Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-09
Walter J. Smith Arrives an
Hour Ahead of Schedule on
First Trip-FIying Time,
Three Hours and a Half.
PERSHING GREETS PILOT
SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVAL
Eastbound Plane Forced to
Descend Near Iowa City and
Mail Is Sent by Train
Great Interest Shown Here.
Aerial mail to Omaha is a reality

Aerial mail to Omaha is a reality.
"You made an historic flight and
congratulate YOU" said Gen. John ].
Pershing yesterday afternoon when
he grasped the hand Of Pilot Walter
!. Smith, who had the distinction
Of bringing the first mail to Oma-
ha by the mail route, making the
trip in one hour and SIX minutes
ahead of hs schedule.
The general and party arrived too
late at the United States postal
hangar. Sixty third and Center
streets, to witness the arrival of the
aerial mail, but the significance of
the occasion was manifested in the
interest shown by General Pershing,
Otto Praeger, second assistant post
master general. and other officials.
Large Crowd Present.
81 wish to congratulate you, too,
on the part you have had in this
achievement" General Pershing said
to the second assistant postmaster
general. who came from Washing
ton to witness the Establishment of
aerial mail service between Chicago
and Omaha.
]. David Larson, commissioner OF
the Chamber of Commerce, and AS
sistant Commissioner w. A. Ellis,
with other officers of the body were
among the crowd which visited the
hangar and viewed the large Dc
Haviland four, the ship" on which
Pilot Smith brought the mail,
Makes Record Trip.
Pilot Smith left Grant park, Chi
cago, Yesterday morning at $50 and
arrived here at 1884 p. m, making
one stop Of half an hour at Iowa
City. He flew 45S miles in three
hours and s. minutes of flying time,
an average of two miles per minute.
He attained speed of 1873 miles and
= encountered snow storms in Illinois
requiring him to descend several
times to an altitude of 800 feet for
observations. He was modest over
his success and within a few min
ntes after he had delivered his mail
10 motor truck sent out by Post
master Tanning. he was in the
Graceland cafe drinking hot coffee.
Assistant Postmaster General
praeger was pleased over the sue
ccssful f1igh~ made by Smith.
Experimental Stage Passed.
within a few years ] anticipate
that aerial mail will be quite gen
eral," Colonel Praeger said. The
experimental stage has been passed.
Il is practical and will grow"
In the 400 pounds of, mail which
Smith brought from Chicago were
several special delivery letters for
the Chamber of Commerce. These
were delivered to the addresses
within six hours from the time they
were started from Chicago.
The first aerial mail consignment
to Omaha weighed 400 pounds and
was contained in seven sacks. A
weight of l.500 pounds will be car
ricd on each trip, beginning within
few weeks when a new type of
airplane will be put into the service.
Omaha Western Terminus.
Col J. A. Jordon of the aerial
mail extension service was at the
hangar; also R. S. Braurer Of Chi
cago and Carl Egge of Washington,
both of the railway mail service,
and Herbert Blakeslse, in charge of
the Philadelphia branch of the air
mail service.
Omaha is now the western ter
minus of the air mail service, and in
honor of the event a large Amer
ican flag futtered from the top of
the newly-constructed hangar, which
was an object of interest to a crowd
that had gathered under adverse
weather conditions. This building
is said to be the largest and most
modern air mail hangar in the
world. This feature of the days
lCnnEnnad on paea Eiye Col,,pan Six l