New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-08-30
Airplane Turns From Stunt Stage
To Practical Vehicle of Business
Wednesday Marks Inauguration of Countrywide Sys.
tenn of Air Express-Aero Development Compared
With That of the Automobile In the
Early 190O's.

New York, Aug. 80 Pl-Inaugur-
ation on the day after tomorrow of
a countrywide system of air express
marks the passage Of aviation from
lis present era of stunt stuff with
It's inevitable high cost in human life
10 the comparatively safe and sound
basis Of everyday commercial Use.
in the opinion of r. +. NJ. Cowie.
PRESIDENT of the American Railway
Express
Mr. Cowie. who is personally re-
Nonsihle for his company creating
IN air auxiliary to the regular rail
way service. sees a perfect analogy
between present conditions in the
airplane industry and the develop
mcnt Of the aN omobile from the
early stunt stage to its present posi-
ton as a sturdy and safe ally Of
commerce.
THE airplane in its brief history
has almost duplicated the earlier
history of the automobile" he said
today. First the horseless carriage
with buggy wheels at which every
one smiled; then the multiple cyl
indered engine capable OF going at
the breakneck speed Of 35 miles an
hour. in which timid people refused
to ride.
Stunts In Autos
This was followed by The stunt
stuff Of the Barney Oldfields at the
long series of transcontinental en-
durance contests. Gliddcn tours and
racing. It is a long cry not in
years but achievement from then to
the present day. Commercial use Of
motor trucks. inter-urban buses and
motor transportation in general"
Mr.. Cowie said that no one could
tell now to what specific uses the
air express will be put by American
industry. but he was confident that
the demand for it would be immed-
ate and lasting.
TITS all in the guessing stage
now" he said, I'm 30 days We'll
know inst where We stand and
the nature and amount Of shipments
tho air express SAN regularly expect.
Eut feel no doubt that the now
means of transportation will b"
absorbed by industry from the very
first It has been so with every
forrl of transportation that has been
offered the country and there is no
reason to believe the result will be
different in this instance.
"Predictiou concerning the devcl-
opment of air express is difficult, as
here are no real presidents on
which TO base it. but I enVision a
day in the not too distant future
when a net worl; of commercial air
lines will cover this country as the
railways do now.
we shall then have giant express
planes in Use on the main trunk
lines with smaller planes flying out
Of the junction along feeder lines
that Nill pass over all such towns
as are now served by the railroads.
"That may all be some years
ahead but the start Of it is the CEN
tlal system from coast to coast and
from Chicago to Dallas being in
&uguratcd Thursday. That's the be-
ginning and where the end may he is
something to guess about, and hope
for"
When the first air express plano
leaves with its assorted shipment II
will b" bringing true a dream that
Mr. Cowie first visioncd when aNi-
alton wa N its infancy and which
he attempted to turn into reality
as long as eight years ago.
At that time he chartered plan"
10 carry a special express shipment
from New York to Chicago. The
plane was twice forced down by
weather. once in Il Pennsylvania
cornfcld and once on "a Cleveland
Il