Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-04
CITY JEALOUS
OF LOS ANGELES
ST. LOUIS FEARS CALIFORNIA
COMPETITION
DESIRES TITLE OF COUNTRY'S
BALLOoNING CENTER
Mound City Man DEGREES Possibility
of Initiating Long Distance Flights
from Pacific Coast
City

st. Louis is aroused over a possible
contest of that citys claim as the best
starting point in the United States for
a balloon race. The attempts made by
Dick Ferris to establish a worlds rec
ord with one of his balloons has at
tracted much attention to Los An
geles and eastern aeronauts are COM
pairing the advantages of both cities.
After the Gordon Bennett competition
at that city st. Louis widely adver-
tised the statement that its location
made it the premier city for balloon
racing, supposing that it had compe :
tition only from Chicago and Mime
apolis.
Los Angeles is much different prop
osition if it can be proved that the long
sweep eastward is a feasible one and
st. Louis has taken notice accordingly.
in the December Aeronautics, the
leading American aerial magazine, the
question is discussed at length under
the heading Balloon Centers of Amer
ica.". The status Of Los Angeles is at
tasked by E. Percy Noel and defended
by J. S. Zerbe.
1.-THE recent balloon voyages from
Los Angeles says Mr.. Noel, 'have
demonstrated what has been known
theoretically all along-that with the
usual $4,000 cubic foot racing balloon
it is practically impossible to make
the transcontinental trip successfully
and leaves the best possible starting
point for a balloon race, all things
considered, at st. Louis
''Of the geographical situation of st.
Louis there is nothing to be said that
is not already well known. The great
lakes and the Atlantic ocean are so
far away that they may not be con-
sidered an attendant danger in bal
looming from the centrally located
point. The hazard of the Pacific at
Los Angeles and the rough and craggy
mountains of Colorado are in them
selves sufficiently serious possibilities
in those places"
Mr.. Noel claims that balloon Ieav-
ing Los Angeles for a distance flight
must rise so quickly to a high altitude
that it will sacrifice gas to an extent
that will materially shorten the trip
and make a long voyage out of the
question. Capt Mueller has disproved
that on the last trip he made for Dick
Ferris. The fact that st. Louis is not
far enough away from the Atlantic
seaboard for a record breaking flight
was shown in the Gordon Bennett in
ternational contest when the leaders
were forced to come to earth because
of the proximity of the ocean.
The Pacific is far enough away from
Los Angeles to make pleasure trips
safe-and none to compare with them
elsewhere-and distance racing should
take advantage of the anti-trade
winds. Before long it will be definitely
known that a balloonist may go over
the desert and eastward from Los An
geles; few more trials like those
started by Mr.. Ferris will prove it.
Capt. Mueller believes as a result of
his experience that in winter long
flights will be made rather to the
southwark from Los Angeles, while in
summer the trips will tend to the
north. The ocean is not necessarily a
hazard. Mueller and Hutchinson made
their first ascent late in the afternoon
after the known time of the changing
OF the local currents toward the ocean
because Dick Ferris felt that he could
not disappoint the crowd that had
gathered. Mueller knew that progress
for that day was practically hopeless.
He was compelled to go without an
anchor, but if he had been properly
equipped and could have anchored
over night the outcome would prob
ably have been different.
A start for an attempt to cross the
country cannot be made from Los An
geles any day in the year, but a wait
for a favorable day is likely to be less
disappointing than at st. Louis. The
question of the wind is answered at
Los Angeles with a vastly greater GER
sippi valley, as Roy Knabenshue tes-
titles. Mueller found in filing the
American and United States a con-
dition more favorable than existed at
Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus or Min
neapolis, and it was a condition char
acteristic of Southern California
weather, not in any way an exception
al one. There is more of a surety
about the climate at Los Angeles than
at any inland city in the country
If the worlds distance record is to
come to the United States it must be
secured by a voyage initiated at some
city west of st. Louis, and Los An
geles offers better inducements than
any other place. The mountains and
desert offer hazards similar only to
those in a game of golf-to add zest
to the sport and more pleasure to the
game
The advantage possessed by ST.
Louis is that the substantial business
men of that city have been quick to
realize the advertising and other adj
vantages of attracting ballooning to
the place. Men like d. G. Nugent, one
Of the leading merchants, L. D. Dozier
and other prominent business men
| take an active part in the work of
| The Aero club and allow no opportuni-
ties to pass in pushing St. Louis to
| the front. The club was prepared to
send Mr.. Nugent, who is one of its
/ vice presidents, to New York if neces-
sary to secure the national balloon
race for this year. In Los Angeles
| so far, Dick Ferris has practically
| fought the aeronautic campaign I'M
aided.