New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
Other Unusual Conditions
Also Shape Development
Work in War Time
The French Situation
Many Large AeropIane Fields
Must Be Selected and Laid
Out in This Country
BY GEORGE B. FORD

Member OF the American Industrial
Commission to France and consult
ant to the Committee on City Plan
of the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment of New York.
In Europe aviation has raised a
whole series of new problems in the
planning of cities, many of which de-
mand immediate solution. When we
were in France last fall we we're
taken out to one of the great aero
plane camps used in the defence Of
Paris. There, within the high inclos-
ing wall, a field stretched away I'M
broken by buildings or trees for sew
eral miles, while far down each side
ran continuous row of aeroplane
sheds. They told US that there were
more aeroplanes then in that one sta
ton than there were in all Of France
at the beginning of the war; more
than there are to-day in the United
States. And yet that was only one
of large number of aeroplane or
balloon fields throughout France.
These fields for training, man9uvres
and storage require acres Of continu-
Gus open space almost level in char
acter and we'll drained.
Around most cities such space is
difficult TO find. and it is only by
planning we'll ahead that adequate
reservations can be made.
The remarkable increase in the
common use of aeroplane and diri-
gible balloons in Europe to-day makes
it obvious that their use for CONNER
cial and pleasure purposes after the
war is going to be perhaps as rapid
in it's growth as was that Of the auto
mobile.
Still more important in city plan
ming is the problem of providing con-
venient landing places for aeroplanes.
When Ruth Law few across from Chi
cago to New York she had to change
her plans entirely on account of the
difficulty in finding a safe landing
place.
In New York City about the only
place that has been considered de-
sirable for landing is Governor
Island. With the thousands of aero
planes that will be flying in this
country within a few years the prob
lem of providing landing spaces will
become rapidly more urgent. In fact,
the Postoffice Department is now, in
conjunction with the Aero Club OF
America, planning to select appropri-
ate fields for landing in or near every
important centre.
In France most of the aeroplanes,
from a standing start, go only some
100 or $50 yards before leaving the
ground, and then shoot up into the
air at a surprisingly sharp angle
They land easily in thirty field
There is any number of places in New
York, and in most of our other cities
and towns, which would make ideal
landing places If they were levelled
off. and trees, bushes. wires and other
Of landing at night is, perhaps. the
most difficult and dangerous of all.
In France we found the landing places
specially lighted by searchlights or
by a peculiar formation of the sur
rounding lamps, so that, seen from
above, they are readily recognized.
Then, too. by day all sorts Of special
indications were used-whitewash or
colored diagrams drawn on the
ground, so that an aeroplane from a
mile or two in the air could recog-
nize the significance of the marks.
One Of the most important problems
for the city in time of peace is the
moving of crowds of people quickly
from one place to another. Its i'm
portance is increased tenfold in time
of war. In France we saw everywhere
parts of great network of national
military roads. They often go straight
up and down over hills and valleys
as did our old turnpikes, but always
with the grades cut down to the min
imum and with ample width and ex-
celent surface. The roadways are
never too narrow for two great motor
trucks to pass each other at high
speed far different from our mig
gardly custom.
Although these national roads go
through the towns and cities, even
in the larger cities they continue to
belong to the national government.
and are paid for and maintained by
il. They are the backbone Of eff
cheney in the handling Of people and
goods about the country. Without
them France would have had the
greatest difficulty in meeting the stu
alton with which she has been con-
fronted.