Show INTERNATIONAL RA RACING CING OF BALLOONS I EPO H REACHED IN AERO WORLD I Second Really Important Balloon Balloon Bal Bal- 8 loon Race Attracts Attention 1 of Civilized World With R Deep Interest Being Taken i I IO o O I AST week ml may be 8 said ld to mark the time V LAST arrival of or the American nero aero I nautical world at another and andery 8 very ery sl significant milestone In tho the conquest of ot the air The second really important International balloon race n ever er started from American soil is 8 V focusing the attention of or all alt the civilized civil civil- 11 bed nations of th the earth newly earth newly I IJ 1 1 one and all t I 7 the tho tance tanco of or aeronautics and and the tho excite excite- I lug ing contest from freon Indianapolis proved I fUll fully ully as beneficial in its I I buttons to aeronautical science as dim did that lint other othor aerial blue ribbon event which had hail St St. St Louis as its starting point With WIllI the greatest of all aerial steeplechases In full flight light all eyes ees were naturally turned toward tho thc sky and anil figuratively figurative speaking the they will wiil remain there au all aU summer flummer for al almost almost almost al- al most before the spectacular rent event at nt Indianapolis has lias become a memory now miracles in flight will be enacted at Fort Myer l Va where the Wright brothers and their leading American rivals Herring and Curtis will tr try out aeroplanes constructed for tor tho the United States government and later will teach some of or Uncle Sams Sam's army officers how to manipulate time the newt new new- t angled nl led craft Then in August the Europeans will come Into the limelight with International races at Rheim and at Brescia Ita Italy October sees an Important im important important Im- Im balloon race at SL St Louis and the same panic month holds the date of at tho annual International race for tor the tho Gordon Gordon Gordon Gor Gor- don B n Bennett Cup which this year ye will start from Zurich Switzerland Fi Finally FI- FI nally America will o ha the concluding concluding In ing event of or this racing season In this the airship race from New v York City to Albany in connection connection connection tion with the tho Hudson Fulton tion It will be noted that virtually all an oCth of oC th those these contests in the clouds are International International international Inter Inter- national In scope One reason doubtless doubt- doubt less ess Is that an International contest In n any sport or pastime is theoretical- theoretical ly 13 y and Ind usually In fact much more interesting in interesting In- In than a Il test that is local in character Moreover balloon racing has horn boon of or this character from tho ho outset o largely from roan necessity In tho he beginning and even t to this da day for that hat matter it is difficult to recruit In any one country as ns closely matched matchell a I coterie of or sky Ie pilots as S may be he drafted rom from the world at lar large e by the thc I of cf coveted trophies or mone money prizes such as have been heen hun hung up UD durIng during dur- dur Ing ng the tho past few tew years and which have ranged ed in value up to S O. O OO to sn say nothing lothing of that French contract contract con- con tract which was In effect the mn magnet mag mag- net riot which first lured the tho Wright brothers over seas However in the tho field of ot modern aeronautics the lie International contests have hayo been productive of or no such cha- cha grimm an nit fell to the time lot of American on onlookers onlookers on- on lookers In the tho early earl fir days dars of f automobile automobile auto auto- mobile racing When hen the tho pastime ot of making devil dare long distance runs In hl nowr h-nowr motor cars ns In Its ifs and t for r that th-ot ven Infancy infancy and matter even unto this tin tIny day a majority of or the bursts of or sp cd have hav been beon won by Italian I German and French drivers driver Happily there has been no such stor story to toll tell In itt time the realm of ot aeronautics despite the tho early activity of ot the French which seemed to presage n a monopoly of ot the tho field Jold Of OC tho time prominence of ot tho time Wright brothers there thoro is no Question r either horo here or abroad and In thin sphere or n of free ballooning AM nil 1110 d from or o tho 10 Americana havo morn than hold held their own Lieutenant Lahm Jalim an army American t tm- tm m- m Bt stationed Jn n France won tho first International balloon race roce the tho Initial contest for tho the Gordon Bennett Bonnett I cup anti ami other hl high h flying citizens of ot tho the now world have given fon eni arnof of the llie and daring ir i ot of tho the Y Yankees 8 The rhe free for from tho the Hooe capital which Is Just now engrossing public attention alike aUke to all other Important important im mi- i balloon races held in this country Is under the direction of at that national or organization the Aero Acro club of America America- This bod body has been a 0 most Important factor in fostering aerial na l navigation on thin side of at tho the Atlantic It was founded In the tho year 1905 most of or the tho charter members being at nt that time Ume members of or tho Automobile club of or America Indeed tho the first active steps were taken taleen one evening e when alien there was a g gathering at the tho Automobile Automobile Automobile Auto Auto- mobile club to listen to a n lecture upon machines pro progress In iii flying by Charles M. M I. I Manley who had been boon associated with the tho lato late Mr Langley In his aerial experiments Ono bundred hundred hun bun dred members were secured for tho new or organization that e evening The Aero Acre club hn has stimulated popular popular popular lar Interest and at nt the same time Inns has valuable carried on a vcr very missionary work by bv annual exhibitions exhibitions exhibitions where models and sized full aerial I I I I I II I I II r I I I l I I 1 I II I jr s m j I cY hr Ur of l craft have lIa been gathered from Crom nil all harts of the tIme country countr and Indeed from nil all quarters quartel'S of ot the tho globe Iobe This national national na na- lionel hand band of or aeronauts has al also o var- var rId nod on much practical work for the common cause Time Tho step in this direction was taken several years ears ago when Count De Do La Ia an nn enthusiast on the sport car came to this coon conn- tr try bringing his Ills racing balloons the tho Orient and th the Centaur and carried carrIll aloft various Officers and members of f tho the Aero club who thus gained their thelt first actual experience in han handling big gas bags at great altitudes The sportIng sport sport- ing Interest and the pleasure of ot tho the new pastime having been thus proven wealthy club members sot set about acquit ac nc- ac- ac quit Ing balloons of their own J A A. A N. N Chandler WAH w the tho first to purchase on aerial vehicle and then tho the Aero club as a n whole bought the balloons Cen Con taur and Orient above mentioned for tor the use of or the tho club members The Tue current balloon race and tho those o kindred contests that will wm follow tollow it ore snow now flies will doubtless demonstrate demon domon- domonI I strate anew that the United States Is better belter adapted than an any other othor country I I In iii time the world for long distance balloon lacing racIng The chief chio explanation is found of or course in the time tremendous distances which ma may be traversed without passing over an any large body of water provided the aeronauts have havo taken the tho precaution to sot set out from some inland point such a as Indianapolis lis or St St. Louis It Is lar largely ely because of ot the facilities thus afforded that tho the famous race raco from St. St Louis a of ot years cars ago the ago the only American contest contest con con- test for the tho Gordon Bennett Dennett cup yet cup yet stands in aeronautic history as the tho greatest balloon race that has been held to date both In the matter of ot tho the length of the tho trips of or the various contesting con con- I testing balloons and the duration of ot time tho the sky k pilots remained in the nil air It will be remembered that tho the winner of or the race Oscar l who represented Germany German in the tho contest traveled more moro than miles ant and M lI Alfred Le 10 Blanc representing France remained in the air 44 H hours and 3 minutes thus establishing a new worlds world's record for tor duration Whereas this aerial Jaunt of ot miles sets a new mark in balloon rac rae rae- lug ing It docs does not constitute the worlds world's record for tor lon long distance ballooning under an any conditions The record of or records was made during the tho Paris ex exposition exposition ox- ox position In 1900 when Count De Do La Vaulx assisted b by Castillon do de St S1 Vie Vic tor or and using a n balloon three-fourths three hued filled with en sailed from I. I to a point in Russia 1194 1 miles 1 s- s dig dis j tant tanto It is worthy of ot note that it was tho the balloon Centaur which was used on this trip that the tho count ward brought to America and transferred transferred trans trans- erred to time the then Aero Anro club for what might bo be called Its kin kin- of ot ballooning ballooning- to which ref reC- has hns been boon made mado earlier In thin article This name sarno balloon the tho Con Cen taur wn ins i the aerial vehicle used when 11 1 Miss Moulton l In 1903 1905 J tho 10 mong record for tor women wo we- 0 men mn devoto ot of tho ho sport iy y skimming skim skim- ming through h tho the clouds clouda from fro St. St Cloud to a 1 point near n a dl I coca of ot eg e.g. 1 to thin th excursion of oC Count le ls 1 la Vaulx from tron Paris to Russia in tho thu tholon lon longest cst balloon journey of which wo we 0 havo have nn any well authenticated record wa was made mado In time the United States State nearly neatly half a 0 century a ago o Four men made mado madean an ascent In ti n crude crullo balloon from St. St Louis nn and did dill not como come to earth until tho they had reached a 0 point In New York tote state 1150 miles from their starting pinco Tho The duration record until tho the Frenchmen smashed it by staying aloft for tor torI 4 I hours established in 1901 by four other Frenchmen Including the Insatiable Insatiable Insa Insa- De Do La Vaulx who hud had consumed the Interval of at two score and anti ono one hours In a trip from Toulon to Port Vendres Ventres In a balloon racing the contestants do 10 donot donot not seek to attain great altitudes On tho the contrary man many of tho the most skillful pilots that it Is essential to success in racing racing- to travel campara- campara near tho the earth Nevertheless sinco we wo aro are on the subject of ot balloon records and since sinco It Is now proposed to signal Mars I r from a balloon a word ma may be bo said regarding tho the hel heights at attained at- at b by aeronauts Me and Coxwell are accounted the champions champions cham cham- pious having attained a height estimated esti est mated at 37 feet whereas aero DOI Boison Berson Ion and amI comp with a record of feet teet The Tho record distance It will be observed Is about six times time tho height of or Mount Washington Wash Wash- ington and more moro than two and one- one half bait times the time altitude of ot Pikes Pike's Peak In both of at the tho ascents above mentioned the time aeronauts were wore almost unconscious when thc they had soar soared d to the highest altitude It Is Js a pretty prett safe prediction that lint In this day and a ago c no balloon race will viii greatly exceed miles In length and such being tho the case the cities of ot the upper Mississippi valley constitute Ideal starting points for tor tho the reason reanon that they thoy are upward of ot OO miles from tram tho the nearest tidewater To bo ho suro sure tho the Great Lakes a chain of five lIve vast unsalted seas do present something some some- thing of ot a n problem problem one one formidable enough to cut short the voyages of r several of ot tho ho balloonists in the tImo memorable blo St St. Louis race of ot a couple of ot years ago but ago but the tho menace pro pre ro- ro is not to be compared with that of at the tho open ocean which Is apt to stare in the face faco every participant In a European balloon race When Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieu Lieu- tenant Lahm put Americans in the front rank of modern balloonists b by winning time the first Gordon Bennett Dennett cup race he had a taste of or this peril It being necessary for tor him to cross the English channel in his hour 22 flight which covered miles Again last year when the tho same samo trophy was contested con con- tested for tor from a German starting point some of the sky ski sprinters were swept out over the North sea However there are other than geographical geo geo- graphical conditions to be bo taken into consideration In choosing a rendezvous I ous for balloon racers Chief among tho the requirements is an ample supply of ot gas of or a a. proper specific gravity To bo be sure temporary or permanent plants I for tor the manufacture of hydrogen gas as mo may bo be erected at any point at nt n nO ox- ox cost but most balloonists seem scorn to prefer coal gas c Formerly coal gas was manufactured at almost er e every largo large commercial gas plant but latterly lat lat- lat lat- terly tony the illuminating companies have ha for tor the most part substituted water gas which has not the buoyancy ncy nieces nieces- sar sary to lift IUt a balloon Hence a locality must be nought where tho the old old-fash method of ot making gas Is still in vogue Balloon racing Is 18 an nn exp expensive sport although h not ns as extravagantly so as many persons Imagine A man who ho has been accustomed to maintaining a steam yacht or n a high power touring motor car will not be appalled b by the tho ho outlay required led In this new realm of or speedy travel To take a n. lent leaf out of oC a specific expense account which is al always al- al ways Was better hotter than dealing in generalitieS generalitieS' general Sonora It may be bo cited that Charles J. J Glidden the tho well wall known automobilist and l international balloon pilot paid for his balloon the tho Boston which has hRs n a of oC cubic foot of i gas and will lift about pound To make a L flight ht In this balloon costs l i about 40 The Tho cost com of lI lIer several er 1 rather must bo be added I to thin tho outlay to bo be made mado by hy n IL This The which In Indicator the tho elevation or of th th balloon and tho time t which tolla thin tho hother ho Ime I. I In III rifling rifling- or co cost coat t I 71 A t it is shorter lived than an nn automobile being ROO good br or only I II or of or I l length There Thoro is a. a heavy duty on for for- cl n balloons Imported Into the Unite 1 1 bu but t J u rop ln balloonists balloonist como to tho the states to no IKO Jn Jim Contests are aro to their balloons into this tl country In Ot or cour course e. e no person vho ho In Is no not regularly y lIcensed as aJ a n balloon baBoon pilot can an have hare charge of or a. a racing balloon balloo To obtain a pilots pilot's t o q balloonist I mu c have huo mado nado ialo n a corIa number of at ri ono one Accent alone |