Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-29

Upon the subject of aviation de-
velopment in the United States the
House of Representatives is accused
81 being heavier than air." In spite
of the practical demonstrations OF
transcontinental airplane mail serV-
ice, the necessary appropriation OF
only s1.5o0.000 for years flights has
been. thrown out of the post office
appropriation bill. The estimated
cost Of $500 a trip would be COW
cred by the postage OF the letters 1t
carried, so that the actual expense
Of q twenty eight-hour service. In
place of four-day train service,
would be borne by its benehciaries!
The sponsors feared that 1t was not
safe to bring the project up for gen.
eral discussion in the House lest de-
bate would demonstrate that those
who have given least attention to the
practical advantages of the service
would be loud in protest against the
"extravagance Of the experiment."
The point of order raised by Repre-
sentative Cramton against the item
in the appropriation bill as new
legislation" which was aga INST the
not opposed. The air service appro-
priation was thrown out in the
House, but will be restored in the
Senate. taken UP and agreed to in
conference and finally passed by
both branches.
The great white way-greatest in
all the world-stretches from Chi
cago to Cheyenne. with lights every
three miles visible for seven miles
sometimes for ten miles. There are
beacon lights every twenty-five
miles which are visible from fifty
to eighty miles, and searchlight
fields having a candlepower of 500.
100000 and visibility as far as loo
to 100 miles.
using airplanes in at least two regu-
lar Services From New Orleans q
shin starts for South America at 10
am. and reaches Pilot Town. at the
mouth of the Mississippi river, at
O'Clock that evening. An airplane
with late mail leaves New Orleans
at o'clock and arrives at Pilot
Thereby the mail service to South
America avoids a delay of several
days awaiting the next ship.
Similar chasers are In operation
with mall mall from rom f Save eone several
hours ahead.
II is not the ideal way of ham
ding the air mail for the Post Office
Department to operate its own air
planes, says Air Mail Supt- Egge. 1t
does not so handle its rail or steamer
services The Seattle service Is
through contract with a private air.
plane company. which has the privi-
rlege of carrying passengers and ex-
press for its own profit. and the gov.
eminent pays a fixed rate per pound
for carrying the mail, Just as 1t does
to railroads and steamships. But be-
private airplane enterprises such
projects must be created. No such
service exists today. The United
States Is behind all other first-class
nations In establishing air service,
yet we gave the airplane to the
world.
There has been much said of the
Importance Of subsidizing a merchant
marine, not only for its value In
peaceful commerce but because 1t will
be. Indispensable in case Of war in
supplying transports and other aux
iliary service of defense for the
Navy. No less vital is the develop
ment Of the air service. because COM
mercial airplanes can be quickly con-
verified into scouting planes for the
Army, and, what Is still more i'm.
portant. the airplane factories will
be In active operation. ready to be
instantly turned to making Army
bon1bers, pursuit planes and scout
planes, after the patterns and specifi-
cations furnished by the War De-
partment. It is impracticable to put
in storage thousands of planes and
keep them for indefinite emergencies.