The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-23
Business Men Want Ordinance
Covering Flying Here.
Think There Is Danger of An
other ~FIying Terror"
GO BEFORE COMMISSIONERS
Would Not Let Planes Soar
Over the City.
Safety Zones on Landing Fields
Are Discussed.

Certain business men of Topeka
gathered at the Chamber of Commerce
this noon began an agitation to put
another ordinance on the city law
book The business men were ap-
parently somewhat wrought up over
the flying terror" disaster in Chr
cago Tuesday, and what they desire is
a law which will tend to prevent any
similar accident IN Topeka.
It was pointed out during the dis
cussion that under existing laws such
an accident would leave the injured
with no recourse at law. On the face
of il and in the absence of any law
or ordinance governing air traffic the
pilots Of the machines could not be
convicted OF criminal negligence. II
was also pointed out that there Is
every possibility that q city can be held
liable for injury or death resulting to
a citizen from an airplane accident or
a balloon accident such as the one at
Chicago.
Want Ordinance Passed
It is desired by these men that an
ordinance be passed prohibiting the
flying over the city of any motor pro-
PEELED air craft Then II the pilot OF
a plane or a bhmp breaks the ordi-
nance the citizens are provided with
some definite measure on which 70
base court action for damages.
This matter is to be taken before
the city commission in a short time
and II is expected that City Attorney
HAYDEN will be instructed TO draf'
such an ordinances for presentation 70
1 the commission.
Another matter thought to be i'm
nediate1y necessary for the safety oi
Topekans is a recommendation from
| the city commission that the flyer
now operating at washburn field b
| instructed to construct safety zones
about their landing field at such dis
tances from the landing spots tha
spectators will be out Of DANCES.
Meet Flyers Approval.
| 1t is thought that this recommends
ton would meet with the approva
Of the flyers themselves for It hal
been noticed that every time a plan'
lands after making a flight. the spec
tators crowd around and endangel
themselves and the pilots and pas
| sengers. It Is thought that the avia
tors would be glad of action on tn
part Of the city which would Civ
them real authority for enforcing tn
| commonest rules OF safety.
Undoubtedly It Is right that the cit.
should protect its citizens from air
plane accidents. but at this time whei
Topeka is being favored by the govern
ment and air corporations as a cross
country landing place, it isn't advisa
BILE that the city place any obstacle
in the path of progressiveness. lie
Topeka advance. Destructive legisla
ton will only tend to shift Topeka
advantages to other cities-cities tina
are clamoring for the unusual op
portunities thrust upon the capita
city. Two airplane crews make thei
homes here now They have the ma
chimes and are flying every mornin
and evening The Chicago acciden
was most unusual-it may never occu
again New York. Chicago. Washing
ton, Paris. London,-ail the worl
centers make no protest against tn
use OF the air for flying Flying plane
above cities Is a novelty and an al
traction that few communities ca
boast Of Let Topeka encourag
rather than discourage advancement
in world transportation.