Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1921-06-30
BY FREDERIC J. HAsklN


WASHINGTON. d. c.. jane 20 =
Just as the official axe is about TO
chop off the stunted wings OF the
Air Mail service, due to congressional
failure to provide funds for tbs con-
tinuance OF the short lines. the air
mail attains 100 per cent perform
ance on all divisions for the first time
in its three-year history.
Almost coincident with the
achievement OF that ideal perform
ance record. Postmaster General
Hays announces the appointment OF
Carl +. Egge. former superintendent
of the Minneapolis air mail station. to
the office of general superintendent
Of the entire system Though Egge
had 80 years experience n the post
office department. having risen to his
present position through the grades
of railway mail clerk and Inspector.
he is a man without,a flying record
How does this new superintendent
look upon the further development
Of the overhead postal methods?
As he steps into office. he faces a
rather gloomy outlook In few
weeks the transcontinental route
from New York to San Francisco will
be the only mail airway maintained
by the government. and yet Egge
does not feel discouraged over the
prospects.
Il believe in the air mail" he de-
clares. TT is past the experimental
stage and it's development. though
temporarily blocked. will come de-
spite the discontinuance OF the few
short lines we had already estab-
lished-"
Egge believes in the air mail. bus
his training in postoffice affairs also
makes him a firm believer in the dis
patch OF mail today as well as In the
future. something which the public
may greet with certain relief.
Short Lines Not Needed
He does not worry about the dis
continuance of the short lines. be-
cause there has been derived from
them no special benefits for the com
munities which they served. Egge
observes the passing Of the Wash
ington to New York. the Chicago to
Minneapolis and the Chicago to St
Louis runs without great regret. for
ii was not the maintenance OF these
short lines which has been the aim OF
the department. These short hops
were originally started as the first
legs OF what the department planned
to make an elaborate network OF
long distance routes. Lack OF funds
prevented the completion OF the orig
inal plans. and now SO threatens 70
block development for some time In
the future that il has been deemed
advisable to abandon temporarily. al
least. hopes for large-scale opera
ton.
The transcontinenta1 service. how.
ever. continues to beat rail deliver,
sufficiently to make II worthy o
continuance, and it will be continued
under appropriation made by con
xress. Aviators and mechanics OF
the discontinued routes will be trans
ferred to the transcontinental routes
and as far as possible utilized on tn
regular work on on the reserve list
Equipment will likewise be utilize'
on the cross-country air line.
Development of this lone run wi
undoubtedly provide for al. the ex
perimental needs of the service. an
at the same time permit men on TIL
route. with the total ia planes OF tn
department at their disposal. to IS
tablish record Improvement in aeria
dispatch.
The loss OF 10 lives during the pas
year-13 pilots. mechanics and on
official. almost twice as many as 70
the first two years-has been ad is
tressing feature of the development
of the air mail. But authorize:
while pointing out that every effoT
is being made to improve devices an
| airplane mechanism which will pre-
vent as far as possible these unfortu
nate accidents. likewise call attentio
to the fact that every great advanc
| in science is likely TO claim some to
of human life. At least each accider
and every experience in cross-coun
try flying increases the knowledE
of aviation. both for war and fC
commercial flying.
The Increased loss OF life this la.
year has been due TO a Certain exter
to the greater hazard of operating I'll
transcontinental route, which crosse
two mountain ranges. Seven OF III
| fatalities were due to defective mech
anism of a certain type Of plan
which which has been discarded. an
six occurred while the victims wer
not engaged in handling mail, eitht
on the field or In the air.
Pilots Adventures
| Pilots have never been REQUIRED
the postoffice department to start o
their trips under weather condition
that will endanger their lives, bi
they sometimes meet with ba
| weather conditions after starting.