Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-09
Aviation, Elsewhere asd Here

q ONE idea OF the extent to which
- aviation is being employed in the
service of commerce may be gathered
from the fact that within the last twelve
month more than million dollars worth
of imports and exports have ueen air.
planned between England and the CONT
nent. It appears, moreover, from a recent
report of Controller-General of Civil Avia-
ton Of Great Britain, thu during this same
period upwards of seventy thousand air
passengers were carried, with but one ia
tality and few accidents Of any sort.
This is typical of what is being done in
commercial aviation outside of the United
States. European Governments from the
greatest to the least, ale encouraging air
traffic as national asset They rightly
appreciate its significance, not only to mill
tary and naval interests, but to those of
business as well, and to the common forces
that make for prosperity. They see that
the simplest and surest way of acquiring
an aeronautic reserve against possible
war is to foster civilian interest in the
art of flying and to make it worth while
FOR young men to become aviators in times
OF peace. Especially do they realize that
the country which neglects this means of
transportation will find Itself at no very
distant time sorely disadvantaged in
commerce as if it had failed to avail itself
OF steamships when they came speeding into
the world of sails
1t Is one or the 1rOnleS or history CndI
the birthland Of Wilbur and Orville Wright
is being left absuredly behind in aeronau-
tic development. A natior long known for
readiness in turning the hints OF science to
practical account and for resourcefulness in
shaping means to ends, mighty in popula-
ton and endowed with vast energy and
wealth, is being outdistanced by little war
MANNED countries in a realm OF enterprise
where by all odds she ought to lead. Our
Army air service, Notwithstanding the urge
and opportunity which the World conflict
brought is little stronger today than when
the punitive expedition against Villa came
near breaking down for lack Of air scouts
and general aeronautiC support. Further
more, the outlook for proposed lines Of
aerial mail service is extremely dubious.
Though less than ten days remain for the
receipt of bids TO carry mail by airplane
between New York and Atlanta and on 9TH
er projected routes in the West, no bids
have yet been submitted.
The cause of these unhappy conditions is
not far to seek. 1t is want Of initiative
the part Of the executive officers want
Of interest on the part of the public. 1t is
the backwardness and pettiness of Re-
publican Congress. The War Department
pleaded for adequate appropriations to help
the air service which the war had develop
ed to point of great promise from
dsintegrating; but the Republican majority
voted down all measures to that end. The
Postoffice Department pleaded for appro-
pI1dLlOuS W uSF6lOp Iu0 dlip1du0 uldll SGfF-
ice in which it has made so substantial
beginning; but the same visionless parti-
zans limited allowable expenditures for this
purpose to a cost not exceeding that of
railway mail service-an egregiously stupid
provision which makes progress almost i'm
possible.
The practicability and great time-saving
Of airplane carriage Of mails have been
fully demonstrated on the New York-Wash-
ington route and that between New
York and Chicago. Business is willing to
pay a little more for air service which
cuts in half the ordinary time for the
transmission Of mails, than for the slower
rail service. Yet, in spite of the marked
success of the aerial lines already operat-
ing and in spite Of tho marked advantages
to persons and institut ons desiring the
speediest delivery Of their letter, a Repub-
lican Congress throws it's reactonary dam
per on this important enterprise
1t is this penny-wise, pound-foolish pol
icy, this narrow, loutis- spirit that has
placed America in the shameful rear of
aviation when she could be and should be
gloriously in the lead. AS long IS that at
| titude is tolerated, the nation will pay the
penalty in prestige, in practical interests,
and, should war come, in wretched unpre-
paredness.