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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

BIRD M. LATHAM
Early Benoist Flying Boat Sportsman Pilot

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Bird M. Latham was born at Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania July 5, 1885. He was educated in the Philadelphia public schools, then entered Drexel Institute. While at Drexel he was selected by executives of the General Electric Company to take their Electrical Engineering Course and was sent to Lynn, Massachusetts, where he completed this advanced schooling in 1905. He was then employed by the company's Philadelphia Engineering Department.

In 1907 Latham moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to take over the faltering management of the City Electric Light and Power Company and the St. Petersburg and Gulf Electric Railway, both companies being badly run down and under-financed. He found they were burning pine waste wood to fire the boilers and the service was frequently interrupted by failure of old and obsolete station equipment. Latham succeeded in making many improvements, extended the trolley system service and in 1913 constructed a new City Power Plant.

During this period Latham became interested in aviation when several early flyers made exhibition flights in the vicinity. In December, 1913 the Benoist Aeroplane Company of St. Louis, Missouri arranged to conduct an early experimental winter over-water airline from St. Petersburg to Tampa, using Benoist Flying Boats. They proposed to cater to the winter tourist trade and also carry light express package shipments.

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