New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-06-08
IDEAL ROUTE FOR
A|RSHIP RACE

OulllSS OuggeSlS GUllleSl FIOIn
New York to Washington.
EXCELLENT LANDING PLACES.
Winner Of $4,000 Prize Thinks suet,
Course Would Present More Diff
cuities Than That From Albany to
New York-Aviator's Own Story Of
His Wonderful FLIGHT.
Glenn 81. Curtiss, who steered his
aeroplane through the treacherous air
currents of the Hudson river from Al
bany. N. Y, to New York city on Sun
day morning, May 20, winning the S1O-
600 prize which had been offered by the
New York World, suggested the other
day that an ideal route for another
test would be from New York to Wash
lngton, distance of some 235 miles,
or possibly there and back again, with
only enough stops to replenish the
store Of gasoline
Such course, he said, would be
more difficult than the trip from Al
bany to New York, though the air cur
rents would probably be less danger
Gus. The difficulties that he antici-
pates are in the heavily wooded land
and the low lying rivers with high
banks, from which he would expect
sudden and varying currents, which
would try the skill of an aviator.
While resting in his apartments in
the Hotel Astor at New York Mr. Cur
ttss was asked what route he would
consider desirable for the next aero
plane test. After some reflection he
decided that 1t would be between New
York and Washington. Then he sug-
gested:
IF some one offered prize for the
trip to Washington it might afford a
good chance for race. That would
be interesting for the public as well as
for the contestants. A race Of that
kind should be over a course where
people could see it lap after lap along
the whole course. Between New York
and Washington there are many towns
and cities. The route should be chosen
along the line Of railroad.
Good Landing Places an Advantage.
'There is nothing so stirring as an
aeroplane race, especially where the
people on the ground can see the ma
chimes during the whole course. And I
can say from experience that it is very
exciting for the contestants. In con-
sidering a route between New York
and Washington one is Immediately
struck with the many excellent land
ing places. There are several race
tracks, for instance, and large athletic
fields between New York and Wash
ington. At Philadelphia there is Frank
lin field. Although it has the draw
back of being in the city limits, it is
large field and level. The old Pimlico
race track, just outside of Baltimore,
is also broad space, inclosed so as
to keep the crowds back should an
aviator land there. And, of course,
there is the Bennings race track. lust
outside Of Washington.
The trouble with most landing
places is that the crowd surges around
and hampers the movements Of the
aeroplanist. At Poughkeepsie, for in
stance, it took an hour before I could
get under way again after landing, so
great was the crowd around me-
Mr.. Curtiss was asked what, in his
opinion, would be fair number of
stops between New York and Wash
ington should that course be chosen
for a fight or race.
Suggests Three Stops.
''Well, at rough guess I should say
that three stops would not be unreal
sonable," he replied. "a stipulation
that the contestant must fly both ways
would, of course, be far more difficult
and would doubtless require two days
for the round trip because of weather
conditions and other considerations.
Curtiss appeared to be the calmest
man in New York at the end Of his
great flight. To the observer it seemed
as If he did not look on it as a very
great feat.
Here is the aviator's own simple mar
rative of the flight of $50 miles in 2
hours and 81 minutes:
When I was watching the wind
clustering over Albany on Wednesday
(May 25) felt assured it would blow
itself out and there would be an hour
or two of calm before another storm
wind could blow up. It was the prob
lem OF a high following a low, and
that is why was out at 5 o'clock this
morning (May 29) ready to get away.
Il found I had figured too readily
with the wind, however, and it was
still blowing itself out when / left the
hotel. But at the tail end of it had