The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-06
PLANNING AIRSHIP LINES
tOtN T ZEPPELIN LOOKS TO
GERMAN CITIES FOR AID.

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Money for Aerial Trayei-Fares viii
lie somewhat High al First - Rivalry
between German Airship builders.
RERsN. May 2e.-ln consequence Of
the o~~clsion OF the German War Ofice
not tc order any more Zeppelin airships
at present the Zeppelin Airship Con-
struction Company mas been obliged TO
turn TO municipalities ana the public for
support in the establishment OF passenger
airship lines.
Herr Colsmann, director OF the com
rany, said in a lecture delivered recently
at Strassburg that the Governments
attitude was due to the fact that the
technical adviser Of the military authori-
ties was himself an inventor and con
strIctor of airships and a believer in the
semi rigid system.
From this remark II seems that some
soreness still exists between the Zeppelin
and the Gross school Of aerial navigation.
Major Gross is the head OF the military
aeronautical department, and a few
months ago the rivalry between him and
Coun, Zeppelin reached such a point
that there was talk Of duel between them.
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entity it has failed to remove the deep
seated difference Of opinion.
Major Gross, as we'll as many other
officers, holds that the Zeppelin airship,
with it's rigidity and it's enormous size. is
less adapted to military purposes than
the semi-rigid Gross or the Parseval
airship. which can be easily dismantled,
packed and transported. while the Yep
pelin requires the shelter Of harbors
built for the special purpose.
Herr Colsmann said also that as the
War ONCE declined to order any Yep
relin vessels beyond the two already con-
tracted for the company was compelled
to appeal to municipalities and private
capital in order to guarantee the OIL
tinued activity of it's extensive installa-
ton. Count Zeppelin had already been
in communication with various town
councils and had received promises OF
support from some OF the most important
cities,
The town council of Cologne, for in
stance. is willing to invest 3l?5 900 in the
now company for the Inauguration OF a
line of airships which will establish aerial
communication between Cologne and
other cities. The municipality Of Dds
soldorf is also willing to subscribe a
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company. In some cases regular lines
of airships will be established, while
in other cases pleasure cruises will take
place at regular intervals.
Herr Colsmann said that 800 days a
year are suitable. for aerial voyages;
for this purpose will carry a crew OF six
and will be capable OF carrying twenty
passengers. Two vessels will be COM
pleted by the early spring Of next year
and two more will be ready by May.
The fret regular line OF airships will be
cerne, with Cologne, Bonn. Mayence.
Frankfort-on-Main. Carlsruhe. Stuttgart
and one or two other towns as calling
stations. Other lines will be established
to connect with stations on the direct
route between Dusseldorf and Lucerne.
War Once had promised a ~subvention
in support OF the line connecting Dussel-
dorf with Lucerne in view OF the military
advantages OF aerial communication in
this part Of Germany. He concluded by
stating that fares for aerial passengers
owing to the heavy cost Of the upkeep
of the airships. -,
The success Of the enterprise would
depend entirely on the number OF persons
who would be willing and able to pay Tor
the novel experience Of a cruise in an air
ship. Calculating or the hasis OF trips
lasting four hours at a height Of 200 feet
or more il was estimated that three ships
could make 600 trips a year at a cost OF
s425 900. go.
The Zeppelin Navigation Company will
meet shortly at Frankfort to decide on
The financing Of the passenger line. The
Zeppelin Airship Construction Company
will take SIPS 900 worth Of shares. 1t
will not insist IN the exclusive use OF it's
vessels but demands that no rigid ships
shall be purchased except from IT,.
Count Zeppelin is OF the opinion that
airship transport as a commercial enter
prise should be able 20 pay 10 per cent.
IN a magazine article he says:
Il assume. for instance. the establish
lnE Of airship communication between
needed for one airship. a main station
al Berlin and a landing station at Copen-
hagen would he s250,0o0.
THE revenue. allowing for 100 fights
~ Copenhagen and 100 back to Berlin
zach year thine Of trip half that o! present
travellers, each paying $3.50. would
amount 20 s82 500 a year. For insurance.
depreciation and cost If running the out
10y would We ss7. 500. This would leave a
profit Of s?S .ooo, or 10 per cent on the
capital"
formed, the Zeppelin Navigation Com.
psny is not going TO err ON the side OF
rhedp fares. Tor IT is stated that tourists
will be charged 500 for the trip from
Incerne to Cologne, while an afternoon
rr,p round the summit OF the Rigi Noun
'ain will cost s25. It is added that the
rourlst will undertake such trips at his
own risl;.
1T is not true says Count Zeppelin,
as certain newspapers have a ARMED.
hat / propose to build an airship which
will carry a hundred passengers. although
such 4 monster il by no means beyond
The resources OF modern technical science:
blt 1t is quite certain that in a future
l!.eady visible there will be airships
running forty miles an hour which will
cover 1000 miles in two days. or II travel