CAPE GIRARDEAU AIRPORT HAS GROWN OVER TIME

Even before Louis Lorimier's "Land of Promise" had a newspaper, people living east of the Mississippi River were aware that the Spanish land of Louisiana west of the river had much to offer. The problem was reaching the Louisiana territory after it became part of the United States in 1844.

Despite the hardships of travel, courageous pioneers packed up their belongings and started for the new Territory of Missouri, named for the early Indian tribe that once lived there. Land was cheap, usually free for the cost of surveying.

As eastern residents moved westward, they, like early mankind, must have wished there was an easier way to travel and that like the birds, they could spread wings and fly.

It wasn't until the early years of this century that flight was made possible, only after many disappointing experiments. By the time World War I began in 1914, airplanes were flying through the atmosphere, but not easily. By the time the war ended in 1918, planes had improved. Engineers continued their experiments until the plane was acknowledged as the coming mode for fast, convenient travel.

Throughout Lorimier's Land of Promise (now Missouri), airfields were constructed. The large expanse of land west of the Mississippi was divided into states with towns, cities, villages and millions of people. There were airfields everywhere because people did not remain still; they traveled and used airplanes.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce began to promote a commercial airport in the early 1930s. The promotion was boosted when Clyde Primo moved the Consolidated School of Aviation from East St. Louis to Cape Girardeau and used a field where R.B. Potashnick's firm later located, according to Snider and Collins in "Portrait of a River City."

At the outbreak of World War II Ralph Primo joined the school and started a College Pilot Training program for the government. Interest in the operation was purchased by local citizens. After several land transactions the firm became the property of William J. Kies Sr., John J. Tlapek and Barret Cotner. The school leased Harris Field, which had been constructed by the government during the war to train military flyers.

In 1946, with the war having ended, the government began to sell surplus war material. A Cape Girardeau airport board had been organized by the city to secure and assume responsibility for the field, valued at between $250,000 and $400,000. The field included 59 acres; another 640 acres were leased.

On the field were hangars, a large and small runway and numerous buildings.

To secure the field and obtain government funding, the board purchased an additional 260 acres and made a longer runway and numerous other improvements.

Residents of Cape Girardeau approved a $115,000 bond issue, the state provided $10,000, and another $10,000 was produced from rental of farm land on the property. Soon Cape Girardeau had an airport.

It was then, 1950, that John Seesing and John Godwin, as operators, bought the Consolidated School of Aviation, expanded airplane service, and named the operation, Cape Central Airways. Today Mark Statz owns Cape Central Airways.

Mark Seesing is airport general manager. The airport is owned by the city of Cape Girardeau, and Doug Leslie, director of public works for Cape Girardeau, furnishes the men who maintain the airport grounds.

Cape Central Airways, with a fixed base of operation, provides charter flights to anywhere in the United States and connects with international flights in St. Louis. The airport offers Hertz Rent-A-Car and National Rent-A-Car, and Trans World Express, which provides three or more flights daily to St. Louis and connects with other flights. It also contains Tomlinson Avionics of Missouri, which sells radio equipment for planes, and Mid States Aeromatic Inc., a company that repairs aircraft. Cape Central sells fuel and provides training for flyers.

Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport is a modern, well-equipped airport that is continually being improved and expanded. The money to operate it comes from the city of Cape Girardeau, the state of Missouri, and the Federal Aviation Administration. At present the terminal building is being expanded.

A runway was enlarged to 6,000 feet to accommodate large aircraft. There is also a second, smaller runway. The airport covers 589 acres and there are leased farm tracts.

The ease with which travelers are able to reach Cape Girardeau has awakened the public to Southeast Missouri, where the red carpet is always rolled out with a "Wake Up To Missouri" welcome.

VISIT CAPE GIRARDEAU.