The Washington herald., 1909-08-31
VYING FOR FLIGHTS
Cities Bid for international
Aviation Contest.
WASHINGTON IS SUGGESTED
New York, Chicago, and st. Louis
Seek 10 Procure AviatOrs Of the
World In 191O-This City COnsId-
cred the Logical Selection for
Next Years Tournament.

Glenn Curtiss' sweeping victories al
Rheims have won the next international
aviation carnival for the United States.
II Is TO be held about ten months from
the present date. France will make a
mighty effort to regain her lost laurels,
and unquestionably the most brilliant
tournament in the history OF aoronautics
will result The question now arises. In
what city viii the carnival be held?
New York wants It. Chicago wants It.
St Louis has put in a bid. A spirited
contest IS already in progress between
these municipalities. The city which wins
will have achieved a memorable victory
Of civic spirit
But there Is one city above all others
which has right to the event, one which
is propitious and appropriate beyond any
other. and that is Washington.
Center of Science.
This city is not merely the CAPITAL OF
the country. but it is the center OF scien-
tihc life. and the point where the true
pioneers OF the aeroplane. the Wright
brothers. first revealed their splendid
creation to the world. II the fitness OF
things alone were to be consulted. there
would be no question about holding the
tournament here.
II Washington IS to have the event.
however. she must fight for It. ane push
forward vigorously every argument she
can muster. Purely as q commercial
proposition it would be second 70 the in
augurauon alone In bringing visitors 20
the city. For a week Washington would
be filled with outsiders. IL would be one
OF the gayest and most brilliant weeks
The city has ever known
II there Is any desire here on the part
OF business men TO bring the carnival 70
she city. now Is the time TO begin the
campaign No days can be lost New
York. Chicago. and st. Louis are already
IN the field, and others viii presently ap-
pear. While New York will naturally DO
favored by the American Aero Club,
under whose auspices the event will be
hello. there viii be a fair field and no
.avors 90 the cities which desire to pre-
sent arguments in their own cause
Would Arouse the Nation.
To have the Wrights. Curtiss. Bieriot.
Latham, Farman, Lefebvre. and a score
Of other champions OF France. Germany.
and England in this city would probably
ret the country Wild with enthusiasm for
seronautics. II IS not inconceivable that
some lieutenant Of TIE Signal Corps will
have TO come 10 the front as a premier
aviator IN the next year and prove a
formidable competitor in the contest II
the carnival should be held here. Il would
be under semi-oficial auspices, with the
President as chief patron OF the event.
as # were. and thereby gain in signif-
canoe
Washington, also, was the home Of Sam
uel W Langley. whose experiments with
monoplane six years ago, Inflated as
they were, unQuestiOnably did much to
hasten the day when man should fiy.
His work did much 20 stimulate such men
as Wright and Curtlss Here. also. lives
Emile Berliner, now experimenting with
machine which may loom large in avia-
ton, the helicopter. Alexander Graham
Bell. another man who is noted in the
study OF heavier-than-air machines. is
also a Washingtonlan.
Here Capt. Thomas Baldwin made his
flights with a dirigible which was subse-
quently purchased by the United States
government The Fort Myer parade
grounds are already noted In the realm
OF aviation. Whether the international
tournament could be held there or not is
question. but large aviation field could
undoubtedly be prepared should Washing
ton determine 70 try for the event which
Is rightfully hers