Arizona republican., 1921-01-23


 If the occasion should arise when large number of airplanes should be needed by the government, either for commercial purposes or war, where could 1t get them today? What pro- visions have been made for night fly ing? How many landing fields have we that are suitably marked, lighted. supplied and equipped with directional wireless and all other necessary aids to successful aero nayigation?" Mir. Cowie queried. Why should not the government" he urged, "control this in the same manner as it does our merchant marine by providing laws. licenses, suitable lighthouses. maps. proper routes, lifesaving apparatus, H. censed pilots and all the other things that go to make a successful working organization? We have none of these today" said Mir. Cowie, "and although America Is the home of the airplane. and we have among our engineers some of the best designers and manu- facturers of aircraft nothing of i'm portance seems to have been done to conserve the valuable aeronauticaI as- sets which we have.
 'I regard as very unfortunate" said Mir. Cowie. this lethargic attitude of the United States government toward aviation. While I do not wish to go
 
 service, yet I do. as a transportation man of experience. wish to emphasize the great necessity for the immediate encouragement of commercial avia- tion"
 MT. Cowie added that, contrary to general belief. horse drawn vehicles are still in wide use, the American Railway Express company having. in addition to their thousands of motor frIIClxc nd aFl 0A 1ra1,fof1e 1S,000 horse-drawn vehicles in service today. He pointed out that the trans portation problem was really the CO., ordination of a great number of diff ferent types of transportation vehicles. ranging from wheelbarrows to air planes. such as trucks, single horse rigs, double-team outfits. automobile trailers, double-end electric platform trucks, automobiles, gasoline motors, gasoline tractors. electric trucks. motor cars and experimental airplanes and dirigibles.
 Mr. Cowie urged upon the engineers the necessity of simplifying motor ve- hicles. Cut off all the nicknacks." said Mir. Cowie; strip down your chassis until there's nothing left but 1 essentials; take your motor vehicle apart and eliminate every possible non- essential; get down to bedrock; and then put together a vehicle that will be simple and efficient. You will not only cut down your cost of manu- facture and your cost of operation, but you will automatically get rid of high cost, accomplish a saving in upkeep and very greatly increase the sale of your product. Automobile design" he said, "has been too much influenced by the sale standpoint, too much inf1u- enced by what your competitor is do- ing. by what he is using as a talking ] point. by what he thinks will sell car to the ladies. Cut off your freak han dles, clean up your dashboard. elimi- nate all the fancy things-that's what makers of other vehicles do. You must remember that. after all, aside from a special few to whom you sell | high grade fancy jobs you are sell ing transportation.
 T am a great believer in the future of aviation" concluded MT. Cowie. and l believe the more we get behind | if the more automotive vehicles of Iail kinds will be manufactured and sold. This country of ours is a great country. where transportation is a paramount issue. where the transpor- tation cost of articles makes up 1 large part of the selling price. For | that reason there lies in your hand a vast and far-reaching opportunity"