San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30

| MAJ. t1OTuCt ftlChudlu Sldltu ina
air currents will be tested during the
next few days by sending up large
balloon from Brooks Field. and by
sending other balloons into the up
per currents from small towns in a
radius of go miles from San An
tonic. Clubs Of this city will begin
their balloon programs during the
next few days, and the San Antonio
Drug company has purchased 100000
balloons TO advertise the great event.
Air currents in the immediate
neighborhood of San Antonio will be
tested on the first favorable day this
week, by sending a scout balloon up
from Brooks Field to try out the
atmospheric conditions over this city.
| according to Major Hickman. The
condition in adjoining towns will be
determined by sending scout ships
from places in the district around
this city, Major Hickman said.
Balloon pilots must get their
bearings by spotting the towns under
them. as well as through the instru-
ments used in the ship TO guide the
course" Major Hickman stated. sand
il is the purpose of the scout ships
to make a chart for the pilots, so
that no difficulty will be encounter
ed in recognizing the small towns IN
San Antonio's vicinity"
Have . Press House.
The balloon that will be sent from
Brooks Field is being unfolded and
prepared for service now, according
to Major Hickman, and on the first
day that weather conditions permit.
the big balloon will try out the con-
dition Of air currents for the guild
ance of pilots in the national race.
The st. Anthony Hotel has been
designated as headquarters for the
balloonists and their friends during
the event, according to Ralph II.
Durkee. publicity director of the
race, who stated that press room
will be established a week or ten days
before the meet, for the convenience
of newspaper men, correspondents and
press agents who will visit San An
| tonic especially on account of the
race. The room will contain type
writer's, desks and all convenienccs
for the visitors, Mr.. Durkee stated.
A press house will be erected dur
ing the next few days at Kelly Field
where news reel photographers, spe-
cial correspondents, reporters and
other press people will have head
quarters. Special wires will be built
here. and the telegraph wires will
reach the house for the convenience
of visiting correspondents.
Letters have been received from
the Goodyear Tire and Rubber COM
pany Of Akron, Ohio, saying that let
ters and advertisements are being
placed all over the United States by
the Goodyear Company, advertising
the race.
Honeywell Out For Record.
1t was announced in the St Louis
Post-Dispatch in a recent issue that
Captain Honeywell, noted balloonist
who has entered the race, has sai1
that he will carry provisions and
supplies that will last four days and
four nights, as he expects to break
the worlds record in the San Antonio
event.
A piece Of advertising here that
has attracted quite a bit Of attention
is the stunt that is being put on by
the San Antonio Drug company,
which is staging balloon race of its
own during the month of April. The
company's lower floor has the aspect
of a big balloon field, with its big
black balloons tied to merchandise
displays.
Four hundred thousand balloons
have been purchased by the drug com
pany, with "The National Balloon
Race April % printed on each.
These balloons will be distributed in
every drug store in Texas, Oklahoma
and Louisiana. according to the plan
outlined by William Ochse. president
of the company to his statesmen Sat
urday. The merchandise sold by the
statesmen during April will be listed
as "balloon sale merchandise" and
the sales reports will regulate the
position of the big black balloons in
the downstairs store. on Commerce
street, as each balloon bears the
name of a San Antonio Drug COM
pany salesman. The man bringing
in the best report will have first place
in the miniature balloon race. and the
next in rank will come second, third
and so forth.
Invite Every Conopian.
Prizes will be given to statesmen
having the three best reports on "bal-
loon sale" merchandise, according to
Mr.. Ochse. First prize will be a
handsome refrigerator picnic basket;
second prize will be a duOfold writing
set, and third prize will be a shaw
ing cabinet.
In addition TO placing the balloons
in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana
drug stores. cards bearing ten certi-
ficates for free tickets to the race in
every thousand, will be dropped from
aeroplanes at the expense of the COM
pany, with advertising on the cards
to further the balloon race publicity.
Civic clubs Of San Antonio will be-
gin their balloon programs on the
81 Of March, when on Monday after
noon the Advertising Club will have
Balloon Race program, with Ma
jor Hickman the featured speaker.
On April Is, the Conopus Club will
give its balloon program. with Col.
G. G. Culver the principal speaker,
and on the same day the Kiwanis
Club will feature ballooning, with
Col. John Howard aud DIR. T. l..
Thomson as speakers.
Several clubs of San Antonio may
shoulder rather heavy burden dur
ing the balloon race, If they follow
the example of the Conopus Club,
which will invite every Conopian in
Texas to be the guest of the club on
April %. in San Antonio.
Twenty-Five thousand cards. with
the appearance Of calling cards. have
been printed for the use of travelling