REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM^ 1914. 47 



This was the first time in the history of the world that a power- 

 driven, heavier-than-air machine was made to fly through the air, 

 and thereby was conclusively proven the correctness of Dr. Langley's 

 theory, in the elaboration of which he spent many years. This re- 

 markable demonstration was in fact one of the greatest, if not the 

 greatest, epoch-making events of the last century, and is universally 

 recognized as the foundation of the science and art of aerial naviga- 

 tion, already, in the short space of 18 years, brought to such won- 

 derful perfection. The second of these machines, which made a flight 

 on November 27, 1896, was built to the same scale as the first, but 

 with some modifications, while the third is an exact reproduction, 

 one-quarter size, of Langley's full-sized aeroplane, and was flown on 

 August 8, 1903. Owing to a defect in the launching apparatus, the 

 two attempts to fly the large machine during Dr. Langley's life 

 proved futile, but in June last, without modification, successful flights 

 were made at Hammondsport, N. Y. It is expected that this earliest 

 man-carrying aeroplane will soon be installed in the Museum. 



The Wright biplane has the unique distinction of being the first 

 power-driven aeroplane purchased and put into practical operation 

 by any government in the world. On July 30, 1909, during the ex- 

 perimental tests it made a flight across country from Fort Myer to 

 Alexandria, Va., and return, carrying one passenger, at an average 

 speed of over 42 miles an hour. It was kept in use by the Army 

 service for about two years, and in 1911 was deposited in the Museum. 



Four cases pertaining to this division are placed in the north hall 

 among the historical exhibits. They contain memorials of as many 

 individuals who gained renown in the field of scientific and indus- 

 trial advancement, consisting of apparatus, illustrations of the re- 

 sults of their researches, honors conferred upon them, and other per- 

 sonal relics, including several portraits. Those represented are 

 Joseph Henry, pioneer in the utilization of electricity ; Samuel F. B. 

 Morse, best known by his inventions of electromagnetic apparatus 

 and for his successful efforts in the introduction of telegraphy ; Cyrus 

 W. Field, who planned and laid the first Atlantic telegraph cable, as 

 well as later ones; and Samuel P. Langley, astrophysicist, inventor 

 of the bolometer for measuring the heat rays of the sun — and the first 

 to demonstrate the possibilities of aerial navigation with machines 

 heavier than air. 



TEXTILES AND ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 



In the classification of 1881 full provision was made for the sub- 

 jects of textiles and of animal and vegetable products, including 

 foodstuffs, and with little delay important materials for their illus- 

 tration were assembled and arranged. These collections were, how- 

 ever, among the first to be retired and placed in storage with the 



