The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-28

balloon races a success from ev
 If credit badges were to be given out, practically every citizen or the Magic City would be wearing one. They talked about it they "bocsted' l. and ev- eryone that had occasion to get out of the city beforehand and tell someone in another part of the country about it, did so,Juntil every little village, town and city in the whole United States knew that something big was going to be staged in Birmingham.
 Every social and business club, young mems organizations and civic club, even the church societies, made it a special poins weeks in advance. to boost the International balloon race staged here.
 ALL CLUBS
 Every division of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce made it its busi- ness to lay everything else aside and get down to business toward adver- tising the important event.
 O. l.. Bum, manager of the Chamber eff Commerce, says that nearly every chamber of commerce in the whole country was asking his department for pamphlets and information about the race. They wanted to know if special railroad rates were to be made for the event and If the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce would make arrange ments with all the local photographers to take pictures for them and for newspapers in foreign cities
 Two moving picture concerns asked the Chamber of Commerce If they would show their camera mene the inn pertant industries and buildings in the Magic City, so they could make pie lures of them to go along with the pictures they were going to take of the big balloon race.
 MEN WHO LED
 Every official and member of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce worked for weeks ahead of time to get everything in readiness for the race. The organization building was head quarters where the plans were per fected for many of the meetings. ban Quets and parades that were given in honor of the distinguished contestants in the race.
 Virgil Evans. manager of the Bir- mingham Balloon Club and local chair man of the international balloon race, was one of the many that worked prac- tically night and day to make the event success.
 Alan R. Hawley, special representa- ItNC OA tu0 hCIO SluU u lNCW OIk, who was sent to Birmingham to "cov- CT" the event, was another that gave his entire time after his arrival in the city towards boosting the big race.
 Samuel c. Bowman and Frank But Ter are others of-the publicity commit tee who gave nearly every minute of their time. MT. Bowman was also in- strumental in getting up. the big torch light parade last Friday night in honor of tho distinguished visitors just before the start of the race the follow ing afternoon.
 Edmond Armes. president of the Community Club, with Will Sadler and Lonnie Munger, made up special com mittee that went before every business house, club and civic organization in the city. and sold tickets to the big banquet that was given after the street parade Friday night at the Tutwiler at which in attendance were all of the pilots of the foreign nations. the pilots that were to represent the United States and the army balloons, city officials and leading business men and others, all of whom had worked together with a spirit never before witnessed in Bir- mingham to make the balloon race a success.
 On Saturday. October 1s. at the regu- lar weekly luncheon of the Community Club, the members banded themselves together and pledged to do all in their power during the coming week to en- certain the distinguished visitors while they were the Quests of the city. The appointment of Edmond Armes presi- dent of the club, as chairman of spe- ciai committee to sell tickets to the banquet at the Tutwifer the following Nolc So ot ha meeting.
 The "Elsie Delight" left the field at North Birmingham Saturday afternoon in a test flight to test the use of newly treated gas that had been put through drying process. A. Leo Stevens pilot. when he returned from his test flight. reported that the gas was o. K. <, COORDINATION
 Balloon headquarters was established in the lobby of the Tutviler hotel where pictures, flying maps and any information that visitors and pilots might desire could be obtained.
 The announcement was also made that the Aero Club of America was off, fering s1,40o to the winning balloons and their pilots. The board of directors of the Birmingham Chamber of Com merce held a meeting immediately and agreed 10 OIler SlIullAI AuOuAt, man ing a total of $2,S00 that would be awarded the winners.
 The seven local Italian societies worked together for the several days ah cad of time making plans for the entertainment of the pilots from their country when they dfrived in the city. So when Maj. Giusepp Vale, Maj. Domenico Leone. Maj. Ugo Medori and Lieut.. Pirazzoli Anselmo. members of the Italian team, arrived in the city, they were met at the terminal station bx, hl1ndredS of fheir collnf rymen md