New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-16
CALIFORNIA BIDS
FOR BALLOON RACE
Oakland Chamber of Com
MERGE Ready to Put Up
$500 in Prizes.

Officials OF the Aero Club of America
were much gratifed yesterday by the re-
cept Of telegram from Guy T. Slaugh-
ter, president Of the Aero Club of San
Francisco. saying that the Chamber OF
Commerce in Oakland wished TO bid for
the international balloon race next Octo-
Der, and would provide $500 for prizes
Negotiations have been on for some
time with the city of Portland, Ore, which
offered $4,000, but no decision had been
reached. 1T is believed that the quality
of gas in Oakland is equal TO that of
Portland, and the offer received yesterday
will have the careful consideration of the
club at the governors meeting on Wednes-
day.
St Louis has made a bid. and word Of
the new offer has been sent 10 the Of
ficlals there as well as to Portland.
Only n few days remain in which en-
tries may be made, but even II there are
no more entrants a getaway OF fourteen
balloons is assured. The last entry came
. from Switzerland, and the list stands as
follows: Germany 3 France. 3 Belgium.
| 2; Austria, 2, Switzerland, 1. and Amer
lea, 3.
Ralph Epson. of Akron. has been Sc
lected as one of the American pilots
and has accepted. Among the crack bal
, loonists from abroad will be- Hans Ber-
liner, OF Germany. who holds the world >
record for distance. on February II Ber-
liner assembled from Bitterfeld. Germany,
with two passengers, and landed at kirgi-
scharn, Russia. forty-seven hours later.
During the fight the balloon covered
1855 kilometres. beating the record. OF
200 kilometres. held by Hugo Kaulen.
Berliner was the winner of the German
elimination race last year and represented
Germany in the international race, which
was won by Epson.
Arnold Kruckman, head of the bureau
OF aeronautcs of the Panama Pacific Ex-
position, took shot" at the critics of
the around-t world race last night. At
his headquarters at the Hotel McAlpin
he said that he hoped his statement would
settle once and for all the idea that the
favor of a 'crOss-country flight.
The globe glrdlihg race" said Kruck-
man, was determined upon by the execu
tive committee of the exposition only
after two months careful consideration
and after consultation with scores of rec
ognzed authorities. Much correspond
ence was carried on with famous foreign
students of the science of aeronautics,
and their opinions were given all due
weight.
The fact that the exposition has been
given international scope in all other re-
spects was the very reason that such
flight was decided upon. Therefore, the
money was appropriated for world
circlng trip, and for no other purpose.
If somebody were to advertise and pro-
mote a mile foot race. 1t would hardly be
in order for any one else to come for
ward with suggestions for half-mile
race or a hurdle race.
'If anybody wants to promote a cross
country or national circuit flight the eX-
position authorities will be only too glad
to support it. They might even do some
thing in a financial way, but that is an
entirely different matter. No doubt the
critics mean well and have the best In
terests of aeronautics at heart, but all
this talk Is aside from the question"
Kruckman's statement was prompted by
the circulation Of a number OF letters
from American flyers and manufacturers
suggesting various substitutes for the
world race. The question of sanctioning
the event will come before the Aero club
of America on Wednesday.