The History: Today, Chanute sent Wilbur a translation of a letter and two photographs Captain Ferdinand Ferber had sent to Chanute. The photos were of the Ferber's current flying machine.

Ferber had been concerned about comments Ernest Archdeacon had made in his article in La Locomotion in April. Ferber had not intended his comments to be published by Archdeacon and feared that his comments had offended the Americans.

Ferber still believed that no one person (or even the combined efforts of the Wrights, Chanute and Ferber) could produce a powered flying machine. However, at the national level a group of talented individuals with financial support might achieve the feat. [Subsequently, a prize was established for the first flight of one kilometer in a closed circuit in France.] Ferber had not been able to reach more than 2.2 mph and Ferber agree "Mr. Wright therefore has still time to beat me."

Quotation from the book The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright, Volume 1 by M. McFarland.