Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1907-03-30

America is to witness the next (
great international balloon race, and
st. Louis has been designated as the |
flight" city by the Aero Club OF
America because of it's central loca-
tion, and also because it affords op- !
portunity for records flights whatever
the direction of the wind The rare
privilege OF holding this airship con-
test in this country comes as reward
for the victory won by an American
Lieut.. Frank p. Lahm, in
the international contest last year.
year. His triumph is of such recent
occurrence as to be still fresh in mind,
add we recall with what pride Ameri-
can newspapers heralded the achieve
ment.
Especially did the victory bring sat
isfaction and enthusiasm to the Aero
Club of America for it claimed Lieut.
Lahm as an honorary member and his
triumph not only brought it prestige
among the ballooning fraternity of Eu-
rope and brought to this side of the
water the magnificent international
challenge cup offered as a prize by
James Gordon Bennett.
And now the Aero club is actively
engaged in making arrangements for
the contest this year a. St. Louis. 1t
is determined, and hopoful as well, of
retaining the cup on this side Of the
Atlantic. Eight nations-France, Ger
many, Great Britain, Belgium, Switz-
erland, Italy, Spain and the United
States-each, with three balloons, are
entitled to compete, and the contest
will be in all respects international.
1t is estimated that the great Euro
pean balloon contests of 1906 were
each witnessed by 100000 spectators,
and it is hoped that this race of 1907
will command at least equal interest.
1t will require all the resources of the
Aero Club of America and all the en-
ergies of it's members to properly or
ganize and conduct this contest. This
will, of necessity, be it's chief task for
1907 and to this all else must be sub
ordinated.
1t is hoped that the history of the
Americas cup will be repeated and
that the international cup has crossed
the ocean never to return. The club
has been assured that three balloons
of 2,200 meters, the maximum capac-
ity permitted under the rules, will be
available for its champions There
are already many applicants for the
honor of being chosen as one of the
three defenders of the cup, and it is
certain that there will be large field
from which to make the selection.
The greatest interest has been dis
played throughout the civilized world
and special facilities will be offered
to all aeronauts visiting St Louis for
this contest Through the liberality
of various citizens and organizations
of that city the Aero Club of Amer
lea has been able to offer cash prizes
amounting to $4,000, to be distributed
among the contestants winning re-
spectively second, third, fourth and
fifth places. This is in addition to
the sum of $2,5OO to be given by Mr..
Bennett to the winner of the cup.
The Aero Club of America also offers
a prize to the contestant remaining
longest in the air.
AS a further stimulus to ballooning,
the Aero club has founded and offered
for competition a challenge trophy to
be known as the Lahm cup and to be
held in turn by each of its members
who exceeds the distance-4O2 miles
covered by Lieut.. Lahm in winning
the International cup.
The Aero club will endeavor to in
troduce and popularize in this country
the various contests in connection
with ballooning which have proved so
attractive In France. These include
the pursuit and capture by several
balloons of a pilot balloon having a
certain start; also a contest by sew
eral balloons the winner TO be the
one who lands nearest to a given spot
designated on map beforehand.
Prizes will also be given to automo-
biles which shall start in pursuit of
balloons and reach them within a
given interval after their launching
The Aero Club of America is less
than two years old, having been
formed in the summer of 1906 with
the purpose set forth in the constitu-
tion Of promoting and developing the
science of aerial navigation. Founded
by men who had almost without ex-
ception never made an ascension in a
free balloon, the club has in one year
Of existence earned for itself a posi-
tlon in the world OF sport and 1t is to
be hoped It has opened up brilliant
career for itself in the future.
Although the Aero club is the first
organization of aeronauts to be formed
on the AmarIcan Aontinant n has had