Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-17
HARDING FAv0Rs
DEVELOPMENT Of
TRAVEL IN AIR
President Declares He Wants
the United States to Lead
the World in Commercial
Aviation.
tBy The Associated prcss. ]

New York, July 16.--President
Harding has again given evidence
of his belief in the future of fiying.
This ct.Tsf ez,ecutive expeNts ains.k
ing developments In air travel, and
declares that each stage of devel-
opment demands improved means
of transport; he wants the United
States to lead the world in COM
mercial aviation. He has expressed
these views in a letter to the Aero
nautical Chamber of Commerce of
America, the text of which follows:
THE White House,
Washington.
'Gentlemen:--I find pleasure in
adding word expressive of my in
terest in aerial transport, and in
the presentation of the subject
which is being made by the Aero
nautical Chamber of Commerce.
The history of civilization is large
ly the history of communication.
Each stage Of progress seems to
demand and develop improved
means of transport. The steam
ship. the railroad and the motor
car have been devised and utilized
Now we enter a new phase. 1t IS a
real distinction to America to be
known as the birthplace of the air.
plane; it should be our concern
that this art shall not languish, but
that in its practical application we
shall lead the world. An amazing
development will take place in the
near future in the utilization of the
air as medium of transport and
communication. AS a government
we are aiming to provide this art
with necessary guarantees of law,
and with such facilities as may be
possible through the encourage
ment of airways and terminals. But
for air transport quickly to achieve
the important place it Is destined
to occupy. it must have public in
terest and support. I hope your
efforts in this behalf may be pro-
ductive of most gratifying results.
Very truly yours.
WARREN G. HARDING"
The Aeronautical Chamber OF
Commerce was organized this year
to foster. advance. promulgate and
promote aeronautics, and gener-
ally to do every act and thing
which may be necessary and proper
for the advancement of American
aviation" Starting with Orville
Wright and Glenn H. Curtiss. the
pioneers, and several other leading
aircraft designers and builders, the
chamber now has nearly 200 mem
bers located in every state In the
union.
Possible a score of factories to-
which scientists are working with
trained personnel making slight al
terations in machines or motors,
the chamber says in statement
given out in this city. These men
are not seeking to produce some
thing radical, but rather to improve
the types which have justified the
basic principles on which they
were built.
Approximately 500 civilians are
taking lessons in flying at civilian
aviation fields this summer. The
chamber estimates that there are
Il 200 civilian owned and operated
aircraft in the country today.
The average charge per passen-
ger year and half ago was 65
cents a mile. Last year 1t was 30
cents, and 1t Is believed that the
average this year will be about SO
cents. There has been slight in
crease in terminal facilities so far
this year. The administration is
encouraging local landing fields
and national airways wherever
practical.