New Britain herald., 1925-06-27
NIGHT AIR MAIL SERVICE

With tho Inauguration on the night of July l of the first night air-mail service between New York and Chicago, the governments air plano mail service will take the most important step forward since it's inauguration. The lighted air way between Chicago and Chey- enne, which has been in service for nearly a year, evidently has proven 10 the satisfaction Of the govern- ment that night flying, with emer- gency landing fields and light sta tons at frequent intervals enroutc is quite as feasible as flying by day
 Night flying is an American achievement. There Is no record of lighted airways or any scheduled night flying on any European air. plane lines. As an instance of the thoroughness of preparation needed to make night-tiying on regular schedules possible 1t is only neces- sary to recount that emergency landing fields have been provided 10 10 Is miles apart in the moun- tain region of Pennsylvania, these being illuminated with high pow cred beacons and food-lights Care takers and lighthouse men are sta toned at the emergency landing fields.
 Such a highly technical system -manifestIy demands large and et- fcient organization. The cost Of the service so far has been in excess of the income, but no one would think of the kind of governmental economy that would eliminate non-paying service which at the same tune nslHs to u0'I'NP
 portant future transportation lh- dustrv. The mail receipts this year nrobably will not exceed s6o0,OOo' according to ofFicial estimates, estimates, while the goYernmcnta' annronriation for the service for 1 inc year is S2,750,000. A much larger income could be attained we're the airplanes filled to thelr carving capacity. but the average load in the transcontinental airmail service has been from 12o to Zoo
 pounds,
 It is believed that larger eAteh- sion If inc service, and the over
 r,ght delivery of mail from the east
 in Chicago will do much to popu-
 1arize the service, Among the eX-
 tensions planned is one from Bos-
 ton to New York and 1t IS solhe-
 what surprising that this extension
 is not already in existence. Perhaps
 tba government thinks New Eng
 land ia too economically inclined tc
 nav extra money for speedy a'd-
 rlana delivery of mail; and to cap
 +be climax one reads that the Bos'
 ,or extension will be delayed untlI 1 after an air route is established
 r-or, tlio, Nevada, to Pasco, Wash
 invton, q route that is expected le
 e1ncdito mail from eastern poih''
 to Seattle. Spokane, Tacoma Port
 land and Western Canadian points
 4 projcctcd line from Chicago t'
 Kansas City likewise is planned
 and unofficial reports are it will o'
 n,aced in operation before the I'n'
 is extended from Boston to NeT
 York.
 The night service between NeV
 York and Chicago. however, will ln , directly benefit New England, a | the planes win not leave the Nev | York post office until D. m., giN , ing mail from New England point If mailed sufficiently carly in tn day - a chance for the overnigh { air nieb, 10 Chicago and point { west, The mail is scheduled ( l reach the Chicago post office a - G;45 a. m. The return trip woul he equally advantageous 10 No' England mall the night flyers ma
 being scheduled 10 reach the Nc, {. York post office from the west a h 7:3o q. m, giying an opportunit c for early morning train connec y uoRs.
 y But 'he lime Of departure fror o and arrival at the New York pos C office is only half the story th { westbound plane leaving the tyin k field at New York an hour and c half Attcr tho airmail pouches clos !. at thc postoflce and eastboun e mail arriving at the flying fel t from the west an hour earlier tha To at the postomce. In Chicago tf q time allowed between flying heI | and post office IS an hour f6r bot y east and west mail.
 Il Considering that the governmei z is also planning to extend the ali " mai service from Salt Lake City l. los Angeles, and from Chicago .c St. Louis and Memphis, it is al s- parent that the time is not far di