Chicago, April 27, 1904
I have yours of 24th. I think that Mr. Hollands must refer to some letter written since I saw him in England a year ago, and which has failed to reach you. The previous correspondence was in February, June, and November 1902 and the information then sent has been used by him.
I have heard nothing more as to the proposed French prize for aviation, but I have a letter from Capt. Ferber 4 who says that Archdeacon has begun his experiments in gliding near Berck. No great progress had been made up to the 14th. Ferber himself could only cover 9 meters, and a pupil of his, Mr. Voisin, did somewhat better and hovered for 5 1/4 seconds at one time. Ferber naively remarks that he is surprised that you are not ready to sell him a motor machine, but he does not mention that he is now building a new one of his own. That is stated in L'Aerophile which says it is to be of 50 square meters' surface, to weigh 225 kilos, with a motor of 10 horsepower. Archdeacon is also said to contemplate a motor machine. I should expect such premature attempts to come to grief and make a market for your patents.
Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute, May 5, 1904