New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
Continued from page 4

ruff to whom the uncertain field OF politicS
was always a mine of gold, thought he would
enter aviation and fill his pockets Owning
and wanting to boom certain real estate
holdings near Garden City, Woodruff built
a huge aerodrome on Nassau Boulevard.
Then he organized an international meet.
FLYERS came specially from Europe to appear
at Woodruff's show. The papers were filled
with it. Great crowds were expected
"Wise Woodruff" you heard people say
ing. Hes going to make another fortune
this time out of aviation.
On bright October day the flying began.
But Woodruff's chubby face was soon dark
in sorrow. Most of the crowd were outside
the field. They could see just as we'll and
didn't have to pay any money. Woodrun
became desperate He antagonlzed Bishop
BURGESS and other residents of Garden City
NV 1ersisting in extending his meet over
Sunday. Even then the crowds didn't come
Finallv Woodruff found he had dropped
sixty thousand dollars. So he groaned-
louder than he ever had in politicS-and set
tied his heavy prize list for 50 much on the
dollar.
And the story Of Woodruff, aviation pro-
motcr. is a parallel 10 the stories OF them all;
for in the "bg meet group failure StareS us
in the face. rank failure that shows a loss OF
three million dollars 1t is truSm OF the
business that "no money has ever been
made in big meet" TO be more concise
three million one hundred and scventy-six
thousand dollars has been lost during the
last three wears by American and European
exhibition meet promoters. a million a
wear zone on that most dismal Of failures,
an amusement enterprise that didn
pay.
been more fortunate than Europe. Perhaps
il IS because the American promoter IS
shrewdcr. At any rate, the losses III Canada
and the United States came to two hundred
and scventv-onc thousand six hundred dol
lars. Still, the discrepancy between Amer
lean and European losses explains the won
dcrful rises Of airmcn abroad There the
meet arrangements squandcred their money
on enormous prizes. The Paulhans and
Vcdrines, winning them, became rich, as the
promoters became poor.
In 1910 two meets were held in Canada,
for a total loss Of thirteen thousand dollars.
\ year later they were more careful; but
they lost Just the same.
TO try to make money from big aviation
meet is to try the impossible. The ex-
hibition field has become sterile. There are
many explanations Of this. One aviator will
tell YOU there has been too much exhibiting,
resulting in overcxploitation Of the novelty
Of the acropanc. To Levine, an aviation eX-
pert. am indebted for the following:
"Too many promises impossible OF fulfil
ucnt. he said. "wcre made by aViatOrS who
wanted TO see their names in print.
Then he pointed out a statement credited
10 Harry Atwood. Last winter it was an
nouncci from Atwood's headquarters that
he would attempt flight across the Atlantic
from Newfoundland to the coast OF Ire
land.
Take statement like that" the manu-
facturcr continued. Il don't know whether
Atwood made it or not. | don't think he
did. He has more sense Probably it was
press agent To make that flight Atwood
would have to carry two hundred gallons OF
gasolcnc. That makes sixteen hundred
pounds 20 start with, without considering
the weight Of oil, food. other supplies, or the
weight Of Atwood himself In October, 1911,
a Frcnchman named Broguict made record
CARRYING five men whose weight was not even
sixteen hundred pounds. Broguct managed
10 leave the ground and remain in the air
inst NE minutes. That was all How far
10 YOU suppose Atwood would get toward
Europe, carrying this Sixtccn-hundrcd-p pound
weight Of gasolcnc,
ChcaD advertising and cXtraVagdnt state