Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
BIG JOB OF PUTTING WINGS
ON L. S. PUBLIC is STARTED
MacCrackcn Hopes 10
Beat Europeans With
Out Using Subsidies.
Establishing of Routes
Seen as First Step in
Aiding Aviation.
by FREDERICK II. NELLY.

william =. Mace racken. ir.. OF Chi
cASo. new Assistant Secretary q.
t<ommerCe. in charge of aviation, has
begun the gigantic task. for which
there is no precedent 70 guide him. OF
putting wings on the public.
The kcnesaw Mountain Lands and
VIII II. Hays of aviation is charged
by act Of Congress TO foster air
commerce and to regulate the same
Therefore he must first get YOU 10
use the airplanc for your personal
conveyance, for the transportation Of
our freight. mail and packages. and
then he VIII have 10 keep you on the
safe and narrow path.
Only "A man bubblinE over with en-.
fhusiasm for flying would undertake
the Job. And as To enthusiasm. Mr..
Mace raCken has plenty. To look at
him and hear him talk one comes
70 the conclusion that with his in
tense interest, his laundering bass
voice and massive frame to throw
into the task, he VIII. before long.
have a large part of America on
wings.
Shoots Down Rucaboo.
He had not been in Office Sin hours
before he shot down :, gloomy idea
that has floated over the United
States ever since the war. This idea
has been that Europe is far ahead Of
the United States III commercial
aviation.
There IS no commercial aviation in
Europe" the now Secretary declared
And then he explained that the GOV
errmeuts over there are paving the
bulls 10 q large extent subsidies
which have been urged on this Gov
eminent from time to time.
ommcrcial aviation here will de
Nel"p Itself he declared. land the
United States Government Will not
pay the bill. This division of the De
Tartment of Commerce was brought
into being as the fultillment Of a
promise made 10 those many persons
who put their own money into flying
and hay" actually developed com
merCial aviation in this country"
Mr.. MdCt racken Will lend every pos
slble encouragement and help to the
Air Transport Go. and the individual
owner one Of the best things he
can do is to provide ail~Ways. without
which flying is hazardous and dan
Cerous.
Nation Must Establish Routes.
suppose. he said, "a man wants
- open an air route between Wash.
l0Et"n and Chicago. lie LAYS down his
alrwhN purchases leases on emer-
G"n"T landing fields. installs . light
fNc system ami . radio beacon service
There is nothing in the world TO pre-
Vent some one else flying over that
same route and getting the benefit of
All the time and money he has spent
In developing that ;tirNay Other
forms Of transportation can make i'm
provements and exclude them 10 the
use of others.
Aircraft needs this assistance,
which only the Government can give
But II doesn't need the Government to
pay its bills
Mr.. MacCracken freely admits that
the support of the press OF the roun
try is needed TO encourage people to
ny Publication of accidents, colIched
with Gruesome descriptions. does not
encourage the uon-fyer to take the
All for the first time The new Score
1atN admits THAI anything unusual is
Jews. but he hopes the public. through
30 newspapers, viii receive, at the
same time. comprehensive accounts of
tn" thousands of miles being flown
daily without accident and the adj
Vantage of the airplane over other
forms of transportation.
Mr.. MaCCracken has said nothing
about the appropriations given him
for the task, but II is known that the
100000 allotted for air navigation
aids will be swallowed up with the
laying down Of airWays. The lighting
OF these aerial boulcvards probably
W il loo the first physical task under
taken by the division If the depart
mont under his direction. After the
communication lines are established.
thou The traflcc is expected 10 fol
low