Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-08
AIRSHIP TO TRANSPORT
MACHINERY IN MEXICO
Project Being Promoted Would Be
Instrumental in Penetrating
Inaccessible Regions

DOUGLAS, July 1.-THE project OF
utilizing Williams monoplane for the
purpose of transporting machinery ana
supplies to the inaccessible mining dis
tricts of Mexico in general, ana TO the
placer fields owned by DR.. j. j. T.
Armstrong at Chihuahua in particular,
has excited much comment and inter-
est in Douglas.
contract has already been drawn
UP between DR.. Armstrong and G. W.
Graham, financial backer of A. NJ. VIII
iams, by which Mr.. Graham agrees to
rent the aeroplane, in case that II
proves to be a success, Tor the traIS-
porting of GUNNER rock crushing ma
chine from Douglas to Chihuahua. The
parties concerned in this venture are
not going about the matter in spirit
of leVity, nor for the purpose of gain
ing notoriety: with them it is merely
a matter of business, it is SAID, ana
thew are optimistic and earnest in their
endeavors to open a brand new fleld OIL
industry which, if brought to a sue
cessful elimination, will mark the be-
ginning of new era In the coIllnercldI
history of mankind.
DR.. j. J. P. Armstrong, with whom
the idea originated, says although II
is only recently that he made 1t pubic
the idea has been in his mind for some
time. About eight years ago, accord
ing to his statement, while in the city
of Durango, Mexico, one day he en-
tered into a conversation WIN MI
Cushing, a prominent mine owner OF
Guadalajara Mr.. Gushing, who was
a man of considerable mining eXpe-
rience in that section, CHANGED to tell
him of some immensely rich gold mug
gets which the Indians of a nelghbor-
ing village were in the habit of bring
ing to town from the mountains west
of Durango.
While numerous efforts were made
to discover the location of this gold,
the Indians, in spite of many induce
ments, held out and steadfastly re-
fused to reveal the source of thelr
wealth. Notwithstanding the fact that
MANY persons had a general idea as
to where the gold was obtained, none
was able to scale the precipitous noun
tains which had to be passed before the
desired ground could be reached.
TO OVERCOME NATURE
It was upon learning this story, said
DR.. Armstrong, that he first conceived
the idea of reaching such inaccessible
mining regions and installing the neces-
sarv apparatus by means of an air
ship. At that time, of course, no prac-
tical aeroplane had been invented. but
DIR. Armstrong bided his time and the
occasion is now at hand when he be-
lieyes he can put his plan to a test.
DR.. Armstrong recently came into
possession of extensive placer flelds
in the state of Chihuahua, which, al
though rich in cement gold, for the
mining of which the GUNNER ma
chimes are especially adapted, have
never been opened up because OF the
extreme difficulties, not to say GAN
gers attending travel between them
and the nearest railroad. In the flrst
place, to reach Chihuahua a long
Journey by way of Ell Paso is neces-
sary, and after leaving the rallroao III
Mexico a three days journey by
horseback and on foot must first be
undergone before the placer fields are
reached.
Nv an aeroplane leaving Douglas and
eading directly southeast all TINS
roundabout travelling could be eHni-
mated, and as it is figured tndt VIII
liams monoplane will be capapie Oh
carving $50 pounds of extra weight at
n load but few trips would be neces-
sarv to supply a camp with suttlclent
machinery to enable it to commence
operations. A map of the district bear
ing the location of the mine could be
given the aviator and as means OIL
making his safe arrival doubly sure
suitable landing place on the noun
tain, it is said, could be marked py
large sheet of canvas.
Should this attempt to carry
freight to the Chihuahua placer fields
be attended with satisfactory results
there would be practically no limit
to the scope of freight carrier aero
plane plying between Arizona ana
Mexico. according to DR.. Armstrong
and other mining men. At any rate,
the fact remains assured that with
the first piece of machinery sent from
DoupIas to Mexico via the airship
route, Arizona will gain the attention
and applause of the entire aeronautic