Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-08-20
HUGE NAVY FLYING.
BOAT TO STOP HERE.
EN- ROUTE TO GULF.
OTTAWA TO BE ONE OF THE
LANDING PLACES OF THE IVES.
Sell WHICH CARRIES GOVERN.
MENT OFFICIALS FROM CHI.
cAGo TO THE SOUTH BORDER
OF THE UNITED STATES, ~

Mayor Weeks and the local Cham
Der OF Commerce have received q let
ter from the Aeromarine Always,
Inc, in which they ask II ottawa
would be interested in having Il huge
navy flying boat stop here on their
way from Chicago 10 the Gulf OF
Mexico.
The letter, addressed from New
York City under date of Aug. is, is as
follows:
I'VE are cooperating with the
United States navy In stimulating
commercial and civilian aviation
throughout the country in the interest
Of our national defense, so that in
case of any emergency there will be
available trained organizations OF
pilots and mechanics.
I'VE recently sent a huge aeroma-
rine navy eleven-passenge flying
boat, Santa Maria. from Miami. Fla,
to Chicago. H., via the Hudson and
st. Lawrence rivers and the great
lakes, carrying prominent navy and
other officials. This flying boat will
soon continue its flight down the Mis-
sissippi to Vera Cruz, Mexico
AT the principal points between
Miami and Chicago the mayors or
chambers of commerce organized Re.
ception committees and the arrival Of
the Santa Maria was recognized and
welcomed as an event OF considerable
Importance, because ii Is the largest
passenger-carrying craft of Its kind
in the world, and this is the first time
in the worlds history that such a
huge passenger-carrying aircraft has
made such long fight.
This fight marks a new epoch in
the history of the worlds transporta.
ton, and 1t Is the desire of the navy
department to bring to the attention
Of the communities situated on our
lakes, rivers and harbors the possibili.
ties and advantages of this new mode
of transit.
I'VE have written your mayor and
suggested that an official reception
committee be organized, and if your
citizens are Interested we will ar
range TO have Ottawa scheduled as a
port of calf ON the fight.
There will probably be some prom
inent' navy officials, senators and well
known newspaper men on board, and
we believe that the worldwide pub
LEFTY your city will receive will fully
justify your heaty cooperation.
I'VE are calling this matter to your
attention so that you may take 1t up
with your mayor and let us know at
your earliest convenience if you are
interested" 4
While no plans for a reception have
been made, the, city will unquestion-
ably make arrangem for a recep.
tion committee and advise the airway
people to send their entire squadron
of boats and men and women to our
city and that preparations will bel
made for a safe landing of the big air.
ships either on land or water
Early in the spring a firm in St
Louis wrote to tn local chamber, ask
ing them to provide landing place
for some commercial airships that
were to be operated between St Louis
and Chicago. At that time two land
ing places were provided on the east
side of the city-king field for the
land ships, and the strip of water in
the Illinois river, just beyond the
south bluff. 1t was also suggested
that if these places were not desir-
able that provisions could be made
for landing either on land or water
on the west side of the city. 1t is
hoped that before long we will see air
lines established and also that Otta-
wa will be selected as landing sta
ton.