Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27

But tno puDilC SnOufu not forget tHdt
railroad accidents during the year
,712 more. Dangerous grade cross
ings killed 2.268 and injured 6,3l4
other persons. But the public has
been accustomed to railroad travelling
and they realize that there must be
a reasonable percentage of accidents
and loss of life in all departments of
travel or transportation.
Larger Carrying Capacity Needed.
In order to make the airship propo-
sition a commercial success. 1t will be
necessary to develop airships Of a
larger carrying capacity than the
Shenandoah or the Los Angeles. The
new ships would be from 900 to 1000
feet long. with a speed of so miles an
hour, and 1900 horsepower. They
would have carrying facilities for 100
frst-class passengers at a cost of
some 10 cents per mile, and % tons
OF mail and express. To develop these
ships to such a size presents no in
surmountable difficulties to the Amer
lean engineer.
The ships make their landings to
mooring masts, which Will have to be
erected by municipal authorities of
the cities on the route selected, and
already several towns, such as Balti-
more and Boston, have asked for de-
tails Of costs and plans to erect these
masts. These masts are of stell con-
structton, with a revolving platform
on the top. The passengers get off
the ship to the platform. and step
into elevators which take them to the
ground.
Coast Lines Probably First.
1t may be that the first routes of
commercial airWayS will be on coast
lines, such as New York to Atlanta,
Havana, Panama and so forth, where
such violent disturbance, as are re.
ported to have caused the accident
to the Shenandoah, are less likely to
occur, but which are not unusual in
Ohio at this time Of the year. Fur
thermore, careful study Of the air
currents and storm centers of the air
will be made, and the dangers of Ger.
tain air passages Will be avoided.
The public is well aware of the
amount of catastrophes at sea, due
to the elements, and accepts them as
part of the necessary risk in trans
portation. The commercial use of
navigation has taught us that at Ger.
tain times of the year and in certain
places there are liable to be storm
centers, where risks are greater. The
catastrophe Of the Titanic taught the
transatlantic companies to steer a
southerly course during certain
months Of the year, as the northerly
course has potential dangers from
icebergs.
The pioneers of the airways must
be compared to the pioneers Of the
railroad. The Government gave the
original builders of the railroads i'm.
mensely valuable grants Of land. The
pioneers Of the future airways sys.
TENS Of the United States rely not on
grants of land, but upon the Govern
ment's cooperation in being given the
use Of the Los Angeles and it's per-
sonnet, and a proper and fixed legal
fare rate to put the system on a COM
mercial basis.
The original engine was a pitifully
poor engine compared to the huge To-
comotives Of today. 1t has been due
to the commercial use of railroads
that they have been developed to
their present marvellous stage of eff.
f1ciency. The same will be said about
the airways of the United States.
After several years of experience,
backed by commercial interests in
this country. the anyways will be as
thoroughly used and as vital arteries
OF the country as the railroads are
today.
Copyright. 1925.)