Dayton, June 1, 1900
Your letter of May 17th received, as also the pamphlets you sent. I wish to thank you for both. I shall consider your suggestions carefully in making my plans. For the present I have but little time for aeronautical investigations, in fact I try to keep my mind off this subject during the bicycle season as I find that business is neglected otherwise. Later in the year I think I shall be able to give several months of my time. Just now I am content with trying to settle upon a general plan of operations, and find a suitable location.
I very much approve of your articles in the Independent and in McClure's. It is important that more persons should be intelligently interested in this subject. Lilienthal's enthusiastic efforts to arouse others may yet prove his most valuable contribution to the solution of the problem. What one man can do himself directly is but little. If however he can stir up ten others to take up the task he has accomplished much. I know of no man in America so well fitted as yourself to do this missionary work.
When next I am in Chicago I shall without doubt accept your kind invitation to see you personally, and till that time, while I shall not inflict upon you a voluminous correspondence about mere theories and untried experiments, I will be pleased to communicate any information I may consider of value, and shall be pleased to have the benefit of your advice when my plans are more fully matured. With kind regards I am [&c.]