FIRST STEPS TOWARD SPACE - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

58 SMITHSONIAN ANNALS OF FLIGHT
FIGURE 1.—Robert H. Goddard at blackboard in physics laboratory, Clark University, 1924.
I realize that in sending this communication I have taken
a certain liberty; but I feel that it is to the Smithsonian
Institution alone that I must look, now that I cannot continue
the work unassisted. 3
When Goddard's letter was received on 29 September,
Secretary Walcott was on travel and the
letter was brought to Abbot as Acting Secretary.
There is no doubt that Abbot was immediately
intrigued. For Walcott he wrote a longhand summary
of the letter, directing attention to Goddard's
specific requests and saying—
I believe there are several meteorological problems ... of
great interest which might be solved by aid of the device, as:
1. What is the composition of the highest atmosphere?
2. How does temperature fall at great altitudes? *
On 11 October, Secretary Walcott acknowledged
receipt of Goddard's letter, indicating interest and
inquiring as to the level of funds Goddard was
seeking. 5 Goddard responded with a summary of
his approach on a year's program at an estimated
cost of 5,000 dollars. 6 More details were requested 7
and Goddard sent copies of his patents and a
lengthy manuscript; he also offered to come to
Washington to brief a deliberating committee. 8
On 18 December Abbot wrote to Secretary Walcott
that he had examined the manuscript carefully
as well as the patent specifications, concluding—
I believe the theory is sound, and the experimental work
both sound and ingenious. It seems to me that the character
of Mr. Goddard's work is so high that he can well be trusted
to carry it on to practical operation in any way that seems
best to him. I regard the scheme as worth promoting.9
An independent assessment of Goddard's concept
and technique was solicited from the Bureau of
Standards in Washington. Dr. Edgar Buckingham,
a theoretical physicist there, agreed with Abbot,
albeit more cautiously, and closed by expressing
"hope that the Smithsonian Institution will see fit