Sometimes, the most extraordinary inventions take time to be appreciated by the broader community. I provide one historical example below---that of the Wright brothers---who attempt to offer their remarkable flying machine to the US War Department.

I've excerpted quotes below, and the full text of the correspondence follows. This is a transcription of the letters on display at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH.  Thanks to Shirley Melton and Andrea Jain for help in transcribing this work. 

SUMMARY OF CORRESPONDENCE

On January 18, 1905, after more than 100 test flights, the Wright brothers write to the US government to offer their invention for practical use. (full text)

“The series of aeronautical experiments upon which we have been engaged for the past five years has ended in the production of a flying machine of a type fitted for practical use. ...

If the latter features are of interest to our Government, we shall be pleased to ... furnishing all the scientific and practical information we have accumulated in these years of experience, ... .”

In an internal memo, the Honorable R.M. Nevin writes to the Honorable William H. Taft, Secretary of the War Department, (full text)

“... and as I am satisfied they have at least succeeded in inventing a machine worthy of investigation, I would respectfully ask that this matter be referred to the proper officer and that he may grant them, at any rate, the privilege of demonstrating to him “

On January 24, 1905, Major General, G. L. Gillespie, wrote to the Honorable R.M. Nevin, (full text)

“It appears from the letter of Messrs. Wilbur and Orville Wright that their machine has not been brought to the stage of practical operation, ...”

Nine months later on 16 October 1905, Major General J .G. Bates wrote to the Wright brothers (full text)

“... the Board has found it necessary to decline to make allotments for the experimental development of devices for mechanical flight, and ... the device must have been brought to the stage of practical operation without expense to the United States.”

Finally, on 19 October 1905, the Wight brothers write back to the War department, (full text)

“We have no thought of asking financial assistance from the government. “

At its meeting of 24 Oct. 1905 the Board considered the Wright's letter of 19 October and recommended:

"That Messrs. Wright be informed that the Board does not care to formulate any requirements for the performance of a flying machine or to take any further action on the subject until a machine is produced which by actual operation is shown to be able to produce horizontal flight and to carry an operator."

FULL TEXT OF CORRESPONDENCE

Jan. 18, 1905         Letter To Washington


Wilbur Wright 
Orville Wright
Van Cleve
 WRIGHT CYCLE COMPANY
Mfrs of Bicycles
Established in 1892

1127 West Third Street,
Dayton, Ohio,
January 18, 1905.

Hon. R. M. Nevin,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

The series of aeronautical experiments upon which we have been engaged for the past five years has ended in the production of a flying machine of a type fitted for practical use. It not only flies through the air at high speed, but it also lands without being wrecked. During the year 1904 one hundred and five flights were made at our experimenting station on the Huffman prairie, east of this city, and thou our experience in handling the machine has been too short to give any high degree of skill, we never-the-less succeeded, toward the end of the season, in making two flights of five minutes each, in which we sailed round and round the field until a distance of about three miles had been covered, at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour. The first of these record flights was made on November 9th, in celebration of the phenomenal political victory of the preceding day, and the second on December 1st, in honor of the one hundredth flight of the season.

The numerous flights in straight lines, in circles, and over ``S'' shaped courses, in calm and in winds, have made it quite certain that flying has been brought to a point where it can be made of great practical use in various ways, one of which is that of scouting and carrying messages in time of war. If the latter features are of interest to our Government, we shall be pleased to take up the matter either on a basis of providing machines of agreed specification, at a contract price, or, of furnishing all the scientific and practical information we have accumulated in these years of experience, together with a license to use our patents; thus putting the Government in a position to operate on its own account.

If you can find it convenient to ascertain this is a subject of interest to our own Government, it would oblige us greatly, as early information on this point will aid us in making our plans for the future.

Respectfully yours,

(Sgd. In ink) WILBUR and ORVILLE WRIGHT

(Initialed in ink) O. W.


Jan. 21, 1905         Inter Washington Memo

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
House of Representatives U. S.
Washington, D. C. Jan. 21, 1905.

Hon. William H. Taft,
Secretary of War,
Washington, D. C.

My Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have been skeptical as to the practicability and value of any so called ``flying machine'' or ``air ship'' that I did not give much heed to the request made sometime since by the gentlemen whose letter I attach hereto, until I was convinced by others who had seen their experiments, the result of their labor, and there was really something in their ideas.

I do not know whether you, or the proper officer of the Government to whom this matter will be referred, will care to take it up or not, but as I am advised, they only want to present, without expense of any consequence to the Government, the result of their labors, and as I am satisfied they have at least succeeded in inventing a machine worthy of investigation, I would respectfully ask that this matter be referred to the proper officer and that he may grant them, at any rate, the privilege of demonstrating to him what they have and what they can do. I assume that the government is interested in the matter at least to that extent, providing its officers be convinced that there is something of value and something that would be of practicable use.

Will you kindly advise me, that I may let them know at the earliest opportunity.

Very truly yours,

(Sgd. In ink) R. M. Nevin

Jan. 24, 1905         Inter Washington Memo


WAR DEPARTMENT

BOARD OF ORDINANCE & FORTIFICATION

Washington, D.C.,
January 24, 1905

Hon. R. M. Nevin, etc.

My Dear Sir:

Referring to your letter of the 21st instant to the Honorable Secretary of War inviting attention to the experiments in mechanical flight conducted by Messrs. Wilbur and Orville Wright, which has been referred to the board of Ordinance and Fortification for action, I have the honor to inform you that, as many requests have been made for financial assistance in the development of designs for flying machines, the Board has found it necessary to decline to make allotments for the experimental development of devices for mechanical fight, and has determined that, before suggestions with that object in view will be considered, the device must have been brought to the stage of practical operation without expense to the United States.

It appears from the letter of Messrs. Wilbur and Orville Wright that their machine has not been brought to the stage of practical operation, but as soon as it shall have been perfected, the Board would be pleased to receive further representations from them in regard to it.

Very respectfully,
G. L. Gillespie,
Major General, General Staff,
President of the Board.

Oct. 16, 1905         Letter From Washington

Washington, D. C.
October 16, 1905.

Messrs. Wilbur and Orville Wright,
1127 West Third Street,
Dayton, Ohio.

Gentlemen:

Your letter of the 9th instant of the Honorable Secretary of War has been referred to this Board for action. I have the honor to inform you that, as many requests have been made for financial assistance in the development of designs for flying machines the Board has found it necessary to decline to make allotments for the experimental development of devices for mechanical flight, and has determined that before suggestions with that object in view will be considered, the device must have been brought to the stage of practical operation without expense to the United States.

Before the question of making a contract with you for the furnishing of a flying machine is considered it will be necessary for you to furnish this Board with the approximate cost of the completed machine, the date upon which it would be delivered, and with such drawings and descriptions thereof as are necessary to enable its construction to be understood and a definite conclusion as to its practicability to be arrived at. Upon the receipt of this information, the matter will receive the careful consideration of the Board.

Very respectfully,
(Sgd.) J .G. Bates
Major general, General Staff,
President of the Board.

Oct. 19, 1905         Letter To Washington

Wilbur Wright 
Orville Wright

WRIGHT CYCLE COMPANY
Established In 1892
1127 West Third Street
Dayton, Ohio

October 19, 1905.
President of Board, Ordnance and Fortification,
War Department
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Your communication of October 16th has been received. We have no thought of asking financial assistance from the government. We propose to sell the results of the experiments finished at our own expense.

In order that we may submit a proposition conforming that we nearly as possible to the ideas of your Board, it is desirable that we be informed what conditions you would wish to lay down as to the performance of the machine in the official trials, prior to acceptance of the machine. We can not w.. fix a price, nor a time for delivery, till we have your idea of the qualifications necessary to such a machine. We ought also to know whether you would wish to reserve a monopoly on the use of the invention, or whether you would permit us to accept orders for similar machines from other governments, and give public exhibitions, etc.

Proof of our ability to execute an undertaking of the nature proposed will be furnished whenever desired.

Respectfully yours,
(Signed in ink) Wilbur and Orville Wright's
(Initialed in ink) O.W.

Oct. 24, 1905         Letter From Washington


At its meeting of 24 Oct. 1905 the Board considered the Wright's letter of 19 October and recommended:

"That Messrs. Wright be informed that the Board does not care to formulate any requirements for the performance of a flying machine or to take any further action on the subject until a machine is produced which by actual operation is shown to be able to produce horizontal flight and to carry an operator."