The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-30
County Fair
From the Clouds
Continued from page one)

There was that entlfe institution
viewed at a glance-thousands Of
feet below nesting by the Pas
sumpsic river twinlng itself about.
And viewed-it cannot be too
emphatically impressed-from that
other grand institution, safe and
sane, straight flying.
Figuratively speaking, we car
omed through the clc&ds, shooting
to an altitude of 1000 feet, as we
sailed and roared northward. The
sharply defined, but miniature
slrets of st. Johnsbury were pass
ed over. Then we returned over the
Playground, noting the elaborate
features of the fine Midway and
the glistening double alignment of
motor vehicles, rivalling in bril-
lance the much bruited-about St.
Johnsbury Auto show last spring.
We saw that oval race track, about
which the drivers urged their
steeds. We saw the great mass OF
humanity throbbing through the
Midway.
A scene of extraordinary human
activity is a county fair. This
great institution, the Caledonia
County Fair is no exception. But
when reported, when covered
from that other ephocal modern
misunderstanding through space
the effect is doubly marvellous.
We landed safely back on
Gradys' field, thrilled with the eX-
perience, and impressed with its
safety.
When Lieut.. Cleveland told US
about the safety of flying before
we went up, we didn't doubt him,
Now we were thoroughly convinc-
ed, fresh from a practical demon
stration. This is what the air pilot
your hair stand on end.
"You can put me on record as
opposed to stunt flying for paSsen-
gers. If someone distinctly specl-
fees it and wants to pay more
money, | will thrill him with
stunting, but l don't like to do it.
81 could take you back to town
in a Ford and scare you; | could
take you up in this plane and scare
YOU. With the Ford, could hit
every telephone pole between here
and the Caledonian-Record Office.
In the same way | could dive and
spin through the air and make
you rhar stand on end,
"But straight flying is perfectly
safe. AS a means of travel it is
unexcelled. There is no dust, no
dirt, no inconvenience. 1t gets you
there in fraction of the time le-
quired by other means of locomo-
ton"
Lieut.. Cleveland even quoted and
reeled off statistics. Here are some.
He said, an California last year
10000 passengers were carried in
commercial planes and there was
not even an accident let alone d
casualty.
OF course there are accidents in
the air. But the proportion of
them to the innumerable flights,
safely completed, is small, very
small. Flying being a compare
lively new mode of travel, every
accident is widely heralded.
For every accident that occurs
in the air, there is a vital reason,
known always to airmen, but only
occasionally to laymen. Therein
has grown that mystifying, awed
aspect of flying that has so be
numbed the progress of aviation
in this country.
Said Lieut.. Cleveland, "The
causes of aeroplane accidents can
practically all be summed up
among the following reasons:
storms, old defective machines
and trick exhibitions. All this can
be avoided and accidents prevent
cd. The only way that people can
get over their exaggerated idas of
flying is to fly.
every mechanical feature" as
serted Lieut.. Cleveland, pointing
with just pride to his Golden
Eagle, is duplicated Throughout.
There are two magnetos, two igni-
ton systems, two spark plugs.
There is two of everything. If
one mechanical part gives way, an
other will continue to function.
I hat engine is built to withstand
ton times the strength of flying. A
ship is only built to withstand five
times the strength of sailing IN
the water"
Lieut.. Cleveland exploded the
theory of "ar pockets. He de-
clarcd cmphatically that there are
no such things. An "air pocket,