Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-05
AIR SERVICETO
Be BIG FEATURE
: IN ROCK ISLAND
AViatOrs Plan to Put Into CONNER
cial Operation a High Powered
Type MOnOplane.

If the plans Of r. Clay Crawford
manager of the Watch Tower park,
carry through, air transportation
between the popular summer resort
and the tri-cities will soon be es-
tablished.
Mr.. Crawford is in Chicago for
the purpose of negotiating for the
purchase Of a Dupredessin, gnome
powered monoplane, put. on the
market by the French government.
If he buys one of the machines he
will put it into commercial opera
ton in Rock Island.
Arrangements have been made to
use the baseball field at the Watch
Tower as a landing field. The space
is Of sufficient size, says Mr.. Craw-
ford. He states that he can bring
the machine to a full stop within
40 feet after landing. He is Ulcer
tain whether or not the service can
be inaugurated before the present
yseason ends, but intends to have +
under way from the start next sum
mer.
Having been a licensed pilot for
eight years, Mr.. Crawford is thor
oughly familiar with all types of
air craft. He graduated from the
old Curtis school of aviation at San
Diego, Cal, in 1911, and was in the
service of the United States during
the war. He was severely burned
about one leg while several thous-
and feet in the air in France and
was invalided home.
The type of machine which Mr..
Crawford contemplates purchasing
was used extensively by the French
government during the war. In
fact, the production was so great
that France now finds it necessary
to dispose of its surplus machines
OF this type at q great loss. The
original cost of one monopIane IS
$21 ,000 They are being sold at
Ness than one-third this figure.
Has Powerful Engine.
The Dupredessin is propelled by
a rotary motor on the principle of
the gyroscope, which makes it one
of the safest of flying ships. The
engine is a 20-cylinder affair and
is capable of making 140 miles per
hour. Castor oil is used as lubri-
cant because it maintains its heavy
consistency during fight, thus at
fording assurance against spark
plug fouling 1t is not equipped
with a carburetor. 1t is so con-
structed that the fuel flows in a
steady stream through pipe about
the thickness of a little finger C.
recty into the Cylinders. 1t is ca
pable of developing 200 horse
power and making 100000 sparks
per minute.
The machine will seat two pas
sengers normally and three if nee
essary. Mr.. Crawford will offer
this service for nominal consid-
Grafton, and it will not be confined
to trips between the cities and the
Watch Tower. He said it could
traverse the three cities within
three minutes.
As an aviator, Mr. Crawford, be-
ing one of the pioneers in the field,
has experienced many narrow es-
capes from destruction. The fact
remains, however, he says that fly
ing is much safer in a strong plane
than racing in automobiles or mo-
torcycles.
Was Motorcycle Racer.
And he is in a position to talk
nth authority. He has been a mo-
>torcycle racer of note, having set a
record Of 100 miles in 64 minutes,
and one mile in So rs seconds.
This was at Los Angeles. He was
returned F. A. NJ. champion in
1912, 1913 and 1915.
His altitude record in flying is
$4,000 feet, and at one time he re-
manned in the air for a period of
eight hours.
AS early as March, 1916, when
Mr.. Crawford was appearing on the
stage, he predicted the future of the
airplane as a passenger machine.
He saw the country traversed with
aerial passenger routes and IS wit
Messing these predictions carried
out. In fact, he is aiding by en-
barking in the business himself