The newspapers made much of Mr. Curtiss' flight, drawing comparisons between the Hudson river course and the flight made by Bleriot across the English channel, and the trip of Paulhan from London to Manchester, which he had just accomplished a flight of about the same distance, for which he received fifty thousand dollars from the London Daily Mail.
The New York Times offered a large prize for a flight from New York to Philadelphia and return, immediately afterward, which Charles K. Hamilton won, and also offered a prize of twenty-five thousand dollars for a flight between New York and Chicago, which was never won. Mr. W. E. Hearst was also moved to offer fifty thousand dollars for a flight between New York and a point on the Pacific Coast, the offer standing open for one year. This flight was accomplished by Calbraith P. Rodgers, but was not concluded within the time limit.
There was, naturally, an outburst of editorial comment from newspapers all over the United States, not only long and scholarly leaders, but brief, snappy paragraphs that make the press of this country an interesting record of public feeling and sentiment on all extraordinary achievements. For instance, the St. Louis Times spoke of the passing of the new aerial menace over West Point where cadets were studying the history of military science along ancient lines, and the Chicago Inter-Ocean chuckled over how this latest achievement "would jar old Hendrik Hudson."
Copyright, 1910, by The Pictorial News Co.
THE HUDSON FLIGHT
(A) Stop at Poughkeepsie. (B) Finish, at Governor's Island
THE EVOLUTION OF THE HYDRO
(A) The first hydro in the world–the "June Bug" on pontoons, Hammondsport, November 5, 1908. (B) Developing Hydro at San Diego Curtiss and Ellyson in hydro of winter, 1911; dual control–either of two military aviators may steer. (C) Curtiss Landing in hydro at Cedar Point, Ohio.