New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-10
BALLOON RACE TO-DAY.
ILL READY FOR CONTEST.
Ri7,aI AerOnduts to Make Pictur-
esoue Ascents at Pittsfeld.

uyp IN a balloon boys. up in a baIiooni ,
All among the little stars and sailing round tne m9on
[Bv Telegraph to The Tribune.l
pittsfeId Mass March 9-Conditions tonight
point to successful ascensions tomorrow by
Charles Levee and Leo Stevens. and the Aero
Club is correspondingly happy. Augustus l.
Post the treasurer of the club. arrived here TINS
noon. accompanied by Mr.. Stevens and M Levee-
The three men at took the two balloons 10
the PittsheId Gas Works, which are more than a
mile out of town. Both balloons arrived In ex-
cellent condition. and were placed in the gas
works close to the boilers where they could be
kept dry.
The gas apparently is as good as coal gas can
be for baIlooning and the officials at the gas
works have promised to provide sufficient press
ure to have the balloons inflated and ready for
the ascent by o'clock. when Courtlandt Field
Bishop and his party will arrive The feed pipes
have been laid already. and nothing more re-
mains to be done than to connect them with the
balloons
The officials at the gas plant say that they VIII
have the $4,000 feet of gas necessary to initiate
the balloons whenever Mr. Post is ready to give
the signal to turn it on In the ascensions at
Hilburn and West Point there was neither a
sufficient amount of gas ready nor sufficient
pressure to fill the balloons much before night
fall.
The two balloons are almost exactly the same
size The small balloon. which will be used by
Stevens, has a capacity of 1890 cubic feet.
while the Lark, Levee's balloon. has a capac-
ity of only two hundred cubic feet more Mrs
Stevens who will come here on the morning
train has made rot only small American flag
for her husband TO fly from his airship. but has
also made the tricoIor of France for his rival
to fly.
An effort will be made to get the balloons on
simultaneously Both will be inflated at the
same time After the basket has been made
fast and the ballast properly distributed. the
balloons will be held fast until favorable
moment arrives and will then be released ST.
simultaneously. Weather conditions tonight are
almost perfect and promise to continue so. The
wind is dry and almost due west. and, with the
full moon to light them on their way. the aero
nauts may travel far as Boston-1oO miles
away II the wind veers little TO the south II
will take them over toward Northampton or
Amherst while breeze somewhat northwest
would carry them in the direction OF Hartford
Many prominent people will watch the aseen-
sions No member of the Aero Club was present
last night with the exception of Mr. Post, and
the aeronauts Courtlandt Field Bishop is TO
bring large party from New-York tomorrow
Mr. and Mrs Newbold Leroy Edgar, Mr.. and
Mrs Israel Ludlow. DR.. and Mrs Julian p
Thomas and John F. O'Rourke the New-fork
contractor, will be present In addition to these
the entire Lenox colony is coming over ana
there will probably be a dozen AUTOMOBILES
chasing the balloons. once the start Is made
The roads hereabouts are excellent. and little
difficulty is expected In the chase
There is considerable rivalry between Stevens
and Levee. Mr.. Bishop who is chairman OF the
racing comittee of the club, has decided to add
interest to the ascension, which is chiefly test
of the Pittsield gas. however. by arranging that
each aeronaut shall try to land nearest given
point This will be determined by the weather
conditions and will not be decided upon posi-
lively until a few minutes before the departure
of the balloons. II is expected that the two men
will attain an altitude of about mile and
half and then the race will begin. 1t Is ex-
pected the mon will jockey for position like skip
pers of opposing yachts, only with this differ
ence the balloons will seek favorable winds by
bobbing up and down instead OF going to leeward
or to windward. 1t is in this search for the most
favorable air current that the skill of the rival
aeronauts will show. The man who first finds
favorable current has immense advantage
over his opponent. for. with every bit of gas or
ballast released. much control Of the balloon
is lost.