The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1919-02-01
Conquering The Air

Since the recent mail troubles and lack of more frequent trans
portation in and out of Eureka have caused considerable local discus
sion. the following editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune upon the
possibilities of and the fast strides being made in perfectlng air
mail service in this country should be read with interest:
It is regarded as certain that an air mail service between Eng
land and the United States will have been established and in per-
feet working order by the Summer of 1920. This is a confident pre-
diction founded upon the tremendous strides made in aviation as a
consequence of the war.
General Brancker, late of the British air ministry, who us no"
devotine his time to commercial aviation, is authority for the state
ment that a flight across the Atlantic will be accomplished in May
of this year. He adds that the trip is entirely feasible, since three
or four types of planes already developed are capable OF trans-At-
lantic flights. General Brancker goes further in his prophecies
saying that the time is not far distant when airships will be owned
and driven as'automobnes are to-day. When that time arrives an
aerial police force will be necessary.
In this country air mail service is being given thorough tests.
Various routes leading to and from Washington have already been
established, and several trans sentimental flights have been carried
out as a part of a series of experiments conducted by the Govern
ment. These trials have been successful even beyond expectations,
and plans are even now we'll forward to extend the aerial mail ser
vice between the east and the Pacific coast. Salt Lake Is preparing
to take it's place IS one of the great mail depots of this service.
Those who have followed the advance Of the automobile from
its humble beginning twenty years ago or such matter to its present
place of indispensabiity in the affairs Of the people will not hesitate
to accept the forthcoming era of aviation as assured. In fact, the
era is we'll into the dawn
That there will be constant improvement in aircraft goes with
out saying, and that improvement will progress as the necessity for
more speed, greater stability and better control arises. In England
and this is a official announcement-the admiralty is building
airships with a gas capacity of $500, 900 cubic feet. These huge
machines will have an enormous lifting power, and will travel at the
rate of from sixty to seventy miles an hour. Some of the ships uu-
der construction or projected will have accommodations for twenty
five persons and will be able to remain in the air for a week at a
time.
At Melbourne, Australia, a company has been organized to
undertake transport flights from Australia to London. The air line
from the Antipodes to England is probably 1000 miles shorter than
any of the existing rail or water routes. The voyage of the craft
controlled by the Melbourne company will be made by way of the
Dutch East Indies and Bagdad. ,
The century which is but eighteen years old bids fair to be
filled with marvellous achievements of science, and none of them is
likely to be of greater service to mar than the development of aeri-
al transportation.