The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-12
Magic City Is Commencing to Put on Her Gala
 Attire
MANY WORKMEN BUSY
 AT THE FAIR GROUNDS
Automobile and Motorcycle Drivers Trying Out Their Speed Demons. Interest High in Sur
 rounding Country

Only two days until the opening or tiie great aviation meet. automobile show and races. under the auspices of the Business Mems league and the direction Of the Berger Aviation company, and public in terest is keyed to a high pitch, not only in the Magic City, but throughout the great area of. 100 miles surrounding Bir- mingham.
 President J. H. Hoeombe of the Busi- ness Mems league has had requests to decorate mailed to all of the leading business men. and the city on Monday will have pleasing decorations calling att tentlon to the spring celebration.
 Word has been received at aviation headquarters that George Mestaeh, who met with mishap in Baton Rouge when landing after successful flight from New Orleans carrying a sack of mail, has not been seriously injured, and that h.s Borel monoplanc, which was broken, will be rapidly repaired.
 Mestachs feat is being commented upon favorably by the other birdmen in the city. They say it was unfortunate that he met with the accident when the suc- cess of the flight was practically assured
 
 in every way.
 Mestach is a great flyer. and in carry ing the sack of government mail from New Orleans to Baton Rouge did so un- der orders of Postmaster General Hitch- cock. The mail was delivered to Post master Burnett of the latter city. He covered the S9 miles between the two cities in 1 hour and 3l minutes. Besides the sack of mail Mestach carried mes- sages from prominent people.
 Busy at Fair Grounds
 There Is not an idle minute out at the Alabama State Fair grounds, where the great meet opens Monday afternoon. There Is an atmosphere of hustle, hustle and general acticity that sounds musical to the ears of passersby.
 Louis Mitchell and his large retinue are housed in the two railway coaches he travels in, and they are switched into the grounds The exposition building, where the automobile show takes place. has been cleaned up and the various booths will be put in order by the last of the week, so that the various makes of automobiles and motor accessories can be properly placed for exhibition.
 The various concessionaries, who will operate during the week from April 15 to 20 inclusive, in connection with the aVia- ton meet, automobile show and races are working busily also. The soft drinks are handled by the Chattanooga Brewing company, through it's local branch.
 Aviafinn Han0are
 Inside the infield are the hangars of the aviators and there are six large tents To accommodate the sky pilots with their and mechanicians. Their posi- ton is facing toward the grandstands and over toward the opposite side of the circular course, affordng a commanding site for getaways and landings. The poles have been taken out of the field and the earth turned up for pathways
 Every day there are new automobile drivers out at the grounds with their ma chimes, trying out their speed demons. Eugene F. Enslen, with the Great South ern car has been trying out for several lays and he says he is optimistic for the nome car taking some of the big money and cups.
 Louis Berger is working overtime at the grounds. Hes a Tooy," say the group of other hustlers. "Cunnef' Lawson. su- of the grounds has his hands full too. When the gates open on Mon lay the field will be in splendid shape.
 Representative Kennedy Here
 A. NJ. Kennedy. who is to be technical for the American Auto mobile association. was here yesterday. stopping off in Birmingham on his way home to Montgomery from business trip to Nashville and. he said that he looked for a great crowd at the aviation meet, show and races goody crowd Is coming up from Montgomery and he himself will return here in time for opening day. MT. Kennedy was guest while here of J. s. Berger, and took in the ban game with the otker boosters. pr James E. Dedman. president of the Motor club, will ofIciate at the races of the automobiles as referee; Mr. Kennedy will represent the A. A. A., and Judge Dan Green, president of the Automobile association and chairman of the Racing committee, will also officate at the races.
 Time for Decorations
 The bushes men and boosters around the city who take pride in the appearance of the Magic metropolis are urging that every one should now decorate so that when Monday comes the city will nave on gala attire Bushes men should net wait to see what the other fellow is go- Ing to do. they say, but each one should go ahead and decorate as liberally as they can.
 There Is no specified order for dee orations, but flags. bunting the na- 'ional colors and pictures are excellent and window decorations which pertain to or advertise the big spring celcbra- ton not only help interest and catch the eye of the out-of-town visitors but they boost the meet and add to the general attractiveness of the city.
 The first decorations noticeable ap- peared at the Florence hotel few days ago and now in various parts of Birmingham there may be seen other decorative features, To chose who are too busy to attend to their own decor ating there are professional decorators in the city who put up and use their own fixtures at a nominal charge
 Interest High in Country
 The thorough and careful publicity campaign inaugurated weeks ago in the within 100 miles of Birming- ham by the advertising staff of the Berger Aviation company is now show ing very satisfactory proof. for every mail brings in inquiries about the cele- bration, and Il number of these letters ask if there will be accomm odations in the various boarding houses, iodg-
 ouses and hotels during aviation wtek. xHr W'NiWlxrul
 reduced rates on all the rai.- roaus have been a factor in drawing