REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



of Professor Langley, culminating on May 6, 1896, in the demonstra- 

 tion that a model aerodrome heavier than air could support itself 

 and fly under its own power. Professor Langley thus became " the 

 great pioneer of aerial flight." a 



Senator Lodge made the formal presentation speech, in which he 

 said: 



It is peculiarly the characteristic of Americans to be pioneers ; pio- 

 neers across the great continent on which we live, pioneers by sea, 

 and now pioneers by air ; and to Wilbur and Orville Wright, pioneers 

 of what Doctor Langley called " the great universal highway 

 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. 



After receiving the medals from the hands of the Chancellor the 

 recipients expressed their great pleasure in being considered worthy 

 of such distinction. Mr. Wilbur Wright called attention to the valu- 

 able scientific researches by Professor Langley in matters relating to 

 the physical properties of the air and to the great importance of ex- 

 tending these researches, particularly to determine the coefficient of 

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

 plane of a certain size. 



As an indication of their early confidence in the successful solution 

 of the problem of aerial navigation, the Wright brothers said : 



The knowledge that the head of the most prominent scientific institution of 

 America believed in the possibility of human flight was one of the influences 

 that led us to undertake the preliminary investigations that preceded our active 

 work. He recommended to us the books which enabled us to form sane ideas 

 at the outset. It was a helping hand at a critical time, and we shall always be 

 grateful. 



LANGLEY MEMORIAL TABLET. 



In accordance with a resolution adopted by the Board of Regents 

 on December 15, 1908, designs have been prepared, and are under 

 consideration by a special committee, for " the erection in the Insti- 

 tution building of a tablet to the memory of Secretary Langley, set- 

 ting forth his services in connection with the subject of aerial naviga- 

 tion." The committee's recommendations are that the tablet be mod- 

 eled in bronze in low relief along the lines of the work of St. Gaudens, 

 to contain a bas-relief of the bust of Mr. Langley, and that in the 

 background there be represented a model of the Langley aerodrome 

 in full flight, with the date of its first flight. The tablet is also to 

 bear the lettering " Samuel Pierpont Langley, 1834—1906, Secretary 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, 1887-1906," and to bear also the text 



The full addresses by Doctor Bell and others on this occasion will be 

 printed in the report of the Board to Congress. 



