The New York herald., 1922-07-21
FOKKER..T0 PUSH AIR
DEVELOPMENT HERE
Noted Dutch Inventor Aban-
>dons Old World to Continue
Career in U. s.
CONFERS WITH HARDING
Suggests Network of Aerial
Passenger and Freight Lines
Plans Big Plant.
CONFERs WITH HARDING

Special Dispatch to THE New YonK HERALD
| New York Herald Bureau.l
Washington, ID. c.. July 20.
! A. II. c. Fokl<er OF Amsterdam, Hol
land. one of the most famous of air
craft inventors, had abandoned the ole
world and turned to the United States
where he expects to develop his ideas
for commercial aviation on a scale pro
| portionate to the possibilities of this
| continent.
After he had conferred with President
| Harding and Secretary of War Weeks
| to-day and had outlined to them his
program for the development of all
routes for the transportation of passenG-
ers and perishable freight. he announced
| that he proposed to set UP plant In
this country, and that he would concen-
trate his activities for the future on this
venture.
He told the President and Secretary
Weeks that no other country in the world
offers the possibilities for commercial
aviation on a mammoth scale that the
United States does. He has come to
this conclusion, he said. aftere an ex-
field for this development he declared
lies particularly along the populous
States of the Atlantic seaboard, where
speedy transportation OF perishaDle
freight is of such Importance.
Has Federal Contracts.
wh,,e he stated that tie nucleus of
HE nlans is execution of contracts which
he has signed for the construction. or
army and navy planes, he declared that
he intends to interest business Trims
ana Industrial groups In the commercial
side of aviation. The wider the interest
| in the matter the better 1t would be, ne
stated, and for this reason 1t Is MS
purpose to seek support for his venture.
to some degree, at least. among smaller
investors.
The inventor Of the famous Fokker
monoplane, the mainstay Of Germany's
air force during the world war. told or
the extent Of commercial aircraft de-
yelopment in Europe. No less than six
air lines carrying freight and passen-
gers are being operated he noted. Those
lines serve Amsterdam. London. Paris.
Berlin. Hamburg. Brussels and Moscow
COW.
There has not been a single accident
on any Of these lines" he declared. The
first Of them was established three years
ago. Two types Of planes having ca
pacity of six and twelve passengers and
1000 pounds Of freight are being
utilized on these routes. American pos
sibilities for development along this
line are unlimited"
The Dutch inventor told President
Harding and Secretary Weeks that two
steps must be taken, each Of them OF
vital Importance before the United
il commercial aviation.
Great Field Here.
/. These are:
First there must be legislation for
the strict licensing Of pilots and the in
spectioio Of aircraft so that the posi-
bility Of accidents may be reduced to
the minimum.
Second, physical requirements for
successful flying, such as landing fields,
landmarks of various kinds. night lights
and terminals must be provided. He
stressed the Importance Of developing
municipal landing fields.
He noted that one of his machines
carried 1000 pounds of asparagus from
New York to Boston in few hours
the other day. He added that air trans
portation for fish, perishable fruits, veg
etables and other high class express
would be natural development.
'In the United States. where such
great distances obtain between the prin-
cipal cities, there is a more crying need
for airplanes than in Europe" he said,
land yet we find virtually nothing here.
The safety of airlines has been demon
strated on the continent. Due 10 the fac.
that there is no regulation in the United
States there have been numerous acci-
dents among the stunt fliers. and by
the operation of machines which were
not airworthy. In deciding to come To
America for the purpose Of creating q
| Nr~k o. A. taI
| ixe that there Is a lot of missionary
work to be done. However. shall con-
tinue my efforts to interest commercial
and industrial men In the possibilities
that are undoubtedly present. Turing
the last two weeks have heen so busy
that I have been unable to get more
thar four hours a night Sleep