The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-03-14

certain. writes Agnes c. Laut In New York Sun.
Can 1t be done? To what uses turn
5000 machines and 10000 men that will give re-
turns at all commensurate with the enormous out
lay! Hadn't we better figure all the outlay up
and charge It to war and let 1t go that. and not
break more necks7 That is the practical mans
attitude; and the airplane manufacturers attitude
Is just what the motor manufacturers was ten
years ago
AS well ask to what use cun We put our nve .nIl-
lion output Of motorcars7 How air.
planes in practical everyday life7 Here y the air
plane mans answer. and when you have pondered
1t you will not count very many airplanes going
to waste er to spare:
Some Of the Possibilities.
Fast mail. fast express, light rush freight. such
as pershabe foods; fast transcontinental and
ocean passenger service JOY riding sightseeing to
places inaccessible by rail. such the upper
reaches of Grand Canyon the Holy Land
the sacred city of Tibet: coast guard and revenue
patrol. ocean survey work, weather bureau work,
exploration, such the pole the hot
tropical forests of Africa and South America.
which would not be hot by the air route boundary
patrol. patrol power lines and oil lines and gas
lines, rd's-eye sightseeing of cities country to
city committing, patrol of forests for hres. first aid
in medical work. quick relief in such catastrophes
Hood, fires. earthquakes: life saving at in
case of wreck carrying supplies to inaccessible
mines such those in the kondike the
Coppermine river in deserts where lack of
wings, military and naval reconnaissance.
For all these purposes no right of way is
lured no rails, no grading. Both extreme heat
and extreme cold can be avoided Any one of these
manifold would absorb every aIrplane now
engaged for All the combined would de-
mand and absorb many arpIanes there
motorcars-say 5,OOo,O0O for this country alone.
AT this stage the practical man has touch OF
nerial vertigo. He is too polite tear his hair
out in handfuls; but-well. he interrupts WITH
"Show me!''
Very well. Take mails. Mails are already being
carried between New York and Washington, and
New York and Chicago; and if all the planes
absorbed for mail 600 of them al
ready have been assigned. mails will he carried
before the end of 1919 between all the leading
cities of the United States.
Is this mail business going to be practical? VIII
it pay? VIII 1t save, say. some money. well
time? The rate talked of just now is 16 cents
ounce. AZ cents mile for 20 pounds. which Is
vague that II leaves you all up In the air as to
ultimate charges This scale is absurdly high
During the experimental period 1t is all right,
but when aerial mail routes common rail
mail routes. how about charges?
Profits in the Aerial Mail.
Here you In the realm of pure speculation,
but, basing your speculation facts the govern
ment could do more than time. 1t could save
money and make oodles of money by the air mail
route. Suppose the charge is 25 cents a pound
which is cheaper than our letter rate today.
Land machines ut present constructed can
carry Mt least half their own weight, but that
war requirements past their construction
be changed to improve vastly that. They will
not need machine guns. They will not need bombs
They will not need devices for quick ascent or
terrific velocity head-on impetus and impact In
,i.S. of ii charge head to head They will dispense
Hifh all war equipment Ihat Will give carrying
Igi,aci,y for other work.
la, take ~vsa the present proportion. One