Evening star., 1926-08-16
j. s. HELD LEADING
WORLD IN AVIATION
Col. Paul Henderson Cites
5000 Miles of AirWays and
13 Busy Routes.

BY the Associated Press
CHICAGO, August 16.-The United
States today leads the world in avia-
ton, according to Col. Paul Hender-
son, general manager of the National
Air Transport.
The unequivocal statement is based
on a Nationwide survey Of the Aero.
nautical Chamber Of Commerce. ind
ings of which were announced last
night by Col. Henderson. vice presi
dent and governor Of the organiza-
ton. The study shows that in the
last year 100000 miles were flown
more than 900 passengers were
carried. and air express in excess OF
112 tons was transported by the 29O
commercial operators reporting to the
chamber.
Epitomizing the situation in which
aviation found itself at the beginning
of 1928, the survey says:
"It was underrated by a few in
fiuential officers of the Army and
Navy. 1t was ignored. in so far AS
practical action was concerned. by
leaders in public life: it was regarded
askance by business.
CAPITAL Has Entered.
"But now. in Midsummer. 1926. it
NAV De SJdIcO LlIdI vi tiAN AOi
mer reserve in the high commands
of the Army and Navy has disap-
neared: positive and definite attention
has been given by the administration
and Congress, and, finally. with the
entrance of responsible men and sub
stantial capital into air transport. the
place of aviation in commerce and IN
fiustry is now very generally recog-
nized. There has been. undoubtedly
a renaissance of flying"
The survey, which was made by
Luther X. Bell, traffic manager Of Ma
tional Air Transport and former traf'
flc manager Of the United States Air
Mail Service. shows that no other
country In the world approaches the
existing and proposed air mail activi-
ties In the United States.
THE United States has now in
operation IS air transport routes.
mileage Of which totals 4.o7s." the
service states. "Of these. II are un-
der Kelly contract air mail and two
appropriations.
Have More Operators.
I'VE have probably more CONNER
cjal operators than any other nation,
Uuc, uIuOubtCAiy' W aAAS '"Se
and the natural characteristics of our
country. In 28 foreign nations there
Is a total Of 102 air transport lines.
most Of them not regularly operated
and none, so far as the Aeronautlcal
chamber OF Commerce could deter
mine, lacking some sort of subsidy.
In the United States not one Of the
existing or proposed air transport
lines is receiving a cent of subsidy.
with nearly 5000 miles of airways
now being conducted on schedule, and
with $500 more in immediate con
template the United States un.
doubtedly takes the lead in world
aviation. This network, which radi.
ates from Chicago to practically every
part Of the United States. has had the
effect. so far is the conduct OF bust
ness is concerned, Of reducing the
transportation map to one-third its
former size.
The survey shows that. without
national guidance, there actually ex-
lists in the United States today a total
| Of 3.eos landing fields. OF these. 2.7s2
are emergency. 2os are commercial
| $40 are municipal. 102 are used by the
Army. 40 by the Navy, and Sc by the
air mail service of the Post Once De
partment. Seaplane stations number
1n3."