The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-03-24
Heavier Machines Needed.

This plan is WoHkable.' said Mr..
Wright, but the government should at
least be prepared to spend So a mile on
the experiment. However. to carry
such nails as Uncle Sam wishes the
government must construct heavier
machines than any that are in use In
this country.
Only one machine was ever built in
this country that would fulfill the re-
quirements-the America. built by Rod
man Wanamaker to cross the Atlantic.
This machine has carrying. capacity
ct $500 pounds, which is 1900 In e3-
cess of, that demanded by the govern
ment. The America cost $4,000 to
build. This makes the cost of suita-
blemachine alone three times as great
as the United States wishes to pay.
"The practical use of The aereplane
to speak. 1t costs too much to use
the4l In this way just now, though in
the, European war they are demon
Strating their value in every possible
manner. especially ia being the men
GE-wGr Of the air."
R.,W. Knight. vice president of the
Aviation lea que. conceded with Presi.
dent Wright's remarks. but added that
1t would be an easy matter to get
plenty of machines that could trans.
port SOC pounds OF mail easily.
Routes and Service.
The routes and character of service
now advertised and the cost of the
present service follow:
MASSACHUSETTS.
From New Bedford by Woods Hole and
Oak Bluffs to Nantucket. fiftyesix miles
and return, thirteen times a Week from
June Is to Sept. IA and six times a week
during the remaining nine months of the
year; weight limit, 5000 pounds per trip;
cost of present service, $4,000 a9year.
ALASKA.
From Valdez to Fairbanks, S5s miles,
three times a week all the year for trans
portation of 1.60O Cor $1,000 pounds of mail
each trip: running time, two days; cost Of
present service, $127,5S0 a. year.
From Fairbanks to Tanana. 162 miles,
three times a week all the year, for trans
portation of 1000 Cor 1000 pounds of. mail
each trip; running time, twenty-four
hours; cost of present service, $2315S.S4 a
year
From Tanana to Kaltag, 3S1 miles, twice
week all, the year, for transportation of
800 Tor 1900 pounds of mail each trip; ran
ming time, two'days; cost of present serv-
ice, $S7, 40 a year.
From Kaltag to Nome, 225 miles, twice a
week all the year, for transportation of
COO (or 1900 pounds OF NAH each trip;
running time, two days; cost of present
service, $15.950 a year.
From Seward to Idftarod, $50 miles,
twice week all the year, for tpansporta-
ton OF 1,0Oe Cor 26OO) pounds of mail each
trip! running time, two days: cost of pres
ent service, $3.50 a year.
From Iditarod to Nome $50 Mills, twice
week all the year, for transportation OF
800 Tor 1600)Spounds of mail each trip; run
ming time, twenty-four hours; cost of
present service, $24SG212 q year.
From Seward to Anchorage, no miles.
twice q week all the year, for transporta-
tion OF 500 Cor 1,O0N pounds>of mail each
trip; running time, ten hours; cost Of pres
ent service, $4,S20-a year.
If the exacting weather conditions
and weight requirements of the Massa-
ehusetts route can be met by aerial
carriers it presents an excellent oppor-
tunity for improvement of mail service
by this means
Need of improvement of the Alaskan
mail service is clear, and it is believed
the aeroplane offers a practical means
Of providing better facilities there.