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104 AERIAL AGE WEEKLY, October 18, 1915 The Movement in Maine for an Aerial Station The Chamber of Commerce of Portland, Me., has enthusiastically taken up the proposition to have established near that city an aerial station, the first in a series of along the seacoast for defensive purposes. President George L. Crosman, of the Chamber of Commerce, has appointed a comittee, representing the whole state, which will have the matter in charge. This committee is composed of: Hon. William M. Ingraham, Portland; Col Fred. N. Dow, Portland; Hon. E. B. Winslow, Charles F. Flagg, col. Frederick Hale, Richard Payson, Frank L. Rawson, Lieut. Reuden K. Dyer, Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, Eagle Island, South Harpswell; Hon. Edward W. Hyde, Bath; Hon. Arthur Chapin, Bangor; Col. F. E. Boothby, Waterville; William D. Pennell, Lewiston; Hon. Charles H. Prescott, Saco; Prof. George T. Files, Brunswick; George L. Crosman, president of Chamber of Commerce, W. B. Moore, executive secretary, chamber of commerce, members ex-officio. In announcing the appointment of the committee, W. B. Moore, executive secretary, sent this letter to each member: "Gentlemen:- "In line with recommendations and efforts of Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary to have an aeronautical station established on or rear Portland Harbor, which matter has been referred to this Chamber of Commerce for attention, I have been directed by President Crosman to notify the above gentlemen of their appointment as the committee on this subject. "This is both a very pertinent and important matter, not only to the citizens of Portland, but to the State of Maine as well; it being conceded that this harbor and Casco Bay offer exceptional opportunity for the establishment of such aeronautical station, and we have been fortunate in having the splendid service of Rear Admiral Peary to direct and aid us in this matter. "We trust that all of the gentlemen named will accept this duty to serve the City, State, and Nation and respond to a call for a meeting on his subject at an early date." Rear Admiral Peary, who has offered for the establishment of the station the use of Flag Island in Casco Bay, has been notified of the selection of the committee and has been asked to name a date for a meeting of the committee, with Henry A. Wise Wood and John Hays Hammond, Jr., who Admiral Peary has state would be willing to go to Portland and give the committee all possible aid in the establishment of the first station. The Chamber of Commerce feels that there is a very excellent chance of getting the Federal government to establish a station there, and that on account of the strategic importance of the waters a submarine station should following also as a matter of course. In the wake of these stations there will eventually come shops, supply stations and repair depots which are commercially valuable to the city, and to the state. But the men of Maine are not, however, prompted by commercial motives alone. They foresee the necessity of aerial stations along the coast and are anxious to do all in their power to have the first of the series established on their state, not only for their own benefits, but for the good of the nation. Detroit May Give an Aeroplane Mr. Roy D. Chapin, the automobile builder of Detroit, who is treasurer of the Aero club of Michigan and who is also a member of the Aero Club of America, came to New York for the Sheepshead Bay races, and visited the club. He dropped automobiling for a while to talk aeronautics. In fact he said he came to the Aero Club of America to be relived of the intensive pressure of the automobile business and to find solace in the inspirational subject of aeronautics. Mr. Chapin states that the Aero club of Michigan will be pleased to participate in the movement inaugurated by the Aero Club of America to develop an aviation corps for the militia - and the club officials very promptly developed a plan with him, which in the near future may result in Detroit giving an aeroplane to the militia of Michigan. Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney Makes a Flight Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney is one of the few women who can tell her friends about the delights of an aerial trip. Her husband's big Burgess-Dunne model hydro-aeroplane was recently taken from Marblehead, Me., to Port Washington, L. I,, and there Mr. Whitney is taking lessons in aerial navigation under the guidance of Clifford L. Webster. The other day Mrs. Whitney stpped into the big machine. It was towed out into the water and presently arose into the sky and circled out about like a hawk. At the end of the flight Mrs. Whitney declared that the trip was delightful, and her pilot stated that she apparently enjoyed it. The hydroaeroplane is at present housed in a big tent, but it will soon be sheltered in a hangar which is being erected on a five-acre plot that Mr. Whitney has leased on Cow Bay, near the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. A marine railway traverses the plot to the water's edge. Lieut. Towers Weds Miss Carstairs Lieutenant John H. Towers, U. S. N., Naval Attache at the American Embassy, in London, and Miss Millie Carstairs, daughter of Charles Carstairs of Philadelphia, were married in London on October 5. The ceremony took place in the Savoy Chapel Royal. Mr. F. S. Lahm Here from France Mr. F. S. Lahm, the pioneer balloon fan, arrived in this country last week from France, where he has been residing of late years. He reports tremendous activity in the development of military aeronautics. Soe of the information given by Mr. Lahm will be printed in future numbers, if Mr. Lahm permits the same. Vincent Astor's First Flight Vincent Astor, unknown to his friends, slipped away from his estate at Rhinecliff on the Hudson, on October 7, and took his first flight in his new hydroaeroplane. He enjoyed practice spins of several hours up and down the Hudson. The machine worked perfectly and Mr. Astor expressed himself as well pleased with his initial efforts. Joe Bocqual and his Christofferson biplane, in which he looped-the-loop at Redding, California. [[1 image]]
