The Dolores star., 1921-10-14

president "f the congress lie accepted the posi-
tion turned over his business affairs to his paru.er
ana went to work. The first step to get
twenty-five Omaha business men to back the
project for $1,000 each. This was easily done.
1t WAS also easy to get the Endorsement of all
oina!la business and social organizations. A
speakers bureau was formed to educate the citi-
zes. Arrangements to raise funds for financing the
congress were made. Attention then turned
TO the preparation of a program worthy of ;he
occasion,
incidentally it became necessary to provide
landing field large enough to stage the program.
little thing like this, however did not deter th.
air men. who located farm of 1856 acres showing
possibilities field. although it was uneven and
contained 100 large trees.
A field day" duly announced, and the mir
men and their friends rolled up their sleeves and
with the assistance of two Holt caterpillar trac-
tors donated for the OCCASION pulled trees and
leveled the land.
An open drainage ditch trlyersed the center or
the field. which lies the edge of one of the
residence districts only fifteen minutes ride from
the heart of Omaha The city council was induced
to vote unanimously to build Il covered sewer
through the field at cost of $4,000 So tha
problem of Il flying field satisfactorily solved
In the meantime an office force was busy mail.
ing thousands of invitations and pamph!ets 70
the air men and celebrities, such as Presiden,
Harding, Marshal Foch. OrvilIc Wright Glenn
Curtiss and Judge X NJ. Landis
The graduates of Fort Omaha balloon school
the center of Americas wartime baIooning. were
invited for their first reunion Squadrons and
escadrilleS of flyers asked to hold their first
reunions in Omaha. The ffty-two American aces
were invited, rs 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 headauar-
ters of the American Legion, of the Aero Club of
America, of the Worlds Board of Aeronautcnl
Commissioners and of the Aircraft Manufacturers
Association We're obtained. The cooperation of
the Army and Navy air Headquarters was asked
for and received
The railroads helped out by Offering a fare and
half rate for the round trip from all parts of
the country to Omaha. Gutzon Borglum world
famed sculptor, offered commemorative medal
design symbolical of the work of the American
air man during the war, his bit" James
Hanley, song writer Of New York, wrote a special
song praisng the work of the flyers, to be sung
for the first time at the congress.
In preparing its program. Omaha had a piece
of rare good luck right at the outset. As every
one knows the Pulitzer Trophy Race became the
worlds most famous air event with its first run
ming in November of 1920 at Mitchell Field New
York. under the auspices of the Aero Club of
America. There twenty-five Army. eight
Navy, seven Marine Corps and civilian
trants in the contest. The winner Lieut.. c.
c. Mosely of the Army air service, who flew l32
miles in verville-Packard machine at an average
speed of 17S miles an hour. The Army won seven
of the first ten places In the contest and the Navy
two. There 10000 spectators, including celeb
rites from all walks of life.
Well the Pulitzer Trophy Race for 1921 had
been scheduled for Detroit. but difficulties had
arisen and the Aero Club of America had can
cced the race for the year Omaha stepped In
and offered the necessary funds. In consequence
the first announcement the program Is this:
"The First international Aero Congress
nj a1 rnrt tfl
Pulitzer Trophy. In connection with the first