Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-25
C0AsT-TO-COAST AIR MAIL
IN TWO DAYS IS FORECAST
Postmaster-Gcneral BurIcson Pre-
diets Fast Service as Early
Development.
NEW SYSTEM SHOWS PROFIT
Experiments In Progress Looking TO
Delivery and Taking Aboard Mail
Bags With Planes in Motion, Nom
Stop Flights in View.
ny ALBERT 8. BURI.EyON.
General,

WASHINGTON. Sept. 24-Commer-
cial utility has been the jurgcrnaut
car of mail service progress since tho
year 1929. when the Postnaster-Gen-
cral was first made member of the
Cabinet
In the carly days the need for speed
in carrying the mail, by the uony ex-
press, encouraged the breeding of fast
horses ana 50 naturally this branch
OF tho service became the pioneer in
thc development Of uuIcK transporta-
lioh ldci!itics. Rivalry in mail carry
ing contracts stimulated steamboat and
.d'irodu transportation ana has been
factor IN their growth. and now
again the service by its quick dispatch
Is proving ihe value OF the airplame
routes are gradually creeping west
ward.
First Continental Route.
In 1885 the great overland Mail
Mas calculated II would take very close
month Tor a letter TO travel across
,ne United States. Win the gradual
establishments OF the air-rnaii service
westward. no doubt mail may be sen;
".r"sa the United States IN TWO days;
Especially via this be true II n.Int
Hylng becomes "a tact, as Indications
point. FROM thirty 20 Two days is a
"e!T so, change IA speed OF mail.
mail service has indicated the juds-
uicAi or the department in entering
, Upon Ihis work In the years opera
.!on an aggregate Of l2S.255 miles was
covered and an aggregate Of lg3.02i
30 p9unus OF mail was carried. the cost
be 0 %eii 10 s Ieins .ls7ySoeS may
SIX planes that entered upon this ser
ice !ittie over year ago with the
unuous service This demonstrates
mat ne results In commcrciM .!ying
!" ambition or military nyins.
Air Route Shows Front
The transportation py atrplano ia
ordinarily twice fast as by tram
ana me most promising OF such routes
when already gives handsome pr6.,
oH operations, assures the Enort.ninr
S So,, r1c.nG coast mail by twenty four
on the dangers OF aviation
a :" per'on OF one year. covering
.aa'ti % 1926 miles. there has
mt'e' ncch An aIrp!ai.e carrying In.
mail which has fallen on, OF ths e.,
mere has not been a single death OF
whsch s anos IN carving The mails.
hullt a!rplane and the rnechani"s
RIO are enigaged TO keep them Nyin.
Comprises TWO deaths one Of
Was IN the case OF an aviator who ;ras
1 Ita nShiFating his lying ability and
nc p1opcHe7 OF machine that MAS
on the ground.
This record means. taking into ac.
Souhi az OF the accidents Thar ,hc-o
mas been but one death for each ..Gis
n m.thS 81 lo cSt one serious accident; in
each Si,,sio a4a one TIT minor hurt for
%hich viii compare favorabiy III
my an MODE OF mechanical TRANSPORTATION
N Us pioneer period. Especially is this
record strong tribute 10 IN. s,,e 81; >
can bunt motors.
Saving I'm Lnrger Plane,
r- "'.n .aIses airplanes and over
s .,o distances. substantial -educ-
I.
would be made. besides cutting dnwn
nc N'nc OF transit by onc-ha!!
~, I ipeir .' are now being carried
taking aboard of mail bags wh;Ic ~
aiFpiane !s in flight. II is now rer,-5.
cd az possible for those carrying 600
and snatch bags from specially prc.
paFed apparatus. For the big ships y
scheme is proposed for droppinr ma u
or taking !, on from the roofs Of
This proves practicable i, Will be
possihi. 10 make nonstop runs from
Hew York 10 Washington. serving
mating fifteen minutes stop a, cacb
place
since the end OF the war has mad.
aNai!aole larger planes salvarcd from
var stock. mail can be carried in
greater quantities at greater snend
and advanced toward the Pac!dc roasi
ear;y 20 ,sa IT'S destiination. This is a
80 nc. S"e Puo!ic IL now demand
ing, and viii in course of time sup
PIGMENT the train service Therefore
me air mail has been placed on Inc
saine basis as other mail transit. The
same. '"c
Alcohol Used for Fua,.
the War Department has turned
ooer To- 70 the Pos, Office Department
far many Of 9fSf Chest SKY a1irpianss 50
punt Tor service in carrying th,. mail.
marked success. and IL is antjcin "i.h
mat most OF the motors will be fitted
h 10 hsr ms d Kind Of fuel instead Of M.
j i9Ksse, u Gi AZ Will reach something
noyations in The collection and md dis n
tTibution OF mail has been TIN. intro
g gdr ION, or G9yernment- owned vehicles
ior the collection and delivery OF mail
ana i me CARRYING OF mail between
b bS re pGistcGGi''G @sor and stations is
thgeous 10 do so. by vehicles ownnd
ana and operated by tine postal service so
iovernment-owncd motor trucks .,r.
being operated wholly or in part in
t"enty-siX cities. "a
Convert Army Trucks.
ne extension of the use or two a.
partments own trucks has nroviao a."
means OF utilizing a great n,ar q
Inc me, surplus .iu army trucks. The war
hing like, 2.oo2 trucks. valued ~ Toi ne
i'i,' :maih,e!y S%,7S1.760, for use in H..
On account or the extensive us. 90
~ own machines. the department bas
c rHina IL IL advantageous in some of the
repair shops. especially whnro ana
NOT possible to lease adequate and
convenient quarters. It alreadv f baa
nesun WORK on the Washington civ
postoIicc garage. which is being cor
structed on the ground OF the citV most
once on North Capitol Street. II viii
cos. about $4,000. II will house ito
cars ana viii save $4,000 a wear in rent
and $4,000 in dead mileage rasnIimo
ana time on account OF its convent
enGe to the main postonice.
inc automobile in place OF the horse
driven vehicle did not come int" 49,; ne
lar use In the delivery and collection