Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-19
DECLARES ESTAB LISHMENT Of
PASSENGER SERVICES, NAMES
OPPORTUNITY IN AVIATION

the summer regions and big game
country.
The session last evening was at
tended by some. two score members
of the State of Maine chapter, n. A.
A. A business meeting was held a,
$50 o'clock when the complete list
Of officers was reelected. The pro-
gram occurred following the supper
, in the banquet hall.
MIR. Holcombe was introduced by
the president Of the chapter, Colonel
Francis II. Farnum, and in his open
irg remarks commended the men-
hers present on their interest. telling
them that the local chapter Is one OF
he largest in New England.
He explained briefly the. program
of the National Aeronautic Associa-
ton. Its present efforts are in sup
development of civil aviation through
the establishment in the Department
> of Commerce of an aviation Port
folio, whose duties 1t shall be to SUI
pervise and regulate the registering
Of planes and pilots, regulation or
aerial traffic, nationally; the laying
out of air-ways and the mapping of
air routes: assembling of meteorol-
ogical data.
Mr.. Holcombe spoke Of the trans
continental air mail service as an ex-
pertinent by the government looking
toward the leasing of routes in that
mail service to commercial compan-
les, in the same manner as the rail-
roads contract to carry mail. The
New York to Boston route has been
contracted for and is assured, and
the speaker declared that there was
an excellent opportunity for the es-
adjustment of n-Portland-Au-
gusta- Bangor route to extend and
/ link up with the trans-continental
service.
The speaker mentioned some of
the commercial possibilities in avia-
ton, as aerial photograph, mapping.
| timber cruising and forest fire pro-
lection, crop busting, advertising.
| sightseeing, passenger and air taxi
services. He stressed the Importance
of Anyways and said that every city
and town should paint the name of
! their town on the roof of some prom
! inent building. In eight foot letters.
! for the guidance of fliers. Emergency
/ fields should be designated and mark
/ ed all along the line. 1t is these SIM
| pie provisions which establish ade-
! quate air-ways and bring ayiators in
| to the charted routes.
Lieutenant Fred w. Rowell of Ban
sor, secretary of the Maine Aerial
! Service. Inc, told something of the
! organization of that company and the
! program contemplated. He said that
ground school was now in its fifth
week at Bangor with % enthusiastic
: students, and "a Portland school has
! already been organized. with Augusta
as the next city in which the COM
pany intended to operate. The Maine
Aerial Service contemplates seeking
the mail contract for the Boston
Bangor route, and would follow that
/ up with the establishment of a pas
senger service on a regular schedule.
| James w. Hanson. adjutant gen.
eral of Maine told briefly of the i'm
! rrovements at the state muster field
at Camp Reyes. carried out with the
object of making the field available
for aviation use.
| At the business meeting preceding
the banquet and program, Col. Fran
els H. Farnum was reelected presi-
dent Of the State of Maine Chapter
n. A. A. Hon. Blaine S. Viles was
again elected. vice president, Ralph
lG. Weber, secretary. and Grin b
Frost, treasurer. Hon. William H
Gannett. n. A. A. governor for Maine
was present at the session last even
ing.