South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-07
P. 0. DEPARTMENT
MAY MAKE CITY
AIR MAIL STATION
Government Inspectors Visit
South Bend 10 Examine
Landing Fields.

That South Bend viii shortly be
placed upon the list OF cities served
BY air mail IS forecasted by investi-
cations now being made IN this city
~ an investigated for the postofhce
department.
The inquiry has been rather eau
tiousIy conducted but survey OF
possible sites for such a Held mas
been made within the past week
one Of the places that has seem
inglv offered disabilities for this
eervica Is the Vanden Bosch farm on
Olive I'd.
Tor some time the government has
contemplated the purchase OF suit
able emergency fields on the route
between New York and Chicago. and
south Bend 10 one OF the loe(al
niacee for such field. especially
the growing pressure 10 extend the
service which IS now limited 10 the
larger cities.
The present airmail service has
two stopping places between New
york and Cleveland where planes
may stop for supplies or make
landings in the event Of any trou-
bile with the engines or planes.
Between Cleveland and Chicago
but one field has been provided that
being located ia the vicinity or
Bryan. Ohio.
From Bryan into Chicago aviators
carrying tho mails must take
chances on a continuous fight or
risk landing in unprepared spots.
Forced landings Of atrplanes'
while not especially frequent are
disturbing TO schedules and land
ing fields within distances -
80 miles OF each other have been
contemplated as means OF
strengthening the schedules.
The postoffice department. as
long ago as 1920, had prepared plans
for a larger service over the routes
now covered.
Under the present system the
plane which leaves New York car
ries its load into Cleveland, where
4 Is taken aboard trains and new
plane. loaded with mail for points
beyond Chicago. starts. Only the
bag containing special deliveries IS
transferred.
Under the more comprehensive
plans. il would be possible for a
continuous flight with original loads
from New York into Chicago, and
bv increasing the number Of planes
10 include loadings from cities IN
which the emergency fields are To-
Gated.
The postal investigator made
survey Of the farm named and
made his estimates as 10 the mount
OF levellng necessary 20 prepare the
fields The plans made two years
ago. under the former administra-
ton. contemplated the erection Of
a hangar. gasoline station and ma
chine shop 20 do temporary reTair-
ing.
II has not been disclosed as to
whether or not this investigation is
for the purpose of putting this plan
into operation
Should such n field be purchased.
IL Is believed that a concerted de
mand by business interests and the
large manufacturing enterprises
would result in the inclusion Of fast
mail on the stop here such ser
vice would reduce the time of de-
livery or mail ssut to New York and
received from New York by prac-
tically "a hours.
Postmaster John y. Hunter Tues
day afternoon stated he had an in
curry a short time ago concerning
the availability or a landing field
az ''Nutwood." The inquiry he
said. came from the Wright Broth
ers and he believed il 20 be for pri-
vate uses
However. he added, ne had had
another inquiry from the war de-
partment for a LANDING field near
South Bend. but at that time had
reported back he was unable TO To-
cate one.