Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-19
OMAHA TO HAVE
BALLOON SCHOOL
AFTER WAR ENDS
Fort Crook Will Be Center of
AeronautiC Activities When
Water Supply Is
Obtained.
Washington Bureau of Omaha Bee.

washington bureau OF Omana Bee.
Washington, Sept. l8.-(Special
Telegram. )-That there will be an
extensive military program after the
present war was intimated to John
w. Gamble of the Omaha Chamber
of Commerce, by General Kenley,
chief of aeronautics, today, when
Mr.. Gamble and Congressman Lo-
beck called on that official to as
certain what was in store from an
aeronautic point of view for Fort
Crook.
General Henley said that the dis
position of the War department and
his own branch of the service was
to make Forts Omaha and Crook
the first balloon and observation
school in the country, and that just
as soon as there was an adequate
supply of water at Fort Crook the
aeronautical branch of the War de-
partment would proceed to make
Of it the center of balloon activities
in the country. Already orders have
been issued to proceed with the
necessary repairs on Fort Crook to
make it available for troops.
On Saturday it is expected 'Sena-
tor Hitchcock, Mr.. Gamble and Con-
gresham Lobeck will see the act
ing secretary of war and if possible
get him to issue the necessary order
to begin work on putting in the
water mains from South Omaha to
Fort Crook.
Asks for Air Mail Service.
Mr.. Gamble also called on Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General
Otto Praeger, with a request that
an air mail service be established
between Omaha and Chicago. Mr..
Praeger stated that the extension
of the air mail service from Chi
cago westward had been favorably
considered and that Omaha was
naturally the first city to have
consideration. He suggested that
the proper thing for the Chamber of
Commerce to do was to get favor
able landing field for the airplanes
and that having been accomplished,
he would look after the installation
of the service.
Jefferis Visits Capitol.
A. w. Jefferis, the republican can
didate for congress from the Second
district, was in Washington today,
en- route after visit to New York
and Trenton, NJ. Mr.. Jefferis had
a conference with Chairman Hays of
the national committee, while in
New York. Today he was presented
to Chairman Fess of the republican
congressional committee by repre-
sentative Sloan, who also introduced
him to members of the republican
steering committee of the senate
and leaders of the house with whom
he will come in contact after March
4, next. "Jeff" was received with
great favor by the republicans whom
he met and his confident predic-
ton of election heartened his party
associates immensely. He left for
Nebraska tonight.
Congressman Sloan announced to-
day that his son Blaine had sailed
for the front Monday with an artil-
lery unit, letter from him indicat-
ing the sailing, but the destination
unknown.
Offer to Build Aeroplanes.
LLOYD A. Winship, secretary-treas-
urer of the Hebb Motors company
of Lincoln, and E. c. Hammond are
| in Washington for the purpose of
getting the War and Navy depart
ments' interest in using their up-to-
date plant at Havelock for aero
plane building purposes. They saw
Secretary Daniels today and will
see General Henley tomorrow. The
company has strong financial back
ing and is in a position to turn out
| aeroplanes in considerable quanti-
ties.
Congressman Reavis has accepted
invitations to make addresses before
the Ministerial association Of Wash
ington on Monday next and Thurs
day next before the Wilson Normal
Community association. He will
probably speak at Vincennes, Ind.
late next week. He has more than
so requests for speeches from men,
bers of congress since his great
eo.acL 10 et u,aaL