The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-08

There will be things doing in the air next summer which are just now claiming the attention of aeronauts all over the world. During the Worlds fair, between the months of June and September, there will be flown at St. Louis, the first aerial derby, for which the management of the exposition has appropriated the sum of $15OO0o to be awarded in prizes.
 A grand prize of $1OO,OO0 Is offered in open competition without limitation as to the power used or the mechanical prin- ciples involved, in addition to which there will be minor and subsidiary prizes aggre- gating $50.OO0.
 Naturally the object around which the greatest interest is centered Is the grand ward offered the winner but rather for the honor and glory which will belong to the successful competitor.
 The rules and regulations governing this prize provide, in addition to open com petition, that no applicant shall be ad- mitted who does not present satisfactory evidence of having, at some time, made
 
 return, with a machine similar in prin- cple to that which he proposes to use In the competition. The aeronautcal jury reserves the right to rule out any ma chine deemed too hazardous to life and no vehicle will be admitted to the con- test which is not absolutely free from the earth in It's flight, after the start has been made.
 f.1 lx .I from all competitors which will be re- funded before the start or when the ex- hibtor occupies the space assigned him with an apparatus conforming to the rules
 Each machine entering in this contest must carry at least one person fin it's flight. The course over which the derby will be flown will be shaped like the let ter L. marked by three captive balloons and be not less than ten nor more than fifteen miles, reckoned in an air line. The aeronaut will be given his choice of direction in which to start but will be obliged to round the captive balloons in opposite directions.
 The award of the s100,0O0 together with medal or diploma will be made to the competitor who shall show the best aver age speed, provided he nas covered the entire course three times at a speed aver aging each time, not less than twenty miles an hour.
 In addition to the grand prize there will be four minor prizes of s35O0 5000. 5000 and S1500, which will be awarded to the four competitors coming nearest to the record of the winner of the first prize. each of these being required to cover the full course three times at an average speed of not less than ten miles an hour. Competitors are to be allowed the priv iege of passing over the course without stopping. as many times as they desire. in continuous flight, in such cases, the time as recorded by the judges. shall be the average time in which the full course is covered. Special contests will be ar ranged for machines not carrying navi- gators, but which must carry ballast to the amount of ten pounds.
 A prize of s2500 will be awarded to the machine fin this class making straight way flight of one mile and return in the shortest time.
 Gliding machines will be awarded two prizes; 5000 for the machine carrying an operator which shall advance in calm or against the wind at a vertical angle. making at least twenty glides of not less than four hundred feet each and 5000 like machine exhibiting the best auto matic stability under the same conditions.