The Alaska daily empire., 1920-09-28
LANDING PLACE FOR PLANES IS
 BEING SOUGHT
Capt. Douglas Visits Juneau Tells of Alaska Squad
 ron's Test Flight.

Looking for possible landing fields for aircraft in this vicinity, Capt H. T. Douglas. Supply Officer of the Alaska Flyers New York to Nome expedition, arrived in Juneau about 1 noon today. He will spend but a | few hours here going to Wrangeil on the Jefferson tonight to wind up the affairs of the expedition there
 The data he secured here as to the available landing places will be | forwarded to Washington for filing in ] case of possible future flights He was met by President Allen Shattuck l of the Juneau Commercial Associa- ton, this afternoon and taken out to 1 look over places where it is believed suitable landing fields can be made available
 Capt. Douglas made all the ground arrangements for the squadron at the various stops in the Territory, pro- vding supplies and selecting fields for landing He came North early last June and has been in the Ter ritory since that time. Following the departure of the planes from the Interior he shipped in the unused supplies, repair parts, extra engines etc. to storage places. visiting Ruby Fairbanks, Dawson and Whitehorse for this purpose.
 Alaska and the Yukon are a wonderful country" he said. When ,.ir from Whifn horse down to Panama, up to Fair banks, thence back to Panama and Town to Nome and back again over he same route. one gets to know something about it and it's people. It hes certainly been a great expert once and I have enjoyed it all
 Capt Douglas said that he knew If no plans of the war Department .alling for the establishment of 'egular service in the Territory. The flight from New York to Nome was in the nature of test flight. ,ot only to determine the feasibility ,f operating aircraft in Alaska. but Q get a line on the practicability of operation so far from an aerial base.
 The feat accomplished by the Al ska Flyers, he said, in operating t.500 miles from their base Of sup 1lies, is unparalleled in the history f aviation Not only did they make he trip without a change of en- zines between New York and Nome but they are we'll on their return 'ourney and are still using the same engines they started with. He is confident that they will be successful n reaching New York without being olced to make a change. Engines were shipped to Fairbanks for in 1tallation if it should be found nee assary. but they were not needed.
 He is satisfied that the seaplanf s the proper type of aircraft To lse in the Territory. lnnumerable 'akes and other bodies of wate' ;upply landing places at almost ever, ,oint. Such craft would meet witt little difficulty in summer operations "It would require considerable eX ,erimenting to develop winter aerla ,avigation," he said, Out l am surf
 hat winter operations of planes < practicable and could be carried o' without unusual difficulty"
 The people of Dawson and White horse are suggesting now that tho | Canadian Government institute winter aerial mail route between th' two towns. he said. At present there
 S no mail service of any kind pro | yided for to Dawson and recent call 'or bids for such a service did no produce single tender.
 1 Capt. Douglas left Skagway tnl
 morning on the Jefferson. Who hat vessel put in at Aux Bay tf load salmon, he with several fellow ,assengers got an automobile ane came into Juneau. He will ieavo for Wrangell tonight From there he will go to Prince Rupert and follow the route of the flyers cleaning 1T the odds and ends of the expedition shipning surplus supplies back te Washington.
 The squadron. with the exception If plane No 4, he said, has been fol ced to remain at Glenora where i landed several days ago. Fogs ane 'nclement weather are proving a scr 'ous handicap. An effort was ma1
 bv the three machines to get away yesterday but they were forced to return. Lieut. Kirkpatrick was snt
 cessful in going from Jasper to Ed : monton. In choosing to go by way Q Wrangell rather than to return k
 Whitehorse after an unsuccessful a
 tempt to cross the mountains t'
 Glenora. he encountered better wea
 ther than his companions who late