The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-07
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7. 1911.
The Mission
Of the Flying Machine.

WlIN more Lldll Unity VI ieS 49,
lowers killed during the past twelve
months, one is led 70 ponder over the
question as to whether the goal is
worth the price to reach it. Many
have taken the position that the flying
machine was only fad of the daring,
that its only mission was that of kill
ing people.
Carefully studying the question re-
veaIs the fact that the flying machine
has a mission to perform, the posi-
bilfties of which cannot be fully esti-
mated at this time. The price to per-
feet the air craft comes high, still the
results will justify it.
Probable results which may be &C
complished by the use Of the airship
may be classified into four different
branches. Glenn H. Curtiss. possibly
fhe foremost American aviator, says
that the idea is preposterous that fly
ing machines will take the place OF
railroads and steamboats, in the
slightest degree.
4 The flying machine industry is yet
lin its infancy and new inventions are
Idaily being made which make the ma
sehine safer and nearer perfect. At
present it is being demonstrated that
the machine can successfully navigate
IN the air when the wind is blowing at
"a terrific rate, and when the machines
! are nearer perfected in this line and
are built strong enough to battle with
( the winds, life-saving stations will be
revolutionized, by their use, and in
this one way many hundreds Of lives
.sniay be saved along the coasts.
: Another practicable pursuit for the
flying machines is the carrying OF
mails for the government. In this
one line much may be accomplished
.Qften times the carrying of mail has
greatly handicapped many countries
both in time of war and OF peace. Al
present the speed of the airship is
equal to that of the fastest train and
with the coming years Its speed will
POSSIBLY become much greater, thus
senabiing the rapid transportation OF
Smails hewteen the seat OF government
and important points.
AS a special conveyance for import
ant parties or government expeditions
1 in which time is an essence, the air
ship will play an important part. TIC
;-rfC, rrrhn nfh m
transportation can be used will very
likely figure in the exploration of the
arctic regions which would otherwise
Sremain unknown.
: Last and surely the most importan
Emission Of the flying machine is as {
tpromoter of universal peace. Ths
damage which one airship may do Il
a city can be comprehended when on:
stops to think for a moment. Tn,
dropping of bombs from the air from
a feet Of airships could wipe a cit.
the city Of New York or Chicago of
.the face of the earth in few hours
or could destroy the navies of tn.
world. With flying machines used a
a means Of carrying on wars. the bi
battleships will become useless ez
cept as transports, for they canno
fight an enemy a mile in the heavens.
When the flying machine is neare
perfected, which will no doubt be don
in few years, universal peace mus
come. Civilized countries will have /
resort to 1t. for a war where airship
were used would mean such slaugf
ter Of human beings that it must b
prevented by all means.
Flying machines have come to stay
They have cost many of the braves
promoters their lives and will II
doubt continue to do so, but the fiyin
machine has a mission to perform, an
those who are giving up their lives t
bring about the perfection of the M
chine will go down in history a