The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-24
AIRHIP TO
MARK new ERA
IN COMMERCE
BY RICHARD sPILLANE

Wonder crowds on wonder in this age,
the most vivid, tragic and. adventurous
of all time. Now a new marvel unfolds
in the conquest of the Atlantic by ship
of the air, synchronizing with the con-
quest of the same sea by steam exactly
one hundred years ago when the Savan-
nah made the epoch marking journey.
Today the airship's flight thrills. A
little later it win not. An oft-told story
does not carry its first rich charm.
Within year or two to fly the Atlantic
will not be the globe appalling act 1t is
today.
Soon, very soon, the interest will be
commercial. almost wholly. Will the air.
ship develop into a big industry? VIII
1t play a large part in transportation?
What may we expect in reason and how
soon? Will America lead in this field or
is she destined to be outstripped by one
of the Europeans?
These are some of the questions likely
to be asked. 1t is difficult to plot a
course for or speak with assurance Of
an industry that is new. One thing GER
tain. however, is that those best informed
regarding the airship consider its field
much narrower than is imagined gener-
ally. Also. it is evident that what large
development there is in the field will
be due mostly to American enterprise.
This is odd in view of the fact that the
British. French ana Germans have
str ained to the utmost for the last four
years in airship production.
Immediately with the close of the war
there practically was an abandonment 81
airship development in Europe. In Eng
land Lord Weir advised all firms having
any connection with airplane making 20
set out of it as quietly as possible His
advice was followed despite the fact tha-
many manufacturers thought aviation
had large commercial possibilities. They
could not afford 10 wait, however. so
fhAS fr1rrAd their Ta1anfa IN other work
The same general statement applies to
France and Italy. As to Germany, she is
out of consideration.
Passenger AIrshIps Sure to Come.
1t is certain the airship will become q
regular vehicle for passengers and high
class freight across the Atlantic. This
may be within a year or two. but the
passenger traffic win be limited by rea-
son of the high rates and the hazards.
We are likely to have many tragedies 20
mark the way, just as there were in the
early days of the railroad and the auto
mobile with the kerose ne lamp.
Anyone who has dreams of flying TO
and from business in the city and his
home in the suburbs or. say 25 or 80 miles
iout-traveling in the air as he does now
in autos in for dis:::usionment The
use of the airship for short journey IS
too costly. Its realm is distance.
Flying will become JUST safe as rail-
road travel some time. Today it is not
so hazardous as supposed. AS indicated
by insurance rates and statistics as to
flights it is safe enough. Assuredly it is
fast enough, but the time it saves on
anything but long journeys is offset by
the many and long delays at the starting
and landing points.
Aircraft Not For Short Distance
/ Where the airship Is likely to play a
really great part is in fields where now If
| IS not considered commercially-Asia
Africa, South America Australia Toda !,
| 1t is a journey of three or four weeks