The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-12

tain an adequate technical engineer
ing establishment where all kinds OF
experiments may be carried on, where
we can even build experimental en-
gines or experimental planes and the
facilities of which can be placed at
the disposal of inventors in carrying
on their work This technical engi-
neering center ia now practically an
accomplished fact. Then we aim to
have a complete engine production
plant to be held as a matter OF insur-
ance against future rUwtfngen eKzs.
such plant not to be used fer produc-
ton by the government except in time
OF great emergency but 10 be avail
able for such emergency, or to be
avala bic for use by private manu-
facturers under contract in case the
government desires to place orders
for engines.
Such plant is already available,
belongs 10 the government, having
been paid for during the war Such
a scheme would save to the govern
ment am irritation charges in the fu-
ture on ANY such contract as that re-
ferred to. The cost of maintenance.
while idle. of the plant in question,
would be only nominal. but as mat
ter OF insurance he of far-reaching
advantage. y is aimed to do the
manufactured planes.
The foregoing will indicate in a
very general way some OF. the prob
lens confronting the air service and
it's policy in regard to civilian and
commercial activities I may say in
cidentally that this congress is the
kind of activity with which we de-
sire to have full and complete liaison.
We are now in close liaison with the
Ian ~, NJ a
department and 1t is to he one phase
Of our co-operation with the postoffice
department that now desire to in
wife your attention,
"One of the aims Of the air service
is TO prepare and publish for the
benefit OF the public at large guide
hooks. road maps. etc, similar 70
publications OF that kind for the
guidance. etc. of automo bilists. Con-
siderable work along this line has al
ready been done AS may be seen by
an examination Of charts on exhibit
ton at the air service exhibit.
The ultimate ain, Is to have the
entire country charted and road maps
available for the use OF pilots--the
whole system TO form a complete net
work linking up the important centers
in the United states. In considering
this question the idea at once at oc-
poytunity TO make use OF the aerial
mail service than this. and steps we're
taken TO get in touch with the post
Office department through the First
Assistant Postmaster. Mr.. Otto Prae-
ger.
The logical way to extend this net
work of aerial routes seems to De TO
get municipalities conveniently and
properly located to take up the mat
ter and assist in this great work: to
designate and set apart adequate
landing fields for the use Of air serv-
ice in cross country work: the mali
service in handling the mail; and Tor
the use of itinerant pilots. Such a
scheme. il carried out will serve many
purposes. II will not only fulfill the
purposes Just named. but will place
the cities concerned "on the map so
TO speak. and will pave the way for
local benefits resulting from the de-
velopment Of inter-city transporta-
ton, express service, emergency serv-
ice. local mapping. police protection.
etc These municipal landing fields
will also serve another very import
ant purpose of which I will speak
later
THE idea in this matter liz to call
upon certain municipalities to set
aside landing fields under conditions
which have been prepared and are
now ready for distribution: that when
so designated the field will be ex-
amined by representatives Of the air
service. the field and vicinity photo
graphed, and then the facilities which
will be necessary at each field, in