Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1907-03-30
77YTy 9T,0ETf1 CLD- a. The W7ERKATLMAL AERO-
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I number Of precursors in Europe,
where the science of aerial navigation |
has for many years received careful |
study
When the Aero club of America or
ganized its first exposition. in Janu-
airy, 1906 balloons were imported |
from Paris, and the public was given
the opportunity of seeing what they |
were like. Photographs of balloon as
tensions were displayed and an ef- |
fort was made to arouse popular in |
terest in the sport as it is practiced |
abroad
This show was followed by num-
ber OF actual ascents from different |
places in the eastern states, and thus |
people In one section of this country |
at least were given an opportunity to
become familiar with aerial naviga-
ton in its simplest and safest form.
The home of the Aero club, the city
of New York, is unfavorably situated
as a ballooning center. The ocean,
the one peril of the aeronauts, is close
at hand, and only with a wind from a
|
made with perfect safety. The gas
question is also an important factor,
and the Aero club has found at Pitts
field, Mass, a station combining the
features-distance from the sea and
an abundant supply of coal gas. The
great drawback is its distance from
New York and other centers of popu-
lation.
The Aero club has acquired two
balloons, one of them, the Centaur,
having made the record balloon jour
ney from Paris to Russia in 1900.
= These aerostats are available for
ascensions by members and it is
7 hoped that before long the club viii
be able TO acquire new balloons
. It should be the province of the
Aero Club of America to encourage all
= attempts at a solution of the flying
: problems and it should investigate
r and report upon every invention or
contriva9ce which seems to have a
reasonable chance of success. A tech.
, nical committee composed of experts
! and scientists, in whose names and
regulations the public will have con-
6dence, will be appointed. This com
mittee wilk be authorized to solicit and
receive subscriptions, to be spent jul
diciously and when there is good
chance for profitable return. Only
by lavish expenditure of money and
my continued experiments can sue
cess in flying be achieved. In France
hot If-1,r, -,
this direction has been largely done
by the generosity of a few patrons Of
aeronautics The most successful
steerable balloons now owned by the
French government are due to the
LebaudysS who spent large sums of
money in experiments and whose
wealth made possible their construc-
ton The rich prizes offered by M.
Deutsch de la Muerthe stimulated San
tos-Dumont to achieve his notable
flight around the Eifel tower. M.
Deutsch has built at his own ex-
pense a large airship which recently
maneuvered near Paris and he has Of
fered prizes of great value for aero
planes.
Is there not in all this land of swol-
len fortunes some one who will offer
a prize of sufficient size to reward
the inventor and repay him for all the
years he has to spend In unsuccessful
effort? To England belongs the credit
of having invented the steam rail-
road engine; to France belongs the
honor OF producing the automobile.
Shall the United States of America al
low themselves to be left behind in
the race to bring forth a flying ma
chine that will fly and thus confer one
Of the greatest benefits on mankind?