The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-10-15

president Of the congress. He accepted the posi-
ton, turned his business affairs to his partler
and went to work. The first step was to get
twenty-five Omaha business to back the
project for 900 each. This easily done.
1t also easy to get the Endorsement Of all
Omaha business and social organizations
speakers bureau was formed to educate the citi-
zens Arrangements to raise funds for financing the
congress made Attention then turned
to the preparation of program worthy of The
occasion
incidentally 1t became necessary to provide a
landing field large enough to stage the program.
little thing like this. however, did not deter the
air men, who located farm Of 1876 acres showing
possibilities as field. although II was uneven and
contained $50 large trees.
A field day" was duly announced, and the air
men and their friends rolled up their sleeves and
with the assistance of two Holt caterpillar trac-
tors donated for the occasion pulled the trees and
leveled the land
An open drainage ditch traversed the center of
the field. which lies the edge of Of the
residence districts only fifteen minutes ride from
the heart of Omaha. The city council induced
to vote unanimously to build covered sewer
through the field at cost Of $21O SO the
problem Of a flying field satisfactorily solved.
In the meantime an Office force busy mail
ing thousands of invitations and pamphlets to
the air men and celebrities, such President
Harding Marshal Foch. Orville Wright, Glenn
CurtisS and Judge H. M. Land1S
The graduates Of Fort Omaha balloon school,
the center of Americas wartime ballooning were
invited for their first reunion. Squadrons and
escadrilles Of flyers asked to hold their first
reunions I'm Omaha. The fifty-two American aces
were invited, as well everyone else interested
in aviation.
The aid of Kansas City was enlisted in sending
the American Legion convention delegates on to
Omaha The Endorsements of national headquar-
Infriop nf no Apro Iuh pf
America Of the Worlds Board Of Aeronautical
Commissioners and Of the Aircraft Manufacturers
Association were obtained. The cooperation OF
the ARMY and Navy air headquarters was asked
for and received.
The railroads helped out by offering fare and
n half rate for the round trip from all parts OF
tho country TO Omaha. Gutzon Borgum, world
famed sculptor offered a commemorative medal
aos,on svmbolica Of the work Of the American
o,r man during the war, as his bit" James
Hanlev song writer Of New York. wrote special
song praising the work of the flyers. to be sung
for the first time at the congress
In preparing Its program, Omaha mad piece
~ ra 70 good luck right at the outset As every
nne knows. the Pulitzer Trophy Race became the
tor,ds most famous air event with its first run
TIC IN November Of 1920 at Mitchell Field, New
york under the auspices of the Aero CiuD Oh
America There were twenty-five Army e'eht
Navy seven Marine Corps and one clvilah en-
tronts n the contest The winner was Lieut.. "
c. Mosey of the Army air service VINO new io-
II. - q verville- Packard machine at an average
a.ad ~ ,7s miles an hour. The Army won seven
- tho first ten places in the contest and the Navy
,wo There we're 10000 spectators including celeb
rites from all walks OF Ire.
Well the Pulitzer Trophy Race for 1871 mao
n.sn scheduled for Detroit, but dihcuities nad
arisen and the Aero Club OF America mao can
aa,,ad the race for the year. Omaha stepped IN
20. aroraa the necessary funds. In consequence.
~. .ns erst announcement on the program Is this
-. ..rn he First international Aero Congress an
nounces the second annual aerial contest Tor me
n',,.,or trophy. in connection with the first con-