Viewing page 160 of 372

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

head two of 
loon took a decided turn downward
     
Luues Stae. Cinncinnati 
26 Jan 1907.
 
Messrs. Orville and Wilbur Wright of Dayton, the airship inventors, have been at the Park Avenue Hotel for the past week. Mr.Orville Wright denied the report which had gained some circulation to the effect that their mission here was to finance a company for the construction of the Wright airship.
"This is not correct," said Mr.Wright. "As a matter of fact we have never contemplated asking outside assistance to build our airships. We do not intend at present to go into the business of building airships upon a scale which would require a vast amount of capital. Our own resources will be quite sufficient for our needs. While we are here we will visit several members of the Aero club of New York, our personal friends, and may possibly discuss the details of an offer recently made of a good-sized cash prize to the winner of an airship competition. We understand this prize is offered in order that the winner, whoeever he may be, may have sufficient funds to prosecute further researches. Even in that event, however, it may be that our business arrangements would not permit us to enter into it."
Mr. Wright was asked if he would state what arrangements had been entered by the United States Government, looking to securing the Wright airship for possible use in war.
"I can not discuss the matter at all," said Mr. Wright. "All governments are equally averse to having anything said in the press as to their possible connection with airship experimentation, looking towards a possible use in war. If anything is to be given out the Government prefers that the statement shall be made through its accredited agents. As a matter of fact we are credited in the press with being in negotiation with some foreign government every time a man wearing a Vandyke beard or speaking with an accent appears at our place. In most instances they are simply intelligent foreigners who are themselves interested in this branch of experimenting. The one exception to the rule I have quoted was furnished by the gentleman who came to see us representing the French government. He talked a considerable length to the newspaper men while he was in America. During that entire time we did not say a word. But as soon as he got back to France he ceased talking. We had watched the continental papers for interviews with him, but none have appeared. In consequence some of the scientific papers of Europe doubt whether a French agent ever did call upon us."
Mr.Wright was asked whether he considered his airship practically perfected. He said that he did, although he thought it entirely probable that many other improvements would be made upon it in the future. It is now a practicable working machine, however.
"Will it ever be of commercial utility?" he was asked.
"That depends upon what you mean by 'commercial utility.' We now make a machine which would carry two persons with ease, although as a matter of fact we have not yet equipped it with a saddle for the second person. This summer we will make a machine with accommodations for a second person, and my brother and myself expect to make some long flights together. The machine may easily be enlarged to carry half a dozen or more persons. It is merely a matter of size, but it is not probable that it will ever be possible to carry even a light freight with steamboats. As a means of sport, too, its utility is somewhat limited by the fact that there are comparatively few people who care to risk their lives in the air. Its chief use may, therefore, be restricted to the occasional sportsman and to its use in war. Our machine will travel at the rate of forty miles an hour in a calm in a straight line, and the cost of operation is a very great deal less than that of an automobile. As for its safety, we feel that the one danger lies in a possible breakage of the controlling mechanism. If that should break the machine would crash to the ground. We have guarded against that, however, by making the controlling mechanism very strong indeed. If any other part of the machine should break the only danger would be in selecting a place in which to alight. If you were only a few feet above the earth you would probably be injured; but if you were a thousand feet high you could glide to the earth easily and probably make a landing without any danger."

(Text on right-side top)
At this altitude [?] to write a note to be sent back by a carrier pigeon, but his hand was too stiff. The bird was then released, but appeared to be paralyzed in the cold. It succeeded in reaching its cote in Pittsfield at dark, but died soon after.
The aeronauts dropped the balloon closer to the earth and enjoyed a sail to the north-west, landing safely near Dalton. Stevens declares that in all his ascensions no scene equalled that of the earth as they saw it covered with snow from the height of half a mile. He will deliver the Eagle to Capt. Lovelace in a few days, and the Brandreth party will first use it for a flight in the Philippines.

Citizen Brooklyn
26 Jan 1907

WRIGHT BROTHERS, DAYTON'S [MY?] IN TOWN READY TO SELL

[image]

Navigators of the air, or, rather, these who would like to find some adequate means for its navigating day about the Wright hometown, Ohio, who now [has come?] home after a brief visit. They are the only men that have invented a [?] flies with any degree.
The Wrights came [goes off page] find out something [goes off page] has been offered for [goes off page] make a flight and [?] their negotiation [goes of page] of foreign government of their invention.

Transcription Notes:
Right-side article (Wright Brothers) need help with words that are cut off.