Ellsworth American., 1912-02-07

other countries to the seroplsne as q wsr
vehicle. Furthermore, it has been DEM
onstrated by the. Italians in Tripoli that
the aeroplane is OF paramount Importance
as scout in war, as well as an offensive
weapon. These things are bound to have
their effect on the progress OF aviation. A
large demand for their product, whether it
commerce., will stimulate the builders to
exert every bit OF their ingenuity to meet
that demand.
/ believe that the day Of purely dare
devil and spectacular feats by aviators,
simply for the reputation OF doing such
things, is rapidly passing, thanks to the
press Of the country, which has unani-
mously decried them. Cross-country fiy-
ing will increase during 1912, and this will
serve to strengthen the confidence OF the
public in general in tho safety and useful
ness Of the aeroplane. Whenever 1t is
shown that machine may carry pas
senger from New York 20 Buffalo, or from
New York to Washington, in better than
express train time, the public will realize
the steady progress that is being made
from day to day "a progress that will
make this feat possible within q very
short time.
It is unfortunate, though not surprising,
that up to the present time the reading
public has been kept posted only on the
accidents that happen from time to time.
Deplorable as these accidents may be-and
have always maintained that many Of
them might have been averted by the
exercise Of proper caution = they do not
indicate that there is lack OF progress in
aviation. They merely show that there
are more and more persons seeking to fly,
from month to month. / believe 1t Is
quite safe to say that II . comparison
might be made between the seroplane
accidents and the automobile accidents,
1t would be shown that the former are less
serious than the latter, taking into due
consideration the relative number OF these
machines In use.
THE HYDRO -AERoPLANE.
Iregard the hydro-aeroplsne as a long
and important step in the popularization
Of aviation. This opinion will be borne
out, think, by the fact that every estab-
lished aeroplane builder at home and
abroad, as well % innumersble amateurs,
are carrying on experiments with an air
and water craft-such flying machine as
was fortunate enough to build in Janu-
ary, year ago. Interest in this type OF
machine has spread throughout the world,
and believe that 1912 will bring impor-
tant Developments along these lines.
The hydro-seroplsne will assurediy be-
come popular vehicle OF sport. Some OF
the greatest achievements in aviation have
been accomplished with the use of the
Curtiss, hydro during the past
year. Two OF these may mention. The
flight OF Lieuts. ElIyson and Towers, OF the
United States navy, from Annapolis, Md,
to Buckroe Beach, Va, distance OF 143
miles over Chesapeake bay. This flight
was made in the navy's passenger-carry
ing, dual-coutrol Curtiss hydro aeroplane.
The other is the flight of Hugh Robinson
from Minneapolis, Minn., to Rock Island,
ILL.,, following the course of the Missis-
sippi river along the entire route.
At the beginning OF what may be
termed the fifth year OF public areoplane
flights, the aviation industry is in a
healthier condition than ever before. The
types of flying machines in general use
have narrowed down to one-fitth the
number that were discussed and used a
year ago. Experience has demonstrated
the fact that aviation ia beyOud the ex-
perimentsl stage, and the development OF
the industry deals to-day with the i'm
provement OF details in the construction
of standard makes of seroplanes. The
governments OF France and Great Britain,
by arranging practical competition, have
indicated clearly their intention Of con-
sidering no aeroplanes which have not