Gilpin observer., 1918-04-18
AERIAL mail AT
1OO-MILE GAIT
Plans Perfected by United States
Post Office Department.
QUE TO WRlGA1's DREAMS
Every AIrplane Must Garry 500 Pounds
Of Mail Not Less Than 200 Miles
Without Stop at Maximum Speed Of
100 Miles an Hour-Reoular Air
Lines Across Atlantic After War
Predicted,

predicted.
1t is within the memory of high
school boys and girls Of Dayton, o..
that Wilbur and Orville Wright were
contemptuously referred to by their
thrifty, Industrious neighbors us ''those
two no account boys" For the Wright
brothers passed the bright days of
spring and summer fiat ON their backs
In orchards and woodlands making no
effort In life beyond watching little
birds as they flew from tree to tree.
The Wright boys didn't amount to
much fifteen years ago, except in their
own estimation.
And today, among other wonderful
things resulting directly from the fact
that the Wright brothers invented u
flying machine that would fly. the Unit
ed States post Office department has
perfected plans for carrying mail by
airplane between the cities of Wash
ington, Philadelphia and New York.
A feature of the contract the aerial
mall carriers will have to obey stands
out as direct development of the
OF which, next to the establishment
of the superiority of Hun barbarity. Is
Improvement of the airplane. This
feature Is that every airplane must
carry 300 pounds of mail distance
OF not less than 200 miles without stop
and at maximum speed Of 100 miles
an hour. Forty miles an hour faster
than mile minute!
Routes to Be Permanent.
The post Office department insists
the routes are to be permanent, the
confident announcement that ut is no
experiment" having been officially
made. Bids have been called for by
the department for five alrplanes for
this mir line mail route. Truly, 1t Is
time of wonderful and amazing prog
reSs.
Speed and higher percentage of
safety are the two salient points of
advancement in aviation for which
Mars tnkes credit.
safety first" Is Dayton slogan in
oil industry. 1t was natural that Or
Vile Wright. who survives his brother,
Wilbur, should turn his attention to
making the product Of their genius as
safe us might be. He worked out
stabilizer, that, operating automatic
ally. kept the machine Under ordinary
circumstances. on what might be called
an even keel. Also he helped to bal.
ance the weight of the machine to bet
ter advantage.
An ingenious method of nirplane
manipulation was adopted, and 1t is in
teresting to observe how 1t dovetnils
Into human psychology, II one might
call 1t that. To drive an airplnne, the
flyer follows directions that fit in with
what easily are the natural impulses
Of the body.
For Instance. for higher altitude, the
flyer pulls the steering wheel toward
his breast. This is leaning back
ward which points the toes of the fly
er and the nose of the machine up-
ward. To descend the wheel is thrust
away from the flyer. And this is n
leaning forward which inclines the
feet of the flyer and the nose Of the
machine toward the earth. Steering to
left or right is done with the feet
placed upon rests beside the steering
post, and warping Of the planes for
"banking" is effected by turning the
steering wheel to the left when steer
ing the plane t. the left and to the
right In vice versn fashion.
Increased lifting power is another
war development e tbs oirplane. Ar
inHment WIS necessary on the battle
fronts and heavy machine guns were
mounted on plnnes designed for fight
ing. And the plane had to carry
pilot and an observer, which increased
the size of the plane beyond that used
for years In exhibitions, though the
plane that. could carry one or two pns.
scngers hes been In existence for some
time.
The most wonderful development in
this direction is seen in the achieve
ments Of the Caproni brothers, italian
airplane builders. who have turned ont
machines that would carry as many
as 30 passengers.
Air Lines Across Atlantic.
They predict that, after the war
great strides Will be made in airplane
building for commercial purposes. Reg.
ular air lines across the AtInntic. tbev
say, actually will be established ond
mnintnined.
Next to the Wrights, the Capron,
brothers have done more II is claim.
ed. in the development Of the airplnne
than anybody else Interested in the
scientific problems presented.
For the present the chief interest in
America in aviation is the strides mode
by the war department In training
thousands of civilians for war work
In the air. and the production of rho
famous Liberty motor. holding the
composite idea Of the best engineering
brains in the. country. II Is declared