The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-22
Planes Expected To RAn From
Topeka to N. c. Soon.
VIII Carry Both Passengers
and Small Freight.
SEVERAL LANDING PLACES
"When Can l Get a Ship!"
May Soon Be Heard.
Cost VIII Be High at First, 1t
Is Believed.

what time can get an airplane to
Kansas City?" will probably be a COM
mon question with thirsty Topekans
within the next few weeks. Airplane
passenger service will be inaugurated
this week in Kansas City by the Cen
trail Aircraft. corporation, it has been
announced. with airplanes plying be-
tween Kansas City and points within
$50 miles. 1t was stated that the
company is now negotiating with the
chambers of commerce of various
towns in, Kansas relative to a decision
on passenger rates.
The company will begin its service.
it was said, with one Curtiss army
plane capable of carrying two passen-
gers. The service will be extended
later, in accordance with the enthusi-
asm shown by travellers in the project.
Army Men for Pilots.
Discharged army aviators will be
used as pilots and as the business in
creases machines of larger capacity
will be used. Lieut.. James H. Smith,
former instructor at Rich Field. Tex
as, will pilot the first machine. Only
| in extremely fair weather. it was said,
will more than one passenger be car
ried at the present time.
Plans for the purchase of more
planes are already being made but
officials of the company refused 10
make public further details of their
plans until the machines are ready for
| business.
The round trip from Topeka to KAN
| sas City can be made in about ninety
| minutes, it was said, and the rates
will probably be about 81 mile. rail-
road mileage, depending on the out
come of the negotiations with. the
. H.
string to make the trip will have to
buy a round trip ticket, or arrange for
the return of some passenger. Nc
actual schedule of rates has yet been
announced.
Landing Place Here.
The starting and landing point In
Kansas City, it has been agreed, is to
| be at Overland Park. No decision has
been made regarding the landing piact
in Topeka, altho it is said severa
places are available, including the ole
grounds used by Phil Billiard in High
land Park and a site near WashbCrr
college. A field near Cages park Ii
also possible. All of these fields are
connected with the main part of the
city by street car lines.
In addition to the passenger service
the company also plans to install mai
and freight service, it is said. Plan,
are being made for the construction
of monster machine with a carryine
capacity of IS persons at the com
pany's flying field at Overland Park
Kansas City.
The possibility of an established
| freight, passenger and mail service via
the air route between points in Kansat
is not scoffed at by men who pretend
to know the possibilities of the air
plane and the ultimate liberal patron
age of such a service, resulting in tn,
ability of the new company to operat,
at a lower cost and reasonable fare Il
4 not looked upon as unreasona Bile.
Only for the Wealthy.
Hold on to your baggage-it's
long way to the ground may be ia
miliar warning of the conductor oI
these new conveyances. and Don
lean out the window may be a gl5-i9;
placard in the passenger cabin. But /
is probable that, for a time at least
only the wealthy class of Topekan
and occasionally the very busy bust
ness man will avail themselves of thi
opportunity to defeat Father Time IL
his efforts to retard the rapid prog
ress of the human race.