Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-24
AERO CLUB ORGANIZED
To Promote Balloon Races
and Competitions.
FOR SCIENCE AND. SPORT
Prizes to Be Given and Testing
Laboratory Established.
SECY. NEWBERRY PRESIDENT
Army Officers, Scientists and Con-
gressmen Enrolled as Officers
and Members.

The Washington Aero Club of the Dis
trict Of Columbia was organized at a
meeting held in Gen. James Aliens office
at the War Department yesterday after
noon. 1t marked a distinct epoch In the
advancement of the art of mechanical
fight in this part of this country The
constitution of the club which had been
worked out previously by the organiZa-
ton committee, was gone over and
adopted section by section and the Or
ganizing members signed the roll. Invita-
tons will be sent out to 100 prominent
men and women to join the club as char
ter members. There is limit Of 800 in
the active membership list. There may be
ten honorary members appointed from
among aeronauts prominent in invention
and the practical development Of flight.
The objects of the club as stated In the
call for the first meeting are to organize
races and competitions. to welcome dis
tinguished aeronauts to give prizes and
otherwise promote the art both from the
standpoint of science and sport. The club
will, if necessary, establish a laboratory
for testing and experiments, and there
are enough of the higher government Of
ficials interested in the movement to as
sure the organization of all the practical
aid that can be given here by the great
bureaus of the government that can be
properly called on for scientific aid.
Secretary Newberry President.
The following officers were elected,
though it was understood that all of them
might not be able to serve out the full
year. They WERE President. Secretary
Truman H. Newberry; first vice president.
Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver; second vice
president. Thomas Nelson Page: third vice
president Representatives Butler Ames;
corresponding secretary. DR.. Allerton
Cushman: recording secretary, Dr.. Albert
f. Zahm: treasurer, Charles j. Bell; trus-
tees. Alexander Graham Bell, Gen. A. w.
Greedy, Prof. Willis Moore and John Bar
rett.
The organizing members who signed
the bill were Gen. James Allen. DR.. AL
lerton Cushman c. J. Bell. Mai George
Albert F. Zahm, Lieut.. r. B. Creecy,
r. NJ Mcclellan, Prof. o. II. Tftman,
coast and geodetic survey; c. l.. Mar
latt. Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver Lieut.
Commander G. c. Sweet, Gen. a. w.
Greedy. c. H. Bromwel. Butler Ames.
Herbert Parsons. Clarence r. Wilson
Lieut. Frank P. Lahm. George Q. Tot
ten. jr.. and Jerome Fanciulli.
The club, following the example of the
Aero Club of France. will admit women
members of Congress among the organ
izing club members bespoke the interest
Of the national legislature In the subject
of aerial flight. in spite OF the fact that
cut out of the War Department allow
ance in the House last week. 1t is just
possible, however. that the aerial feature
of the appropriation may be restored in
the Senate before the bill is finally acted
on.
Outcome Of Recent Trials.
The formation of the Aero Club in
Washington Is the direct outgrowth of
the interest aroused by the trials of the
lighter and heavier than air machines at
Fort Myer last summer. After the
dirigible balloon built by Capt. Baldwin
had been accepted by the War Depart
ment. a dinner was given him at the
Press Club by a number of neWspa per
for Washington and out-of-town papers.
There were present at this dinner Gen.
Allen and others of the Signal Corps,
and an organization committee was APP
pointed at that time to work up the
subject of an aero club in Washington.
The meeting yesterday was the result
of that committees work.
One of the first things that the new
presentation to the Wright brothers of
the two gold medals that are being struck
by the Aero Club of America. These are
to be presented by the President in the
east room OF the White House, soon
after the return of the Wrights to this
country.
BY the constitution of the club the
President of the United States is made
first of its honorary members. and
committee was appointed at this meet
ing to notify him of his selection. Many
officers of the army and navy have al
ready expressed themselves as anxious
to join the club. and these, together
with scientific and business men in the
o;tx, xxrI,o int in
make it likely that the limit of active
mem hership will soon be reached.