The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-15
Planes Left Washington and
New York This Forenoon.
One Pilot Relay Change Is
Made at Philadelphia.
IS A LANDMARK IN HISTORY
Army AviatOrs To Be Trained
by New Service.
Special 24-Cent Stamp Re-
quired for Letters.

THiidueipnla, May 15.-In six min
utes the $50 pounds of mail brought
from New York had been shifted to
another airplane, some mail from
Philadelphia had been added and at
Los o'clock with Lieut.. Edgerton as
the pilot, the start for Washington,
approximately 40 miles distant was
made. The mail brought from New
York for Philadelphia was placed in a
high powered motor truck and hur-
ried to the Philadelphia postoffice. =
Washington. May I5.-The airplane
that left Washington was forced to
descend at Waldorf. Md.
Washington. May 15.-Cheered by
great throng including President
and Mrs. Wilson. Postmaster General
Burleson and K. Kambra, postmaster
general of Japan, Americas first Of
ficial aerial posht service was inaugur-
ated at 11:47 o'clock today
Marked with United States desig-
rations on the planes and vertical
red, white and blue stripes on the
tail. the machine was a beautiful
sight. 1t sailed over the heart of
Washington, circled. the capitol. and
then disappeared to the northeast.
40 Pounds Carried.
| Shortly before the flight began, a
| mail delivery express, marked U. S.
Air Mail Service. drove on to the field
with four pouches of mail. These
| totalled in weight lao pounds. los of
which will be dropped at Phiiadel-
| phia, where an additional / SO pounds
will be taken on for the flight to New
York.
A fresh plane will be used from
Philadelphia on.
New York. May 15.-An army BIZ
plane carrying mail for Philadelphia
and Washington got away from BEL
] mont Park shortly after 1850 a. m.
Today on the FIRST light of the New
York = Philadelphia Washington air.
plane service.
| The plane, carrying 1872 pieces of
nail for Phiiadelphia and 4So pieces
Tor washington. Weighing in a: 144
! pounds was driven by Flight Lieut..
! Calf.
| The big bipIane was out of sight ten
minutes after leaving the ground. The
flight started at the place where the
first international aviation meet
opened eight years ago
| Crowd Checred Flight. &
crowd of invited guests gathered
at Belmont Park to witness the his
torical event. Among those who
New York: Byron Newton, coliector
| CT the port, and Allan Hawley. presi-
dent of the Aero Club of America Z
| The entire proceedings were in
charge ,f the signal corps of the
my. When the airplane left the
F., ground, climbed for an altitude and
then turned southwark, there was en-
| thusiastic cheering and handshakings
among the spectators.
Most Of the crowd remained on the
scene to welcome the mail which
started here from Washington by air.
plane.
The First Stamp.
In the Washington New York
pouch was one letter addressed to.
Noah Taussig, III Wall street. The
/ stamp. the first purchased in the
Washington office for the aerial mail.
was bought by Postmaster Genera.
Burleson.
President Wilson's autograph, writ
ten across the stamp, is the cancella- :
ton mark. The envelope and stamp
will be presented to the Red Cross to
he auctioned to the highest bidder
Already an offer of 81, 900 has been.
made.
In .he New York Washington
T. G. Patton to President Wilson and
Postmaster General BurIeson. An
other from Governor Whitman to the
president was the first cancelled in
the local postoffice. This Iette will
also be eiven TO the Red Cross
Officials to Receive 1t.
Postmaster Patton Alan b. Haw-
ley, presient Of the Aerial Club Of
America; Byron T. Newton, collector
of the bort, and othe:. officials went
to Belmont Park to welcome the first
plane from Washington. !.
Patton was to personally receivo
the first pouch.
Souvenir seekers. desirous of send.
ing mill on the first trip. swamped
the New York postoffice with letters
Only the first 800 pounds received
was carried, however. The rest was
sent to Washington by a special cour-
ier on :. train.
Maj. J. c. Fleet. of the signal corps
is in charge of the air mails at pres
ent. Later larger planes will be used.
| NFf NnlIn UArFnFor0