Evening star., 1921-07-10
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


States have been charted by
the War Department with the
design that they shall be the princi-
pal transportation lines OF the future
for use in national defense, but even
more so for increasing commerce.
These plans are being worked out
under the general supervision OF Gen.
Charles T. Menoher, chief of the air
service. but the cooperation of civic
and business organizations all over
the country is being sought. Author
ization for this work is found in the
Army reorganization act of June 4,
1920. which provided for the air serv-
ice of the Army. and the mapping out
and development Of these great air
ways Is part of the program for
building up the air service.
It also carries out the Presidents
message Of April 10, in which he az
pressed the wish that the Army could
be entrusted with the development Of
airwayG The President was advised.
OF course. regarding needs by the ma
uonal advisory committee on aero
nautics and approved their recon-
mendations in his appeal to Congress.
He urged that an appropriation Of
100000 covering two years should
be made for this work, and a bill COW
ering such appropriation is now being
prepared.
In the schemes of reorganization of
the administrative branch Of the gov
ernment general federal supervision
Of cir communication and transporta-
tion Is contemplated. either in a de-
pertinent of communication and trans
portation or by some other agency.
Work Of the Air Service.
Already the air service of the Army
has done a great deal Of work for
other federal departments and agen-
cies and in cooperation with the de-
partments Of Agriculture. Treasury,
Interior. Commerce; for the states of
New, York and Pennsylvania. and
many other governmental services.
The War Departments tentative
plans are for development of these
great airways through the National
Guard. which, under the reorganiza-
tion, constitutes one-third of the en-
tire Army. and the organized reserve.
which, under the reorganization cop-
stitutes one-half, while the Regular
Army will be only one-sixth. The
part that civic spirit and commercial
enterprise is to take in this big de-
velopment for the future of national
defense and commerce Ia in establish
ing municipal fyi1g fields and land
ing stations in places where the air
service does not have afrdome or
group airdomes. The principal COM
munities are now being urged to set
aside such municipal fields or COM
mons for use Of the National Guard.
organised reserve, air station and
similar activities. 1t Is contemplated
that about such commons approx
matsly forty-fve acres in area will
Krow up concessions for the Army,
for the National Guard, Aero Clubs,
commercial projects related to avia-
tion-so What they will be centers for
nationa, defense and commercial avi-
alton.
There has been considerable preju-
dice against aviation. due to num-
ber of fatal accidents. but those in
closest touch with developments as
sert that aerial transportation Will
be not only the pleasantest, but the
safest method-avoiding the millions
of chances for fatal accidents In rail-
road train or automobile. 1t Is
claimed that the accidents have. been
due to lack of ground organization
and putting planes specially designed
and constructed for war to uses for
which they are not adapted.
Eight Great Afrways.
In a general way eight great air
ways have been charted-three
transcontinental. one along the At
lantic and Pacific coasts. and three
cutting the country north ad south
from the Canadian border to the
Mexican border and Gulf. Airdomes
and group airdomes have been pro-
vided for along the coast lines and
borders, with municipal landing fields
or airdomes dotting the interior
country.
the proposed Atlantic coast airway
stretches from Portland. Me-, to Key
West, Fla; the Pacific coast airway
from Seattle, Wash. to San Diego.
Cal. The northern transcontinental
airway would stretch from Boston
and New York across Binghamton.
Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Billings
and Helena to Seattle. The central
transcontinental airway would sweep
from Washington, D. c., across Pitts
burgh, Columbus, Springfield. ILL.,;
D.,l, leland Omaha Sidney Chey-
snne, Rawling, Salt Lake City. Bat
tie, Mont, and Reno to San Francisco.
The southern transcontinental air
way would run from Savannah, Ga.
and Jacksonville Fla, to Montgom-
:ory, there diverging to Park and New
Orleans; from Park to Little Rock
and Dallas, where 1t again diverges
to Sweetwater and Ell Paso' on one
stretch and to San Antonio and La
redo on the other. The other arm OF
the airway from Montgomery to New
Orleans sweeps along the shore to
Galveston, then through San Antonio
and Del Rio and along the border
through Ell Paso, Douglas. Tucson
Phoenix and Yuma to San Diego.
One Of the north-and-south airways
starts at Chicago. and goes over
Springfield. ILL.,: to st. Louis. to Park,
where it joins the southern transcon-
tinental line. There Is also q shorter
airway from Topeka over Wichita,
tulsa and Oklahoma to join the:
southern route at Dallas, and thence
to Laredo Another -and-south