PEOCEEDINGS OF EEGENTS. 109 



Identified with the science of aerodromics through the work of its 

 eminent secretary, Doctor Langley, it has had a pecuhar interest in 

 what has been done in that field. 



We have just heard of the results achieved by Professor Langley, 

 and I think it is not too much to say that his life in a measure was 

 sacrificed to the work which he did in the establishment of the scien- 

 tific principles of aerial flight, to which he gave so much of his life 

 work and for which recognition is now given throughout the entire 

 world. Nothing, therefore, could have given Mr. Langley more 

 pleasure than to recognize the men who have successfully demon- 

 strated the soundness of his principles by their application to actual 

 flight in machines heavier than the air. I repeat that nothing could 

 be more appropriate than that such a demonstration should receive 

 the recognition of the Smithsonian Institution. We are glad to do 

 this in the case of the Wright brothers, not only on account of their 

 courage, their energy, and the ability they have shown, but also 

 because we feel, I think I may say, a not unreasonable pride in the 

 fact that they are Americans. It is peculiarly characteristic of 

 Americans to be pioneers; pioneers across the great continent on 

 which we live; pioneers b}^ sea, and now pioneers by air; and to 

 Wilbur and Orville Wright, pioneers of what Doctor Langley calls 

 "the great universal highwa}^ overhead," who by their achievements 

 have added honor to the American name and nation, we now present 

 the first Langley medal that the Institution has conferred. 



REMARKS BY WILBUR WRIGHT. 



The chancellor then presented the medals to Messrs. Wilbur and 

 Orville Wright, saying that it gave him particular pleasure to do so. 

 Mr. Wilbur Wright addressed the board as follows : 

 Mr. Chancellor, at different times my brother and myself have re- 

 ceived recognition for the work which we have attempted to do in the 

 line of aerial research, but in no instance has such recognition given 

 us greater pleasure than that which we now receive from the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. This is particularly the case because the Insti- 

 tution, through the studies and work of Professor Langley, has always 

 taken especial interest in scientific research in matters relating to the 

 physical properties of the air, and this interest has extended to prac- 

 tical attempts to fly. We are very much gratified, therefore, that the 

 Institution has thought our work worthy of this honor, for which we 

 desire to express our sincere thanks. A subject of research which 

 has not yet been completed, and one to which Doctor Bell has called 

 attention in the work of Professor Langley, is the coefficient of air 

 pressure ; that is, the pressure of wind at a certain speed on a plane 

 of a certain size. A great many investigations have been made by 



