Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-14
MAIL LAIRPLAlVE
DUE LATE TODAY
Two on Way to Bustleton
Station to Begin New
Service Tomorrow
AERO STAMPS ON SALE

Two Of six arplanes which left
their respective stations along the New
York Philadelphia Washington aerial
mail route are en- route to this city.
They were expected to land late this
afternoon at Bustleton, the local landing
station on the aerial mail route, which
goes into operation tomorrow.
The six machines which left Mneola
are Curtiss biplanes OF the j. Mas
type equipped with l5o-horsepower mo-
tors and fitted TO carry $50 pounds Of
mail each. They were driven by army
aviators.
Two started for Belmont Park, New
York two for Philadelphia and two for
Washington. These planes are for use
ir emergencies and will replace ma
chimes in regular service should any of
these break down.
Postmaster Thornton was the first
purchaser Of aerial mail stamps in this
city
The stamps arrived here today and
Postmaster Thornton. after purchasing
ten at twentyfour cents each. placed
them on public sale at the postofiice at
noon.
First Mail Arrives at 1880 =. VI.
The Washington Philadelphia New
York aerial mail service will begin to-
morrow. The first aviator-carrer will
arrive at Bustleton-the local station
at 1890 O'Clock noon from New York
and another will arrive forty-five min
utes later from Washington. Both air.
men leave their respective starting
points at Il 80 o'clock.
The aerial mail stamp IS printed in
the national colors--a blue airplane in
a field of white, with red border. The
first stamp to be used was attached by
Postmaster General Burleson to a letter
TO Postmaster Patton at New York.
The stamp will be cancelled by Presi-
dent Wilson tomorrow before the trip
starts
Arrangements were completed today
by which motortrucks will be always
available along the route TO aid a
stranded plane. In case OF accident
the trucks will rush mail pouches to the
nearest emergency landing" where a
reserve machine will be waiting TO speed
IL along to it's destination.
Business men In this city are COM
plcting arrangements to welcome the
aerial mail carriers Each of the avia-
tors arriving tomorrow will be presented
"A wrist watch, while some other pres
ent will be given the mechanics.
Mayor Smith will probably make the
presentation speech. and efforts are
being made to have Sousas Great Lakes
Naval Band at Bustleton welcome the
air mailmen.
Governor TO Attend
Governor Brumbaugh will be present
with Mayor Smith. Postmaster Thorn
ton. heads Of all city departments Ad-
mral Tappan. commandant OF the navy
nf bn
corps; probably General Squiers. chief
of the aviation section of the army sig
nal corps: T. P. johnson, superintendent
of mails; James 7. Cortelyou. chief pos
tai inspector: John ". Lister, assistant
postmaster, Collector of the Port Berry,
District Attorney Kane. Superintendent
of the Mint Joyce Charles NJ. Schwab.
Surveyor OF the Port Kurtz, Frank J.
Noonan, United States marshal;
Ephriam Lederer. collector of internal
revenue United States Appraiser Albert
l.. Noise and representatives of clubs OF
the city. including the Aero Club and
the Y NJ c. A, airplane school: William
H. Kingsley. war-chest director. Rob-
ert X Cassatt and Joseph A. Janney.
Jr.. Of the war-savings stamp committee:
James Gillespie, John !. Somers, Edward
F. Henson and Franklin Baker, Jr.
The bipanes are slated to travel at
the rate of ninety miles an hour, Only
two will fly on Wednesday, but later
It is planned to have three trips a day
each way. The planes will make the
entire trip. with stopover in this city.
covering distance of 200 miles in
three hours
Each aviator will make the through
trip but the planes will be changed at
Philadelphia. where mail will be trans
ferred. Emergency fields have been pre-.
pared at Havre de Grace and Balti-
more. and one will shortly be es-
tablished at either Princeton or New
Brunswick. y. j.. where the fliers will
land in case of trouble with the engine
or the planes.