Chicago, October 22, 1905
I have your letter of 19th and I am enthused and delighted by what you tell me of your recent advance in performance. I congratulate you and your brother most heartily upon a success as well deserved as it is epoch making.
I am glad to know that you intend to give the American government another chance
to acquire your invention. If I can be of any help in bringing your achievements
to its notice, or to that of the
British, please command me.
It is a perfect marvel to me that you have kept your performances out of the newspapers so long. With so curious a public as our own, and such appetite for sensation as obtains in the press, I felt convinced that some enterprising reporter would discover you sometime and make you famous. I think you must make up your mind to enforced publicity as to performance while preserving the secrets of your construction. From a military point of view it would be preferable to keep the whole thing secret, but I doubt whether it can be done. I shall be very glad to be present at your coming effort to fly for one hour.