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assignment of flying for Harold F. McCormick, the wealthy Chicago industrialist, for the 1913 season. McCormick had purchased a Flying Boat and wanted the services of a competent pilot to fly it for social entertainment and daily commuting to Chicago from his home at Lake Forest, Illinois, about 28 miles north of Chicago. Witmer put the McCormick Boat through its initial tests at Hammondsport the latter part of June and began flying it at Lake Forest on July 22nd. He was very active for the balance of the season, averaging about ninety passenger flights a month in addition to his almost daily flights to Chicago and return. He also gave Mr. McCormick some flight instruction on these commuting flights. On September 22nd a new hull arrived for the boat and they had it flying on the 28th. At the end of October Mr. McCormick decided to close the flying season and offered to loan his boat to Witmer for a winter season of flying in Florida, which was accepted. During his stay in the Chicago vicinity Witmer had also opened a Curtiss Agency office for the northern mid-West area.

Necessary arrangements were made and Witmer opened his winter flying season to carry passengers at the Royal Palms Hotel, Miami, Florida in early January, 1914. The McCormicks were there for a time and Witmer had a very successful season. He remained in Florida until early in April when he shipped the Boat to Hammondsport to be checked over and refinished. When this work was completed it was shipped to Chicago for the 1914 season. The Chicago Parks Department had established a Hydro and Flying Boat Haven at Lincoln Park and McCormick based his activities there for the season. Flying started about June 1st and Witmer was again in charge. Up to this time he had been fortunate in having the competent and valued assistance of George Hallett as his mechanic, but in mid-June the Curtiss Company called Hallett to Hammondsport for another assignment and Ben Thomas was sent to Chicago to replace him. July 4th through 14th Witmer was in Kenosha, Wisconsin carrying passengers and demonstrating Curtiss Boats. In August he was in Racine and Milwaukee for two weeks, also on passenger carrying and demonstrating work. September 4th he flew across Lake Michigan to St. Joseph, Michigan for an exhibition date on September 5th-7th, then flew back to Chicago. Witmer remained with McCormick 

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