The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-05
SOUTH AMERICAS
SECRETS MAY Be.
LEARNED BY AIR
Developments of Virgin Ter
ritories Seen in Develop
ment of Aviation.

Already Handley-Paige machine Is
sailing over the lower reaches of the
Magdalena, an Italian aviator has
crossed the Andes from Atlantic to
Pacific and Uncle Sam has big base
for airplanes at Cristobal on the canal
zone. One of the next steps will soon
be the carrying Of the mails from the
canal to adjacent countries. It has
already been done from Cristobal to
Balboa and from Cristobal to Bocas
del Toro. -
Aerial transportation is especially
adapted to certain industries which
rank high in northern South America
gold, platinum, silver, emeralds.
rubber and cinchona. Take the case
of the out put of the Antioquia mineral
region, for example. easily capable OF
being developed to the value Of $780,
100000 per annum.
The present means Of transportation
involves at least ten days-often more
when rivers are low-to get the output
to the sea- The quantity OF metal to
be carried annually, were the mines
adequately developed, would be about
100 tons a year. A hydroairplane,
flying up the Magdalena andthe Cavea
rivers all the way over the water,
could easily carry half ton in a few
hours, worth approximately a quarter
of a million dollars. The saving of
nine days in getting this gold to the
sea represents at rate Of interest of
s per cent. more than $1,000. That
this would pay all the expenses OF
the trip and leave a big margin of
profit is clear.
Rubber by DIrioible.
It will eventually pay to transport
rubber by dirigible, II not by the
heavier than air machines. A dirig-
ible arriving on the Putumayo on a
sunny morning would put the fear of
the Lord in the hearts Of the rubber
agents depressing the Indians as no
other expedient short OF a railway
could. II would not only expedite
commerce; It would be a big step up
ward for humanity. A plane could fly
from Buenavsrtu-a, on the Pacific, to
the Putumayo, in orc day and have
daylight in which to land on the river.
OF course the lack of safe landing
place Is the big handicap at present.
But a hydroairplane could follow the
course of the Magdalena Of the Causa
to near the springs of the Putumayo
close to Paste, with only a few miles
"
on the rivers with a good chance of
safety in a pinch. l look for this
feat to be performed before many
moons.
Some years ago pointed out in our
Panama paper that the air machine
ought enormously simplify prospect
ing. locating and the initial develop
ment of mineral deposits in wild
countries. Take a concrete case: !
know OF massif on the crest of
divide which I have every reason to
believe to be a second Rand, on geo.
logical grounds and from certain ex-
plorations made under immense diff
culties. To reach this place required
an expedition Of three months, involv-
ing through dense jungles, experience
ing fevers. hunger, perils from wild
beasts and wild men, to find a delec-
table short grass region on the interior
plateau on which a machine might
land That reconnaissance could have
been made in an airplane in one week
the trip in less than day, giving as
much time for exploration as was de-
voted to 1t in the other method.
AirpIane in Prospecting.
To make railway to the locality
would cost 100000. This sum would
aSSure0ly not De invested WltuOut d
prospect which could only be estab-
lished by thorough expert examination
and preliminary development, and this
is almost impossible without road
or a railway. 1t is easily feasible by
the use of the airplane. There are
hundreds Of millions Of gold hidden
away in the mountains Of northern
South America which the sharp eye
of the airplane can spy out.
American business interests ought
to wake up to this situation. British
and other interests are keenly alive
to it. They mean to pay some OF
their debts out Of South American
soil with the help Of their better de-
yeloped aerial transportation, and are
negotiating concessions right now.
1t is worth noting that airplanes
would fly completely over the coast re-
gions with their infections Of yellow
fever, malaria, etc. and so eliminate
quarantine. OF course the airplane
will not supersede the railway.
Java has taken the leadership in the
TIT, fyNr, Do