The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-26
GIANT A|RSH|P
Unexplained
is. CITIES
Washington Men Form Big
Corporation to Run New
Transportation Method.
Continued from First Page)

countries. Plans for the aerial giants
70 be used on these lines have been
entirely completed. The ships will
be about 1000 feet long. with accom-
modations for more than 100 passen-
gers and luggage, and nearly fifty
tons of mail and freight. Luxurious
lounges, promenades, libraries and
saloons are planned. Staterooms will
De patterned after those in the most
palatial ocean liners. Every means
win be taken to provide for comfort.
One of the most important points
Of construction will be the fact that
the ships will be practically fire.
proof. Noninflammable helium gas
will be used entirely. No idea has
been entertained for the use OF any
other lifting medium. officials OF the
service announce.
The gasoline risk will be eliminated
by use of motors burning heavy oils
which are difficult to ignite and
which give off no volatile fumes-so
dangerous in the present motor fuels.
The corporation has the co-opera-
ton and assistance Of DIR. Johann
ochuette, Of the Schuette-Lanz Air
ship Company of Germany, and his
CORDS of engineers and the engineers
and associates Of other airship auth
critics of Europe. Doctor Schuette
was in this country In the spring
OF 1920, with officials of the Yep
pelin Company.
Benedict Crowell was one Of a
party of financial men and engineers
who spent much Of the spring and
summer Of 1921 in Europe, visiting
airship factories and stations in Ger
many, France, England and Italy.
They made flights In British, ex-
German, and Italian airships and Sc
cured data covering manufacturing
and operating costs not only OF air.
ships. but Of hangers, mooring masts,
landing fields, and terminal facilities.
: They secured information and en-
cheering data respecting flights
over routes in the countries named,
passenger accommodations. freight
and express handling, fuel and sup
ply statistics, replacement costs, in
surance rates, and the laws govern
ing air navigation in Europe.
Extended Investigation.
AT the Same time" Mr.. Crowell
states, I'VE were carrying on inves.
tikations in the United States, look.
ing into the production of helium,
its cost and extent of the supply;
sources of operating revenue. pas
senger, freight. express, and mail;
the most feasible routes over which
to start our new service to supple
meteorological data and the effect
our climate will have on a yearly
operation schedule; and the thou
sand and one other things which de-
velop into real problems to be sur
mounted In any undertaking Of
such wide application.
we uncovered enough evidence
early on our trip to Europe. to-
esther with that previously found, to
convince ourselves that the time
had come for action and that GER
tain conditions abroad, II taken ad-
vantage OF, would place the United
States In the lead in the airship in
dustry, perhaps for all time. Po-
litical conditions, reduced rates Of
exchange, postwar reparations, the
unemployment of airship talent,
and other factors were giving air
ships a setback in Europe. These
factors were to our advantage"
Organization Of the General Air
Service. exclusively forecast in The
Washington Times Of April 20, 1921,
has Just been completed. The con-
Germ has been Incorporated. capital
enlisted, patents acquired, and pre-
hminary planning completed.
Backers Of Enterprise.
General Air Service is backed by
such men as Owen d. Young, vice
president of the General Electric
Company; r. B. Mellon president
Of the Mellon National Bank and
brother of Secretary of the Treas
ury Mellon; w. L. Mellon, president
Of the Gulf OIL Company and cousin
70 the Secretary Of the Treasury;
Aarshall Field, Chicago capitalist
and head of Marshall Field Com
pany: Franklin d. Roosevelt, for.
mar assistant secretary of the navy
and president Of the Fidelity and
Deposit Company Of New York; E.
N Herr. president Of the westing-
Company; and Arthur V. Davis, Of
the Aluminium Company Of America.
General Air Service Is the culmi-
nation Of the activities of tho
American Investigation Corporation.
Q group Of men who associated
themselves into a research and in
vestigatng organization to study
the airship problem as applied to
the transportation needs of the
hour.
The steps leading up to the or
gAnization Of the service are as
fellows:
Early IN 1890 Fred 8. Hardesty,
consulting engineer, Of Washington.
and Edward Schildhauer, electrical
and mechanical engineer. also of
Washington. began . systematic in
vestigation of aerial transportation
TO determine whether It Is CON-
nercfally and economically prao-
tfcal, safe, and offers field for
profitable enterprise.
The two men were highly quail.