Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-12-18
PHOENIX IS TO Be on.
AERIAL MAIL ROUTE:
MORE PLANES COMING

Phoenix will be one of the stations
on the proposed government aerial
mail routes, providing a suitable field
of the proper dimensions can be Sc
cured. This assurance was received
by Harry WEIGH, secretary of the
chamber of commerce, yesterday, in q
letter from Major T. c. Macauley, sta
toned at Tallaferro Field Hicks,
Texas. The major also announced that
another squadron of airplanes, of a
heavy type will shortly visit Phoe-
nix ENRIQUE from Fort Worth, Texas,
to the coast.
The aviation committee will meet at
the chamber of commerce at > o'clock
this afternoon for the purpose of con-
sidering this matter, and to make ar
ransements for the reception of the i'm
pending visit of the Texas machines.
Appended is the majors letter, outlin-
ing the situation:
HEADQUARTERS
AIR SERVICE FLYING SCHOOL
Tallaferro Field, Hicks, Texas
December IA, 1918
Chamber of Commerce,
PhoeniY Arizona.
Gentlemen: 1t is desired in the very
near future to make the flight from
Fort Worth, Texas, to the coast with
several airplanes, with the idea of de-
Gliding definitely on certain routes.
The landing fialds up to and including
Tucson are excellent. The present
landing field in your city is not all
that could be desired from the stand
point of the heavier types OF machines
which will fly this air route to the
coast. While the present field is suit
! able for the type of plane which has
| been utilizing it for landing purposes,
during the past several weeks, it is
not desirable for the heavier type CT
plane. In fact, it is felt that, even
with the present type of plane, it
would not be a desirable field during
the summer months.
Permanent landing fields should
| contain approximately 800 acres,
should be of hard, dry grazing land,
should drain quickly and dry quickly
after a heavy fall of rain or snow,
should be free from all distractions
around its borders. That is, it should
be easy of access from any side, and
not be surrounded by trees or build
| ings. Any one who has flown at night
or made a landing after dark in a field
with air craft, realizes very clearly
| that 500 acre field is the smallest
| that should be considered as a per-
! manent or mi-permanent nature he
| sufficiently large TO cause no undue
amount of congestion, providing q
! large number of planes should have
| occasion to land within a few moments
| of each other.
The impression has been gained that
| there are a large number of suitable
fields in the immediate vicinity o1
Phoenix. If you have field of 32(
acres which would meet the above re-
| quirements, be free Of distractions
hard, dry, grazing land, etc, will vol
please wire this station, government
paid. While Phoenix is somewha
north of the most direct air route an,
while land was made at Maricopa OF
the trip west, it is strongly felt tina
it would pay to establish Phoenix ~
we'll as Tucson, as a stop on the coas
trip.
1t is understood that certain
amount of work has been started OF
the Fair Grounds at Phoenix, witt
view to making that a landing field
1t is believed that, even though the en-
tire fair grounds, or that portion en-
closed by the fence, were turned into
! SHlOOlH leu, IL Noulu ne luSulllClbu
size to be practical.
Would appreciate greatly hearin
as quickly as possible from you wit
regard to this matter, as air trip
to the coast are planned for the Yer
near future.
in conclusion, may I express m
hearty appreciation of the assistanc
rendered, and cooperation given b
your organization on the last tri
through your town. Securing supple
of gas and oil without undue della
went a long way toward making tn
first trip eastward from the coast
success.
Yours very truly
(Signed) IT. c. MACAULAY,
$ Major A. S. A., ]. NJ. A.