The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-30
C. of C. Behind Plan To Bring
Planes to City.
Make Topeka the Air Center Of
Middle West.
HAS CO. OPERATION
Senator Capper Asked To Fur
nish Information.
Passenger Plane May Be Kept
in the City.

Robert Fullerton's efforts to have a
flying field established at Topeka are
going to receive the support of the en-
tire city and with the Chamber of
| Commerce and Kansas representatives
in the national congress lending their
cooperation it is believed this city will
have a good chance of furnishing the
first up-to-date landing field in the
middle west.
Thursday the military committee of
the Chamber of Commerce took up the
question and recommended to the
board of directors that the organiza-
| ton do everything in its power to have
a field established here. Fullerton
also has written to Senator Capper at
Washington asking him to get behind
the proposition and to furnish what
steps that must be taken for Topeka
to get recognition from the federal
government.
Big Opportunity Knocks.
Fullerton points out that Topeka
has an opportunity to become the air
center of the middle west and that if
action will be taken to give Topeka
field and a place on the flying maps
before other cities take such action it
will be great thing for the city and
will advertise Topeka all over the
country. -
Inc IeQerdl government mas asked
Kansas City to establish a flying field
and SO far this request has been. ig-
nored. 1t is pointed out that if To-
peka will voluntarily furnish a field
flyers will begin coming here when
ever they are making cross country
flights.
There are many reasons why To-
peka can more readily be made the
flying center of the middle west than
any other city. The state house dome
furnishes a guide to flyers that can
not be missed and with a flying field
indicated on map showing the dome
landing at Topeka will be matter
for aviators who have never before
been in this part of the country.
Many Mechanics Here.
Another great advantage of Topeka
will be the Santa Fe shops where
there are more skilled mechanics than
any other city in this part of the
country can boast 1t is pointed out
that more qualified recruits could
probably be gotten from the Santa Fe
shops than from all of the shop indus
tries of all the other cities of this
section.
Fullerton and those who are work
ing with him to get flying field also
hope to be able to get an airplane in
the near future to be kept here as
permanent Topeka flying asset. One
plan under consideration is to have
an aerld1 squadron OF the naIlONdl
guard organization formed with ma
chine at its disposal. Another is to
purchase one of the government ma
chimes and pay for it by charge
| flights.
Still another proposition is to take
the matter up with the war depart
ment and point out that it will be to
the advantage of the service to keep
a plane here for the use of the air
service reserves who are in this vi
cinity. In order for the men in the
air reserves to keep in training they
will have to be given regular practice
and it is believed the war department
/ will realize the advantage of having
| flying equipment in Topeka instead of
| having to send the reserves to some
other place where transportation and
| maintenance would have to be charged
! to the government and in addition the
reserves would have to lose the time
they spend in attending training
| camps each year.