According to the New York _Sun_, over $500,000 has been subscribed for aviation prizes in 1911. The most valuable prizes are for new records in cross-country flights. The Paris _Journal_ has offered $70,000 for the best speed in a circling race from Paris to Berlin, Brussels, London, and back to Paris--1500 miles. Supplementary prizes from other sources have increased the total stake in this race to $100,000. A purse of $50,000 is offered by the London _Daily Mail_ for the "Circuit of Britain" race, from London up the east coast to Edinburgh, across to Glasgow, and home by way of the west coast, Exeter, and the Isle of Wight; a thousand miles, to be completed in two weeks, beginning July 22, with descents only at predetermined points. This contest will be open (at an entrance fee of $500) to any licensee of the International Federation. A German circuit, from Berlin to Bremen, Magdeburg, Düsseldorf, Aix-la-Chapelle, Dresden, and back to the starting point, is proposed by the _Zeitung am Mittag_ of Berlin, a prize of $25,000 having been offered. In this country, a comparatively small prize has been established for a run from San Francisco to New York, _via_ Chicago. Besides a meet at Bridgeport, May 18-20, together with those to be held by several of the colleges and the ones at Bennings and Chicago, there will be, it is still hoped, a national tournament at Belmont Park at the end of the same month. Here probably a dozen aviators will contest in qualification for the international meet in England, to which three American representatives should be sent as competitors for the championship trophy now held by Mr. Grahame-White. It is anticipated that the chances in the international races favor the French aviators, some of whom--in particular, Leblanc--have been making sensational records at Pau. Flights between aviation fields in different cities are the leading feature in the American program for the year. A trip is proposed from Washington to Belmont Park, _via_ Atlantic City, the New Jersey coast, and lower New York bay. The distance is 250 miles and the time will probably be less than that of the best passenger trains between Washington and New York. If held, this race will probably take place late in May. It is wisely concluded that the advancement of aviation depends upon cross-country runs under good control and at reasonable speeds and heights rather than upon exhibition flights in enclosures. It is to be hoped that commercial interests will not be sufficiently powerful to hinder this development. We shall of course have the usual international championship balloon race, preceded by elimination contests. From present indications Omaha is likely to be chosen as the point of departure.