Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-07
Circulation Every f0On1
Evening Yesterday L 0OOS
SATURDAY. DECEMBER Z, 1918.
And the World Moves.


The most interesting part of Postmaster
General Burlesons annual report, made
pubic this week, is that which gives
detailed attention to our aerial mail serv-
ice. For this service is now an accomplish
ed fact. Aerial mail routes have been
established, as accurately and definitely
as any heretofore arranged over railroad
or post road hines, and the mails arc car
ned daily over-or rather through-them,
with quick dispatch and thorough success.
Every day air machines fly over VIII
mington, back and forth. CARRYING mail
between Washington and New York
This important serv-cc, only recently
an experiment is now beng established
as a system. The program IS most ex-
tensive and comprehensive. 1t directs,
first. the establishment Of an aerial mail
service connecting the principal CONNER
ciaI centres OF the country by system
OF trunk lines and feeders, and, secondly,
connecting this country With the West
Indies and Central and South America
The trunk lines and feeders decided upon
under this program are:
+, |. New York TO San Francisco, with
feeders from IA Chicago TO st. LOUIS
and Kansas City; o. Chicago TO St. Paul
and Minneapolis; tc) Cleveland to Pitts
burg.
.. Boston to Key West, with feeders
from ts) PhiladelpbiA TO fttsburg;
o. Washington TO Cincinnati; (c) Atlanta
70 New Orleans.
3. Key West, VIA Havana, to Panama.
T. Key West, VIA the West Indies,
80 South America.
'On this program ] have TO report
progress as follows;
l. Boston to Key West--Of this route
the Washington-New York division has
been operated since May Is and is funo-
tioning perfectly.
The Boston-Neu York division has
been tentatively laId out and will be es-
tabhsbed whenever, in the opinion Of the
War Depart ment, its operation viii not
conflict with the war needs Of the country.
The Washington-Atlanta and Atlanta
Key West routes are now being worked
out With q view to then immediate es-
tabIshment at the close of the war.
. New York TO San Franclsco-Of the
route the division from New 1ork to
Chicago has been carefully worked out.
The War Department has released to the
Post Office Department for the use OF this
division, aeroplanes of $50 pounds mail
carrying capacity which are no longer
suitable for war needs. The hangars
have been ordered, landing fields obtained
and the route has been ordered established
before the close Of the present year.
In a series Of aeroplane flights by the
Postofhce Department early IL September,
the route was carefully chartered for eIner-
gency and regular landing fields. In tins
work one ae.oplane made q record flight
from Chicago 10 New lork in less than
fourteen hours, including all stops en-
route. The fights were made through
storm and heavy rains over parts Of the
route. The reconnaissance developed
that it Will be feasible TO MAINTAIN daily
nlne-hour schedule between New York
and Chicago, az compared withthe twenty
one-ho,r schedule of the Twentieth Cen
t,Iry Limited.
The time between Chicago and Cleyc-
land Will be cut 10 three hours orty-fyc
minutes, and between New York and
Cleveland 70 FIVE hours fifteen MINUTES
Mail from the Atlantic seaboard Will be
advanced from twelve to twenty4our
hours 10 the West and Southwest by this |
Dew service The feeder routes from
Chicago 10 ST. Louis, Kansas City, st
Paul, Minneapolis, and the remainder Of
the trunk line from Chicago to San Fran
CISCO will be worked out during the en-
suing year with view 10 Their immediate |
at the close Of the war. !
3. Key West to Panama and 4, Key
West 70 the Vest Indies and South Amer |
ica. ca.-Negotiations looking TO the con-
clusIon OF SPECIAL aerial mail conventions /
between the United States and the foreign /
involved for the establishment /
Of these routes TO the West Ind'es and 1
Central and South America are now in \
II is realized that these oversee
routes will require the most powerful |
with wireless installation and
special construction TO make them safe /
over the seas, but the enormous CONNER
clal advantage that Will result by material
y reducing the time between this country /
and Central and South America will justify 1
.he eapend tue that such a eerv re will /
Entail
How interesting If this information,
,ow startling, bow ansz ng 1t g still
NTH the memory Of many c.fizens
xben express trans at SIXTY mile. an hour
we're looked upon as an achievement. 4
And now we are to have ar mach 'nes /