The Washington herald., 1921-02-13
MARKS BEGINNING
OF new EPOCH IN
TRANSPORTATION
Route Charted Between
Washington and Day
ton, Ohio.
HIT BY PROPELLER
Mechanic Hurt Cranking Ma
chine for Exhibition.
Mitchell Speaks.

A new epoch in the history Of
transportation was begun at Boiling
Field yesterday afternoon, when
more than 100 members OF the Dis
trict Boy Scout troops laid the
corner stone" Of the first American
airway, which will be charted be-
tween Washington and Dayton.
During the ceremonies attending
the dedication. which included a
series of flying exhibitions, a slight
accident occurred. Private Charles
Peters, of Boiling Field, was struck
by a propeller while attempting to
crank one Of the demonstration
planes. He was thrown a consider
able distance by the impact but es-
capped with bruises and lacerations
Of the body.
Letters % Feet Long.
The laying OF the corner stone"
or field Identification mark, as it is
known in flying circles, was en-
tirely in charge OF the District
Scouts under the direction of Ed
ward D. Shaw. District Scout execu-
tive. The marker consists OF ID. c.
l." formed in characters about
20 feet in length. made Of stones
which have been whitewashed, so
that it will be distingUishable to
sviators. at a great altitude.
In an address to the Scouts, Brig
Gen. william Mitchell, acting head
Of the Army Air Service, urged the
cooperation OF the Boy Scouts in
this city and in all parts OF the
country in the establishment of
commercial airVays over the coun-
try and pointed out the Importance
OF this new development in trans
portation.
The greatest moving force in the
world in the next generation will be
air transportation" declared Gen.
Mitchell. The project of air trans
portation is still in its infancy. but
with the aid Of the Boy Scouts and
the energies Of those interested in
aeronautics, this present generation
can do much toward the establish
ment Of air service into its place Of
Importance.
Declared Milestone In Progress.
This is the first American air
way from Washington to Dayton,
passing through Moundsville. W.
Va, and Columbus, Ohio, and its es-
adjustment will prove a vital mile
stone in the progress and develop
nlent of both commercial and mill
tary aeronautics.
~weII-organiZed air routes through
cIU the country are an absolute
recessity. The ways Of the air must
bs. charted and marked just as the
rrssrs have been: With proper es-
fabiished routes, transcontinental
aying by day or night, by good or
lsad weather. will undoubtedly be
ssFer than auto touring by road with
tha Improvement of speed and COM
fsP..a
Brief addresses urging the Scouts
20 take up the proposition to assist
.6e Air Service were delivered by
c-olin Fl. Livingston, president of the
Satf5naI Scout Council; Huston
Thompson, president Of the District
Scout Council; Orville B. Drown,
commissioner Of the District Scouts
ara Izsac Grars. vice president Of
tie pistrss ssoSts,
- [FIishtE fer Scouts
announcement was made that
dtrsna the third National Regional
FNAAH EAHAEN "a sfe@sAAfA NtEASIaASB Will
Ete4f be held in this city beginning
March 5, an sirplane exhibition will
he staged by the Air Service at Boil
ing Field for the purpose of &C
quainting Scout officials with the
"details of the work and fostering
he Assistance by the Scouts. At
This time five local Scouts, those who
make the best record in Scout work
until that time, will be given an op-
portunity to fiy over Washington.
After the Scouts had been taken
on tour OF inspection through the
hangers, a program of stunt and ex-
hibition flying was staged.
The huge crowd of spectators
were given a variety Of thrills as
Lieuts. Stanley Ames and James ].
Langdon capered through a series
uf barrel rolls, Immelman turns,
vertical banks, loops, nose and tail
spins, whipsaws and ICONS.
Mrs. william r. Williams, wife Of
the Assistant Secretary Of War was
a passenger in a plane operated by
Capt. W. Ocker, Of Boiling Field.
Other civilians who were taken up"
during the exhibition were: r. G..
Ratchelder, executive chairman of
the American Automobile Associa-
tIonr and Lawrence Sperry, presi-
dent Of the Sperry Gyroscope Co.