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[[newspaper clipping]]
JANUARY 21, 1911.

AERIAL RACE AN AD SAYS THE AERO CLUB
Put San Jose on the Newspaper Map of the World Aviation Committee Urged Meeting Last Night.

That it would put San Jose on the newspaper map of the United States with such emphasis that the name would stay there forever, providing arrangements were made for an aero race from Selfridge aviation park to this city on a Sunday afternoon, was the unanimous opinion of the seven or more members of the Aero Club and Rose Carnival committee, who gathered at the Chamber of Commerce last night to talk over plans for the race.

The Rose Carnival committee has $1900 left over from last fiesta.  Of this amount the Fourth of July committee has an equity in $800.  The proposition is that the Rose Carnival committee shall place the $1900 at the disposal of the Aero Club's committee.

While there were quite a number of members of the carnival committee on hand, it turned out that there were not enough to constitute a majority so Chairman Argyll Campbell declined to decide the question then and there.  Besides, it was pointed out there was the $800 in which the Fourth of July had an interest.

So it was resolved to have Secretary Joseph T. Brooks write to Mayor C. W. Davison, who was the chairman of the Fourth of July committee, and see whether he would not allow the $800 to be turned over to the Aero Club committee.  Next Monday night it is hoped that a majority of the Rose Carnival committee will be on hand and that they will agree to the $1900 being used in a lump.

"The point is," said Ray Meade, "that nobody expects to make a dollar out of this.  It is publicity that is being aimed at – publicity for San Jose.  The Rose Carnival and Fourth of July affairs gave us some notice, of course, but it is in our own immediate neighborhood.  This race from Selfridge aviation park to San Jose will be mentioned in every paper in the United States and many of them in Europe, so that San Jose will attain international prominence.  Then there is another point, any profit that is made will go to the Rose Carnival committee, of course, and if the affair proves to be profitable there will be not money out of pocket at all.

"But, while the argument is naturally made that the aerial race will attract more attention than the carnival or the Independence day celebration, it does not have to be made, for we shall have the Rose Carnival and Fourth of July celebration just the same.  It will be better for the city, therefore, all around."

As talked over last night, the plan is to get three aviators, if possible, to race from the park at Selfridge (Tanforan) to San Jose.  The three that the committee has in mind are Willard, Ely and Radley.  It may not be possible to get the trio to enter, however.  In that event the committee has definite assurances that it can get Ely and Willard.  Ely is the man who landed his aeroplane on the warship in San Francisco bay – the first time the feat had been accomplished.  He has already won world-wide fame as a daring aviator.  Willard's record is well known.  He is one of the most skillful of the aviation experts in the world.

"The importance of this race," said Mr. Meade, "lies in this:  it will be the longest aerial race ever attempted up to this time and will be watched by the whole earth with keen interest and attention."

The financial part of the matter is in this condition:  If the committee can get the $1900 now in the funds of the Rose Carnival committee it will be easy to raise the few hundred dollars more that may be required and the members of the Aero Club and their enthusiastic co-workers of the Chamber of Commerce and other civic associations, will be ready to go out and get that additional money without delay.

The meeting next Monday night will settle the whole subject, and the Aero Club committee is satisfied that the people will realize what a great advertisement the race in the air will be to San Jose and will rally to the support of the plan, so that the date and other arrangements may be announced.

Transcription Notes:
The larger article is transcribed on page 167.