Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-20
AIRSHIPPING

Walton pfeQlCllOnS MAY ne uldhS
n with confidence because it is
"A never dangerous to prophesy
when you know" Demonstration is
more convincing than argument; or, in
a time honored phrase, "seeing's be-
lieving."
Hundreds Of thousands of people are
now convinced firmly the time Of prac-
tical air navigation is at hand. Prob
ably one Of the first applications Of the
new method of transportation will be
to the carriage of the mails and Of ex-
press packages. There seems to be a
demand for a direct, speedy and safe
method of transporting mails from one
point to another with the utmost degree
of certainty and the minimum possi-
bility of delay; and aerial transporta-
tion will reduce to an almost imper-
ceptible quantity the risk of delay
while it will carry passengers with an
equal degree of safety, certainty and
speed and will eliminate all possibili-
ties Of hindrance by washouts. etc.
While 1t is proven airships in their
flights are able to accomplish a great
deal, yet the time when they will be
able to carry any considerable number
of passengers seems as yet to be in the
future. There must be a limit to the
size at which practicable dirigibles can
be built, and it has yet to be shown
they can be constructed on a large
scale with satisfactory. results. Still, 1t
is to dirigibles the world is looking for
economic returns which will. contribute
to the emancipation and advancement
of humanity Many of the best en-
gineers, while reticent or non-committal
on this subject, will acknowledge their
belief the coming vehicles of transpor-
tation will be large, rigid dirigibles
The nearest approach to this practical
type was the Zeppelin ship, which has
made the most successful flight both as
to distance covered and time in the
air, and has shown it has the greatest
carrying capacity But the Zeppelin is
extremely cumbersome and so expen-
sive of operation that for the present
it NAV be counted out of the flying. 1t
does not conform to the economic stand
ards which are the prerequisites OF
success. Aerial transportation will be-
come practicable as the result Of a
combination of the highest efficiency
with the greatest economy.
Los Angeles scientists have investi-
gated with great interest and enthu-
siasm the plans of a local inventor who
has spent fifteen years Of his life in
this city in scientific research and has
added greatly to the worth and et-
ficiency of inventions which make hu-
man life more complete and help men
TO get more out of life and to live
longer in the allotted span than their
forefathers.
This inventor has plans for a rigid
dirigible which have been examined
by the best engineers in the United
States, who have rendered favorable
verdict.
This improved dirigible combines the
idea of lifting power (by means of
heated air or gas) with the aeroplane
idea. and it's originator has applied to
his invention a wonderful wealth of
knowledge of electricity.
There can be no doubt the scientific
solution of the problem of aerial trans
portation will come quickly. All signs
show the time of the commercial con-
quest of the air is at hand. There is
no reason why Southern California, with
ideal climatic conditions for expert
,nentation and demonstration, should
not have the glory of bringing aerial
navigation to a practicable and econ
omically sound stage Of advancement.
No matter who solves the problem, it
is believed it's solution is near, and as
there are in Los Angeles public spirited
citizens willing to contribute literally
to the furtherance of aught that may
add to the glory and honor of our great
and prosperous metropolis, in all proba-
bility it will be solved here, and to
citizen of this maritime, commercial