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Sta[[n.]] Wa[[shington]] [[cut off]]e
1907.

thrilling sport of ballooning [[cut off]] cided on Saturday by members of the Aero Club who journeyed from New York to this city to witness the ascent of Messrs. Chandler and Hawley.
Plans have already been made for a number of ascensions at Point Breeze during the spring and summer months, and a number of balloon enthusiasts who will compete in the races to be held at St. Louis in October for the Gordon-Bennett cup will make trial trips in this city.
Among those who will make an ascent from Point Breeze will be Lieut Frank Lahm, 6th Cavalry, U. S. A., who won the balloon race at Paris a year ago, covering 402 miles. There are also entries from Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, an[[d]] Spain for the St. Louis races. Those entered include several members of royal families. It was decided to make the trial trips in this city because of the many favorable conditions prevailing here for balloon ascensions. Members of the Aero Club of America say that this city is an ideal spot for ascensions because of the excellent quality of gas which is supplied and the fact that Philadelphia is pretty well inland. The largest balloon in America is now being built in this city for the Philadelphia Aero Club, of which A. N. Chandler, the well-known broker is president. The balloon, which will hold 92,000 cubic feet of gas, will be christened the "Ben" Franklin and is expected to be finished in three weeks. Members of the local aeronaut club hope to make a trial trip in the "Ben" Franklin the latter part of April.
The basket of the new balloon will be capable of holding nine persons and will be the finest in existence. Several balloons of a small type are under way and will be finished the early part of the summer. The Aero Club of this city has thirty-five members, composed of some of the most prominent men in town. The thrilling fascination of balloon ascensions has caught the members of several of the leading clubs of this city, and it is said that several members of the Art Club will try the experience of a trip to the clouds in the near future.
Members of the Philadelphia Aero Club say that Philadelphia should be the center of ballooning in view of the fact that the first ascension that ever took place in this country was made in Philadelphia in 1793, by a Mr. Blanchard. This ascension was witnessed by George Washington, who gave Mr. Blanchard a commission which read that all citizens should give him every assistance when he descended. The next balloon ascension at Point Breeze will be made by a party of New Yorkers the early part of next month.


Inquirer Philadelphia
23 Mar 1907.

ANOTHER BALLOON ASCENSION TODAY
Incidently This City May Become Aeronautic Centre of Country
Members of National Aero Club Will Make Inspection of Facilities at Point Breeze

According to members of the Aero Club of America who arrived in the city last night to witness the balloon ascension planned for this morning from Point Breeze, there is a strong possibility that Philadelphia may in the future supplant Pittsfield, Mass., as the favorite place for balloon ascensions. A favorable result from today's ascension will in any case probably lead to holding eight or ten more here during the coming summer.
The ascension this morning will be made in the balloon of A. N. Chandler, of this city, a well-known devotee of the sport. Those who will make the ascension are Allen R. Hawley, of New York, a prominent amateur balloonist, and Leon Stevens, a professional.
The ascension will be witnessed from the starting place, the ground of the Point Breeze plant of the United Gas Improvement Company, by several members of the Aero Club of America, including President Post and Messrs. Bishops and Edwards, directors. In addition to witnessing this particular ascension the visitors will examine the facilities afforded for balloon ascensions at Point Breeze.

Hope to Reach New York
Mr. Hawley, in discussing the ascension to be made today, said last night:
"The wind is now southwest, and if it does not change, will carry us in the direction of New York city. I hope to reach there if the wind holds strong. In any case I will go as far as I can in any direction except toward the ocean.
"I regard Philadelphia as a very favorable place from which to make an ascension. Among its other advantages it is easy for aeronauts to get a good and plentiful supply of gas here. If the officials of the Aero Club are satisfied with the results of their inspection here, it is possible that this city may become the usual place of ascension instead of Pittsfield."
Mr. Hawley was one of the first amateurs to make a balloon ascension in this country. The immediate purpose of his ascension at this time is to qualify himself to enter in the international balloon races which are to be held in St. Louis this summer, and for which a number of foreign aeronauts are entered. The ascension will be made at 11 o'clock this morning. Inflation of the balloon will begin at 8.

Transcription Notes:
Variant of last two pages. I have declined to repeat articles that were entirely visible (not cut off) in them.