I answer in good temper, the suggestion of the Bulletin to wait until Prof. Wise shall have solved and demonstrated the problem, and given to Boston that which Philadelphia should have within her Centennial walls three years hence. 

As to the manipulation and uses of the money required, and which I would not like to be contributed by two or three individuals, but by the whole people of the city, in sums of 10 cents or 25 cents each, I am sure there could be no better person chosen to be the trustee and general manager of the Bulletin himself. The people would have confidence in his honesty. His well-known ability as an executive officer would fit him eminently for the duty of disbursing the money properly.

I have made the propositions above and that of the other day in all seriousness, and with a desire to gain honor for myself and the city of my adoption[[?]]a city that is destined in so short a time to take such high rank among the world's people. Very resectfully, 

H.C.D.,
Late colonel U.S.V., formerly of the German army. 
  

A Good Suggestion. 

To the Editor of The Press:

SIR: Knowing that you take a lively interest in everything connected with our approaching Centennial, I desire to bring to your notice to the following suggestion: Would it not be well, sometime during the year 1876, to plant in our Park a hundred or any other number of oak trees to commemorate out first hundred years of existence as a nation? Let them then be known as "memorial grove," and in time they would become a beautiful emblem of the ever-increasing growth of our young but sturdy, stalwart American nation. C.M.B.

PHILADELPHIA, June 7, 1873. 

Transcription Notes:
I added on beginning of transcript to "your columns" because I could discern what the words were supposed to be, but I'm not sure if the transcript should have them or not.