The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1918-12-05
THREE PLANES VISIT
TUCUMCAR|, SCOUT.
ING OUT MAIL ROUTE

iHicc SuitiSS army DlplaneS scout
ing out II possible aerial mail route
from Post Field, Fort Sill, Okla, were
guests of Tucumcari Tuesday after
noon and Wednesday morning, lea> .rg
about | p. m. for Santa Fe via Las
Vegas.
Those in charge OF the machines
were Lieutenants Hancock, Graham,
any Aubineau, accompanied 10y Scrgt.
Caldwell and Sergt. Cavanaugh, the
mechanics.
Lieutenant Hancock said that air.
planes in u few years will cause no
mo1e comment than do automobiles; /;
that an aerial mail service %l,l in an
probability link the principal cities
OF the nation within very short time.
that this branch of the amy is likely
to be maintained almost intaat for the
good 1t can do from scientific and SER
vice standpoint in peace times. In fact
he believes the flying machines Will
be used by the government TO carry
mail, etc.
II is known that Tucur'cari with its
railroad facilities is considered town
with many advantages rs a control" :"
should an aerial route be established
by way of this city, and it is believed
that the city has every prospect of
being recommended by the scouts who
were here, but no statements of any
sort bearing upon this phase of the
matter were made by them.
That this flight over the plains came
as n surprise to the officers who made
IN nc Nya1l nc IN ha napt,la ~ th;s
ton, is indicated from the fact that
the three ships were in Oklahoma City
when Lieut.. Hancock received orders
to turn their noses west and proceed
to Santa Fe, n. NJ. The first stop was
mt Wellington, then Clarendon, ANA
rillo and Tucumcari.
About one o'clock the first ship was
sighted and the whistles were sounded
notifying Tucumcari citizens that they
were being visited by airplanes With
in ten minutes the three ships had ar
rived and were looking for places to
Lang The first ship landed in the Pan
dolpho pasture southeast of town, the
second ship landed near the High
School while the third landed near the
Palmila Fiber plant north of the rail-
rood. All of them landed safely en-
cePt Lieut. Graham north of the track.
His plane ran into mesquite bush
and scratched one of the wings, but
the damage was easily repaired.
Tuesday evening at the Vorenberg
the officers were entertained at dinner
by the Chamber of Commerce, after
which dance was given at the Elks
Club rooms in honor of the visitors.
Lieut.. Hancock asked the News editor
to public thank the citizens of Tucum-
carl for their courteous treatment, and
to assure them that their efforts to
see that they were well cared for were
certainly appreciated by every mem
ber of the party.
THE era of the airplane is just
dawning," remarked Lieut.. Hancock.
That America is going to take and
keep the first place in the development
of aircraft which is rightly hers, is
already indicated by the peace, time
plans of the government. The Wright
Bros, American, only few years ago
launched the first successful heavier
than-air machine; the American gov
ernment, with its wonderful air SER
vice almost perfected for work on the
western front, will employ these ma
chimes in work which, while of great
usefulness to the nation, will also stim
ulate development of the industry, stan
dardi2ation Of parts and efficiency Of
pilots and observers"
Twill they make that long talked
of transatlantic flight? AS sure as
fate! And trans-A tlantic airplanes fly
ing Wfl be common enough within "a
very short time, in the opinion Of those
now in the nations air SERVICE" said
Lieut. Hancock. "Planes are being
made which not only can make long
trips, but which can carry heavy loads
a number of passengers or freight.
There is no limit to the possibilities
of the service.
Personally, we fellows who are in
the air service regard it as the great
est sport in the world"
One of the great advantages of an
aerial mail service, according to Lieut..
Hancock, is the saving of time. For
instance, under present conditions, II
takes nine hours to go from Lawton
to Wichita Falls. The planes make il
any day in forty-five minutes. The
train runs from Amarillo to Tucum-
carl on a direct road in about five
hours. The planes made it in an hour
and fifteen minutes.
II is stated that the government
is now laying plans for aerial mail
routdI from Post Field near Fort Sill
to Santa Fe, as well as many other
routes. 1t is known that there is n
strong probability that Wellington,
Amarillo, Tucumcari and Santa Fe
will be controls on this proposed line
each kaving hangers in which will be
extra planes and parts, oils and gaso-
lines for the convenience of the mail
carriers. In charge at each control