July 29, 1919. 1919 Motor Transport Convoy. Council Bluffs Iowa to Omaha Nebraska, 5 miles in 2 hours

Omaha in 1914.

On this day in 1919, the transcontinental Motor Transport Convoy drove across the Missouri at Council Bluffs and into Omaha, which is just across the river from Council Bluffs.

The crossing was a parade and only five miles were achieved that day, which no doubt was a planned slow advance.  The convoy camped at Ft. Omaha, which was just north of the city. Today it is principally the site of Metropolitan Community College.  During World War One the fort was the site of a balloon school for part of the war, and this entry notes the presence of balloons at Ft. Omaha, but the location was determined not to be suitable for that use during the war and the school itself was transferred to Camp John Wise, Texas.

The stand down on this day was apparently used for maintenance, which graphite lubricants removed.  I don't know what the thought was but those sort of lubricants, while they work, traditionally also caused concern as they cause wear.  What may have been occurring is that dust laden grease was simply being changed out.

The Dixon graphite lubricant was a popular lubricant for automobiles at the time, and was made by the Dixon Crucible Company, a company that had been in existence since the late 18th Century and which made pencils.  It still does, its most notable product being the legendary Ticonderoga pencil.  The graphite lubricant was likely a byproduct of what they were already doing in making pencils.

1912 Dixon's pencil advertisement. The company that manufactures these pencils, while now merged with another company, is one of the oldest companies in the United States.

This entry also gives the reader a nice example of RHIP, i.e. Rank Has Its Privilege.  Officers dined at the new Omaha Athletic Club.  Enlisted men. . . probably just a mess hall at Ft. Omaha.