Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-29

general superintendent of the entire sA<tem.
Though Egge has had thirty years experience
in the Post Office Department, having risen to
his present position through the grades of rail-
way mail clerk and inspector, he is a man with
out a flying record.
How does this new superintendent look upon
the further development of the overhead postal
methods?
As ne steps into office, he faces a rather
gloomy outlook. In a few weeks the trans
continental route from New York to San Fran
cisco 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 declares. 1T
is past the experimental stage, and its devel-
opment, though temporarily blocked, will come
despite the discontinuance of the few short
lines we had already established"
Egge believes in the Air Mail. but his train
ing in post office affairs also makes him a hrm
believer in the dispatch 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 discontinuance
of the short lines. because there has been de-
rived from them no special benefits Tor the
communities which they served. Egge OBJ
York, the Chicago to Minneapolis, and the chi
cago to st. Louis runs without great regret, for
it 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 had planned 10
make an elaborate network OF long-distance
routes. Lack of funds prevented the compile
ton of the original plans and now so threat
ems to block development for sometime IN the
future tndt IL mas Deen etile duNiSdppe "
abandon, temporarily, at least, hopes for large
scale operation.
The transcontinental service, however, con-
tinues to beat rail delivery sufficiently to make
it worthy of continuance, and it will be con-
tinued under appropriation made by congress.
Aviators and mechanics on the discontinued
routes will be transferred to the transcontinen-
tai routes and as far as possible utilize on reg
ular work or on the reserve list. Equipment
will likewise be utilized on the cross-country
air line.
Development of this lone run will undoubt..
edly provide for all the experimental needs OF
the service. and at the same time permit men
on this route, with the total ia planes of the
department at their disposal, to establish rec
ord improvement in aerial dispatch.
The loss Of nineteen lives during the past
year-thirteen pilots. five mechanics and one
official, almost twice as many for the first two
years-has been a distressing feature of the
development of the Air Mail But authori-
ties, while pointing out that every enort IS
being made to improve devices and alrplane
mechanism which will prevent as far as pos
sible these unfortunate accidents, likewise call
attention to the fact that every great ao of bu9
in science is likely to claim some toll OF hu-
man life. Al least each accident and every ex-
perience in cross-country flying increases the
knowledge of aviation both Tor war ana lol
commercial flying.
The increased loss of life this last year mas
been due to a certain extent to the greater
hazard of operating the transcontinental route
which crosses two mountain ranges. seven OIL
the fatalities were due to defective mechanism
of a certain type of plane which has peen dls-
carded, and six occurred while the victims were
not engaged in handling mail, either on the
field or in the air.
Pilots Adventures.
Pilots were never required by the Post once
Department to start on their trips under
weather conditions that will endanger their
lives, but they sometimes-mee with bad wealth
er conditions after starting. In their eagerness
to complete their trips and test ther Tying
skill under these dlfflcultles, tney sonheliiheS
take great risks.
Difficulties OF keeping the mail moving in
spite of weather conditions are revealed In the
reported experience of one aviator flying over
the states of New Jersey and PENNSYLVANIA,
in his flight from New York to Belietonte'
Pennsylvania.
II flew at 1000 feet" he said, Catching, oc
casional glimpses of the ground until reaching
the Delaware river, which l was able to see
through a hole in the fog. Linen dlVed down
to the river and attempted to lily downstream.
This proved to be impossible owing 10 the lace
that the fog was right on the water ana there
was no eiling"-referring to the distance from
the water to the fog.
After flying for sometime. this pilot ex..
planned, he climbed through an upper strata o.
clouds, breaking through at 1000 feet: When
he saw a black spot in the clouds ne uiyeu
down again to within eighty-hve feet OF the lie
high river. Thus he continued up through the
clouds to find a clear place and then aoMn
again through a hole, endeavoring to learn
where he was. Engine trouble developed pc
fore he was able to locate himself and ne was
obliged to alight among some trees on the
mountain side. 81.
Another Air Mail pilot tells of crashing INTO
the mountain side near Jasper, Nevada, ourihs
April while flying over the western ena Oh u
transcontinental route. He encountered d w
lent blizzard, the snow being so dense tnal
visibility at fifty yards was the maximum. ne
cleared one range of mountains When ahothel
mountain came suddenly into view ffty YARDS
ahead, He promptly pulled his guiding levers
to the limit, hoping against hope TO clear 'he
mountain, but the crash was inevitable.
During the winter months another pllot ny
ing between Chicago and st. Louis through d
sleet and snow storm, was so cold, sore anu
stiff when he reached Chicago, that he mad 10
be assisted out of his ship. 49,.
These incidents present rather VlVidly tne
spirit of the men who are flying with the mails;
Uncle Sam may at least be certain that ne wiz
not have to worry about airmen-alrmen VINO
will deliver his mail on time in the face of ter
r;fc weather odds-once he decides to go into