East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-08-22
AIRplANE SEEN AS
hit At HIGH COSTS
Aviation Industry is Big
Factor in Economics Now
That War is Over.

support nowadays is as n potential
factor in the cost of living. A new but
thFiving TRANSPORTATION system of al
most unlimited possibilities is at our
door, and any laws to regulate avia-
tion should be based upon an appre-
citation of this fact.
The public does not yet realize the
part aviation may play in reducing the
prices of the necessities of life. This
lack sf understanding is due to the
fact that the amazing developments
in aerial transportation were made
under the stimulus OF war and were
rigidly censored.
During the conflict in Europe, the
period of greatest progress in aviation,
the public conception of an airplane
or a dirigible was n terrible instru-
ment of death, merely one of many
methods of extracting retribution from
an enemy. Peace has not Yet been
established long enough to bring n
thorough public appreciation of the
Importance of aerial traffic in eco
nomics.
Ocean Has Been Spanned.
We had scarcely ceased to marvel
over Hawker's spectacular. but pure
ly sporting affair, when the United
States navy sent an airplane across the
Atlantic. and Great Britain emphasiz-
ed the conquest of the air by span
ming the ocean with dirigible.
Some of the best brains of the
world are now at work upon aerial
transportation and these brains are not
coping with such gigantic problems
as the bombing of locusts or the pur-
suit of trees. What actually is hap
pening is this:
The airplane has been found to be
a perfectly practicable carrier of food
stuffs, especially perishables that re-
quire rapid transit. Planes that will
carry ten to twelve tons cargo have
been constructed in England. Planes
with a cargo capacity of about six
tons are available now in the United
States.
The dirigible owing to the discovery
of helium, has even grea ter possibili-
ties as a foodstuff carrier. When the
United States finds it possible to turn
over helium in quantity for CONNER
cial use, the whole construction of
the dirigible will be revolutionized,
both for passenger and freight busi-
ness. They are the future liners of
the air.
Even the poorest of the airplancs
now available to commerce have a
speed of IS to 100 miles an hour. The |
planes used in the United States mail
service are much faster. And one
great automobile company is now
out a plane with an improved |
motor which will do about 40 !
miles an hour, and, with aerial condi-i I
ions right, will ever do 100. Against +
uch speed as that all ordinary meth
,6s of food transportation seem prim-
tive. Il
Cost Is Serious Problem.
The cost of operation of the air.
lane is, of course, a serious problem.
% the bystander aviation seems to be
4 "millionaire's game" just at it
seemed at one time that the automo-
bile could be owned only by the veal
shy. But even now the cost OF the
airplane operation is not much of a
in developing a great system
IF transportation for perishables. The |
act that the plane can make two or
hree trips to destination and return,
While any other transportation vehicle
s making one, equalizes to some de-
,ree the discrepancy in operating
:osts especially where the element of
ime is as important as it is in carry
ng perishables. This problem of oper-
tting cost will ne solved, just as every
'ther problem of aerial transport has
,een overcome.
From data at hand now it is evil
lent that the day of the airplane and
irigible is not four or five years in
he future, but is now. There is n tenn
orary luH, due to readjustment in
he commercial situation; but after
he leading manufacturers find out
xactly where they stand in their re-
ltions with the government, the avia- ,
on business will go forward under
Ill blast, and the developments will
e so rapid as to bewilder the public.
1t would be we'll for Chicago, in its
fort to avert a repetition of the :.
Express" tragedy, to pass
My a few essential laws and leave the
sneral question of regulation of traf-
C to the future. There is no imme- (
ate necessity for aerial traffic cops. u
hat we need is few simple statutes
prevent dangerous experimental e
ork above the C ty.
Remedies Are Suggested. 1
Hydrogen gas in dirigibles should II
} prohibited excepting in restricted t.
eas. stunt" flying in airplanes il
Iould be allowed only at certain d
lights if at all. Test flights of any o
nd should be prohibited; but the "
after of determining what is or is not z
test flight needs some study. tt
Regulation of the kind that will en- T
urage aviation, rather than kill it d
{. is the problem of all the cities p,
w. If each municipality adopts its m
IN code without regard to the laws
ssed in other cities, we shall have G
erely a hodfepodge of local laws
lich the aviators will not respect,
d the situation will be worse than
nr A federal air ministry would be
G best possible solution. at
Several Chicago men are well post si
on aviation and capable of giving Fl,
luable advice in the matter of legis- na
ion. The views of some of these or
IN will be presented later. nc
WR Agree