Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1920-09-04
TRANSPORTATION BY
AIR GIVES PROMISE
Of VAST FULNESS

IF the sky is the limit in poker, then
the universe is the limit in aerial trans
portation. So great has been progress
in such transportation recently that
even the government is marveling and
the people of Phoenix are wondering.
A long cherished dream of Phoenix has
been to be on a main line. 1t is said
that one of the first things Phoenix
should do officially is to provide
landing field as specified by the gov
eminent and that this would put it on
a main line.
In chamber of commerce informa
ton as to the rapid advancement of
aerial mail transportation is this:
THE air mail service of the United
States postoffice department is the
only commercial airpl2ne service in the
world which has continued in unbroken
operation from the date of its estab-
lishment, nearly two years, ago. It's
performance has been more than 80
per cent. Air mail letters go at the
same rate of postage as is paid on
train l2tters-2 cents an ounce. Its
schedules are so woven in with train
schedules as to expedite letter mail
from IL to 16 hours to the public. in
eastern areas. In western areas now
| being established the reduction in
time will be much greater. The SER
vice thus far established is saving the
| public 100000 a year. A mail lJlaSe
| with 400 pound mail capacity has DIS
| placed a 60-foot car between New
York and Chicago. This service be-
| tween New York and Washington by
railroad costs at the rate of $165.000
! year, whereas the faster service by air
plane costs only 100000 a year.
| Chamber of commerce information
as to commercial air traffic includes
the following: "A recent survey made
| by the Manufacturers Aircraft asso-
citation discloses that at least so aerial
i transportation companies are in pro-
| cess of organization. Some of them
will never get beyond that point, it is
true, but the others, If properly Off
| cered and financed, have wonderful
/ opportunities for expansion. Indus
| trial concerns have been compelled to
adopt airplanes to facilitate trans
portation on certain occasions. The
number of companies using air craft
and endeavoring to place such trans
portation on a paying basis is increas-
| ing. There is a real tendency on the
part of all manufacturing and operat-
/ ing companies, such as the passenger
and freight carrying services. to prac-
tfce straight flying, eliminating the
! element of risk attached to exhibition,
! stunt or trick performance.
Aircraft are being used for pleas
ure travel. Quantity production soon
| Will be possible and this is most need
ed at present for aerial passenger traf-
fic. The war machine must go as a
type. 1t is rapidly being supplanted
by vehicles for straight flying which.
all things considered, are as safe as
any vehicles on earth. Planes do not
fall to earth any more, nor do they
tear apart in nlid-air.. Expert engi-
neerfng based on the laws of physics
has provided against this. There are
at least ten different types of machines
on the market today which are built
for straight flying. BY actual tests
these are as safe as motor cars or
other conveyances that travel faster
than Is miles an hour along congested
highways. These American machines
carry from one to 10 passengers. Some
of them are designed to carry 1.500
pounds of cargo, mail or freight. They
are in operation today The next gen
Grafton will know as much about air
planes and flying as we today know
about the automobile"