Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-03
With Other Editors
AirDIane Possibilities.

AirDlane Possibilities.
No invention of the present is destined to play
vital part in the progress of the world than
is the arpane So unlimited are the possibilities to
which this wizard of the air be applied that it
is useless to attempt to innumerate them. At the
present time students aeronautics are giving con-
slant thought to the development of the airplane
with the idea in view of making highly potential
force in the commercial life of the world.
Already our government is using aircraft sue
cessfully in its mail service and such this new
carrier will be rapidly extended throughout the
country and the world.
1t has been announced that aviation section
will shortly constitute part of the equipment of the
police force of New York City, and the employment
of the airplane by municipalities throughout the
world for various useful purposes seems imminent.
plane flying above burning building can render
invaluable aid in directing the fire fighters and in
protecting adjacent property.
The value of airplanes in cases of an emergency
was demonstrated during the recent catastrophe at
Morgan New Jersey, when the burning munition
plants which threatened to set fire hundreds Of
tons of INT, might have caused the wholesale de-
struction of life and property throughout thousands
York and other Cities but for the effective work
complished by aviators.
In connection with our forest reserves, the air
plane will be of great value since, by this means,
will be possible effectively patrol all such terri
tory and promptly to locate and check fires which
destroy enormous quantities of valuable timber
1t is reported that Canada is already arranging for
the patrol of her huge forests by airpIanes
While the United States already has, it is believed
the best-organized Ife-saving establishment in the
world there is doubt that greater efficiency
will be possible by the use Of airpanes in this ser
vice.
In the field Of exploration the arplane brings IN
limited possibilities, and the day is close at hand
when there will longer be any isolated sections
of the world.
The development Of transportation probably Of
fers the most important field the utilization of
large numbers of planes since, that flying has
been perfected to entail little danger
craft will be rapidly adopted for many business and
pleasure purposes.
In this connection, the following airpfans news
items of interest:
The fact that airplanes can be successfully navi-
gated by compass, when aviators are shut off
clearly demonstrated by the flight almost en-
tirely by compass, Dec 10TH from Buffalo to New
York City, Ia distance of 4O7 mfles) by Captain W.
p Jacobs with Colonel L. w Mcintosh as a passen-
ger, in three and one-haf hours
Captain Benjamin B. Lpsner, who recently re-
signed superintendent United States aerial
mail service, has just announced the formation of
syndicate, with 100000 capital, which proposes to
inaugurate, May Is, 1919 the first American pas
senger and express service Mr.. Lipsner's statement
indicates that the airplanes to be used will have
capacity of 40 passengers; that be reas-
enable; that the company will carry its own insur-
ance; and that regular schedules will be maintained
and rebates paid for every minute the planes are
late, While details are lacking as to the kind of
planes to be used and also to the cities between
which the proposed lines are to be established the
is sufficiently definite arouse much
interest Undoubtedly the next twelve months will
witness much cemmercia1ization the airpiane and
also of the aircraft of the Zeppelin -type-IIlineis
State Register.