The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-09-09
PLAN DlRICIBLE
LINE ACROSS U. S.
Monster Ship to Make
Trip From Coast to
Coast in SO Hours
MAKE TRIAL TRIP

| .
promoters hold true, giant passenger
dirigibles will leave their hangers al
| Akron, O., bound for New York, Chi.
cago, Omaha, Canada, Florida, Texas
and the Pacific coast.
And if these flights are successful
and the monetary returns are suf1.
cient, work will start upon giant air.
ships, even larger than the Zeppelins
capable of crossing the Atlantic, and q
regular passenger service will be es.
tablished between New York and Lon.
don.
These are not dreams. They are
the plans Of veterans Of air naviga
ton, men who have spent years pilot
ing balloons, airships and airplanes
and backed by a. corporation that has
been making .dirigibles for years. "A
A dirigible 300 feet long, capable Of
travelling IS miles an hour in favor
able weather, and so miles an hour
in windy weather, will open daily serv
ice between Akron and Cleveland, O., q
distance Of IS miles.
This, however, is but the trial serv
ice. If this proves successful, the
service will be extended, first to New
York and Chicago, and then through
out the United States"
Dock on Building Tops.
Landing places will be obtained In
the very heart Of these cities, prob
ably on the roofs Of the tallest hotels
Unlike airplanes, which need a large
landing place, the airships need but
small platform upon which to dock
This was demonstrated recently
when 16O-foot army dirigible from
the naval station at Wingfoot Lake
Akron, landed two passengers on a
30-foot platform on the roof Of the Ho-
tel Statler, Cleveland. The airship
was 100 feet long. l5
The first of this fleet Of air liners
will carry IL passengers.
1t is now under construction at the
plant of rubber company, who are
pioneers in the manufacture Of air
ships, and makers of a large percent
age of the ''blimps" and dirigibles that
were used by the United States dur
ing the world war.
Many secrets Of the government,
perfected during the war, have been
placed at the disposal of the rubber
firm.
PROMOTERS Have Much Experience.
The promoters Of the airship pas.
senger line are Ralph III. Epson, for
years aeronautical engineer at a rub
Der company's plant, holder of the
James Gordon Bennett balloon trophy
in 1914, and W. G. Young, veteran bal
loon navigator.
They are being given both financial
and mechanical support by the rubber
company.
The dirigibles will be from 300 to
800 feet in length. They will carry
from ~ to 100 passengers. The ex-
press airships will carry about 100
tons Of express.
1t is estimated that the trip to New
York, about 600 miles, could be made
in eight hours. A trip to San Francis.
co, over 1000 miles, and now taking
four days, could be accomplished in
about 80 hours.
y Rates, It is estimated, will be about
three times the railroad fare. @t
Besides the fleet Of air liners, the
company has also under course Of cree.
ton sport model dirigible. It's cost
will be but $1,000. It will be about 80
feet long contain $4,000 cubic feet OF
gas. The motor will be able to go
maximum Of 70 miles an hour, but the
average speed will be 80 miles. '
1t will seat but two persons.