San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-22
PLAN AERIAL
ROUTE FROM
LAREDO HERE
Business Men Try to Locate
Landing Fields at
Each End.
GIVE 2 HOUR SERVICE
Ask Government for Use Of
Airdrome at Southern
End of Line.

San Antonio and Laredo are to be
the terminals of the first commercial
air line to be established in Texas, it
was learned Monday from responsible
.;rces. Robert l.. Bobbit president
of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce.
is actively engaged in starting the big
transportation undertaking that will
make San Antonio and the southern
gateway to Mexico less than two hours
apart to the business men of the two
cities. 1t is understood that sound
financial interests in both Laredo and
San Antonio are backing the movement.
The movement has already reached
such proportions as naming the San
Antonio landing field. or aerial depot,
which is to be StinsOn Field. Mr.. Bob
bit, at Laredo. is endcavoring to gain
permission to use the government air
drome at that city for the commercial
landing field on the Rio Grande end OF
the line. but at present that permission
has not been granted. Mr.. BObbit made
his request to military officials in San
Antonio, and the latter are investigating
10 ascertain. if there is any authority
by which the proposed commercial air
line can use the government airdrOme al
Laredo for its station there. In view OF
the fact that Maj. Gen. Mason VI. Pa
trick. chi of the army Air Service and
the government are exceedingly anxious
to- assist in the development Of CONNER
cial aviation, it is believed that some
arrangement will be made by which the
commercial planes will be allowed to
use the government airdrOme at Laredo
until the new business will have grown
to a sufficient magnitude to erect Its
own landing field and depot.
Carry Passengers First.
Although San Antonio and Laredo
will be the principal cities on the air
route, arrangements will be made to
land at intermediate points in cases
where landings will be justified. Emerg-
ency landing fields will also be marked
along the route. !
At present the plans for the aerial
transportation company to operate be-
tween San Antonio and Laredo arc very
modest. but have been made with the
hone that the concern will grow to larg
or proportions. and be the beginning OF
a movement that eventually will see
sauadrons of freight and passenger ships
FLYING. not only between San Antonio
and Laredo. but to other sections OF
Texas as well. The first operations
will be confined to passenger transpor-
tation and the carrying of small par
cells. 1t is not known what types of
ships will be used, but the first plans
embody the use of two planes one fly
ing from each terminal each day.
Can Investigate Ships.
Just what, or if any action the gov
ernmcnt air service of the army will
take in regard to the flying of CONNER
cisl ships daily between San Antonio
and Laredo. is not known. The army
air service has the authority to investi-
gate the ships being used in commercial!
aviation, and to publicly announce the
conditions Of such ships. Air Service
officers stationed in San Antonio have
made no announcement regarding the
proposed undertaking. but it is readily
assumed that the army air service will
pass on the ships to be used before the
company begins operations.