The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-05-06

Prospects for the immediate estap-
Hshment of an aviation field ana lahu
ing station in Ardmore are excellent
according to developments at a meeting
Of the board of Directors and mempers
of the Committee on New Industries
held Saturday morning. Lieut. r. "
Townsend, field manager FOR the fo''
Worth Aerial Transportation company
presented a proposal from that ofgahi
cation which was endorsed UNANIMOUSLY
nv the directors and committeeman
present and the matter was referred 10
The committee on new Industries for
detailed investigation as to finance ana
investment phase OF the proposition
Lieutenant Townsend'5 proposition
Is TO establish the field ut the present
landing field north of the city in front
Of the Edward Galt's country residence
He presented a letter from Mr.. Galt
proffering the use of this field and the
privilege of erecting hangar ana re
pair and supply station free OF any
rost. with the guarantee that the
ground may be so used for not less than
pne year and with the privilege OF
-emova of any buildings that may De
placed upon the grounds.
The Ardmore field is proposed as
substation on an aerial route from san
Antonio, by way of Austin, Dallas, FL
Worth, Gainesville, Ardmore, Okla
homa City, Tulsa Kansas City and st.
Louis. Several other Texas cities are
already established as substation points
including points in the Texas oil fields
and these will be operated as branch
lines to the main line as above noted.
The total investment to cover the
Ardmore field will be 100000. of which
the main company win provide half
and Ardmore is asked to provide the
other half Several wealthy Ardmore
citizens Interested in Healdton and
north Texas oil fields are Interested
and it is expected will provide large
portion of the necessary capital
Several Ardomre parties also are eX
pected to buy aeroplanes OF their own
and will need the service of sub
station in order to make their planes
available for commercial use. Jake l..
Harmon now owns three machines and
expects to be interested in this sub
station.
The company proposes to begin opera.
tons by detailing two machines 70 the
Ardmore station. These machines are
available ana will be brought here i'm
mediately if the proposition of the com
pany is accepted. and installed under
canvas hangers until such time as
permanent steel hangers can be erect.
ed
In addition to the commercial bust
ness of the company an aviation school
will be maintained where flyers viii
be trained The planes will also be
used for taking up people on JOY rides
as long as the novelty lasts. It is eX-
pected also to establish regular pas
senger service to Healdton oil fields,
which trip can be made easily in fifteen
minutes II is believed that machine
carrying one pilot and two passengers
could take two men 10 the field and re-
turn in a total flying time of thirty
minutes and at "A total charge of $50.
Or SIS each passenger for the round
"trip
The advertising value of such an
the directors There can be no doubt
that an enterprise of this character in
operation would be immense drawing
card for the city maintaining ii and
that the developments from the novel
IS stage TO purely commercial and
utility stage would he steady and rapid
though for several years the cities
maintaining such sub,stations viii
doubtless be advertised beyond any com
petitors not connected with aerial trans /
portation.
If established in Ardmore the enter
prise would from the start employ six
pilots and several mechanics and help /
ers. probably dozen in all.
The men who listened to Lieutenant
proposition were impressed
with the practicabilty of the whole plan
and the conservative basis on which it
IS proposed TO be operated. After Civ
ing the matter full consideration thev I.