The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-29
Can
Not Come To
Lakeland Because
OF Timbered
Country

This paper has not thought 1t nee
essary to make further explanation of
why landing field for aviators could
not be established at Lakeland, be-
cause months ago, the Chamber Of
Commerce was at work upon the mat
ter, and the failure to secure field
was fully explained The proposition
was courteously, but none the less
positively, turned down by the au-
thorities at the aviation camp.
Nevertheless, as other communities
were applying for these landing fields.
it was thought possible that the mat
ter might be reopened, and Secretary
Holworthy again took up the PROPOSE
ton. We regret to state that the
prospects for securing landing field
do not seem any better now than when
former trial was made. We are not
taking sour grapes" attitude, but
|
we cannot help but feel that some
PEOPLE have a somewhat exaggerated
idea of the advantage such field
would bring us. There would be no
commercial benefit at all. Once or
twice week, perhaps, machine
might land on the field, and this would
crafty the curiosity of those not IA
miliar with them until the novelty
wore off For this, assuming that we
could get the use of 100 acres Of land
free, we would have to pay, at the
lowest estimate, $500 to put it in the
required condition. Probably the
money could be raised but in this day
of multitudinous demands, it would
not be so easy. We would like to see
the landing field and if later it can
t be secured, we will gladly assist the
| move financially and otherwise. How
I ever, at this time there seems to be
Q nothing that can be done in the mat
E ter, as the following letter from Dorr
: Field would indicate:
/ Headquarters Dorr Field,
Arcadia Fla, Aug. %, 1915
: Mr.. A. j. Holworthy,
: Sec. Lakeland Chamber Commerce
7 ,lynIn,d LNInrida
: Dear Sir
h Your letter of Aug 18th, 1918, rel
Q alive to a landing field at your city
J. has been received and Colonel Feche
has directed that reply to same fol
him.
Your persistent desire to have
landing field established in your VI
cinity. and your offer relative to put
:. ting same in proper shape for use b.
our fliers is very much appreciates
:. hv the commanding officer OF thl
= field. but it will be impossible to ar
!, range for the use Of the field at you
city at the present time. This is no
on account of its distance from thl
most but rather is due to large ex
tent to the character of the countr
over which planes would be require
- tic fly in making regular trips theret'
:. AS you probably know, motor trou
BILE is one Of the things that all fiier
have to bear in mind at all times, an
in such cases it is frequently nece'
earv IN make what is called force
IN landing In flying over lare
stretches of timbered country force
landings" might be very difficult
make in case OF necessity.
VII II is possible that at some futul
ct time, when different class OF al
ed planes are in use, that 1t might
Ut practical to use a landing feld
er akeland. Your letter will be file
and If in the future the placing OF
. landing field at your city is adyiRapl
, we will be glad to communicate WI
2 you.
Q Very respectfully
. MAX l.. MCCULLOUGH,
o CAPTAIN. A. s. (AD U. s. A 20
o Adjutant for the Commanding @