The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-10-05

of the details of the preparation for
the flight and the actual race to New
York.
Already numerous interviews have
been held with Curtiss. Willard. Eliey
and others who have been preparing
for the flight at Hawthorne race track
in Chicago.
While the Associated Press has an
nounced that the fight will be along
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
railroad from Chicago to Laporte, THE
TIMES is able to state positively that
the course will not be along the rail-
road until after Laporte is reached.
The course through Lake county will
be from. Washington Park to the south
of South Chicago, north of Lake Calu-
met, south of Wolf Lake, over Doug
las Park. south of Lake George, north
of East Chicago and south of Gary.
WHY COURSE Is TAKEN.
The reason for taking this course
was explained to a TINES reporter by
| Curtiss. who will have four machines
| of his make in the race. 1t is neces-
sary in the interests of safety to have
open spaces in which the aviators may
anght in the event OF an accident to
| the engine.
| The fact does not seem to be gener-
| ally appreciated that an aeroplane
| canot alight in a space no larger than
a back yard. 1t requires considerable
open space, in which to negotiate Q
| landing -
The course along the shore of Lake
1 Michigan would be the most direct
but the shores of the lake are covered
| with scrub trees. sand dunes. swamps
and other undesirable places for land
ing.
BY going a few miles to the south
| ward the aviators are able to pass over
the farming section of the county
where there are convenient meadows
I and corn fields in which the machines
may come to ground, If necessary.
This accounts for the course from
/ Chicago to Hammond and eastward.
DANGER IN CHICAGO.
From Washington Park until the
aeroplanes get out of the limits of the
city there will be considera BILE danger.
South of South hCicago there is a
vast open country of marsh land which
has been dried up by the drought.
North of Lake Calumet this condition
| still prevails South of Wolf lake there
are places in which landing could be
made, if necessary. The topography of
the country and the character of the
land is the same north of East Chi
cago and south of Gary, and thence
. eastward the farming country affords
convenient landing places at neces-
sary Intervals
The pathfinding automobile which
viii precede the race passed through
the city this morning. Arrangements
have been made by which smudges Will
be started along the route of the race
to point the way TO the aviator.
II NO AIR ROAD MAPS.
In view of the fact that there are
no aviators air maps. this is the best
means of outlining the course that has
yet been designed In some cases
large pieces of canvass will be laid
on the ground to point out the course.
1t is expected that thousands of peo-
| pie in Hammond. East Chicago and
Gary will station themselves below the
| route of the race so that they may see
the aeroplanes go through.
| Douglas park will be the point of
| vantage in Hammond. to the north of
East Chicago win be the point of van
tage there and the Little Calumet riv-
err swail will be the point of vantage
south of Gary This can be relied up
on unless the plans are changed. which
is altogether unlikely.