The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-11

steamship lines, and the phenomenal
growth of the automobile industry,
it would seem the rankest pessimism
to predict any but glowing future
for commercial aviation.
l firmly believe in the future of
the air service. The feasibility of
the airplane has long ago been DEM
onstrated and everyday improve
ments make it more and more prac-
teal as a means for the quick move
ment over long distances of mail, ex-
press and of passengers.
To the next generation the air.
plane, in my opinion, will have be-
come as indispensable as is the rail-
road train, trolley car or the family
automobile to this one. The transi-
ton will not come at one fell swoop
but, with continued world peace, will
grow and expand rapidly like field
of delta corn in favorable weather.
We're Learning Fast
1t is true that the American pub
lie has not yet taken" to the air
as a means Of passenger transport
to the extent to which their Euro
pean cousins are patronizing this
method of getting from one place to
another.
With the advent, however, of pri-
vate initiative carrying mail and ex-
press on regular schedules over
regular routes with the reliability
of established train service, I am of
the opinion that only short time
will intervene before the American
public will sprout it's wings and sur
pass the migratory tendencies Of the
same species on the older continent.
Familiarity with the time-saving
powers of the airplane, and a bet
ter knowledge of the safety of the
air vehicles as compared with other
means of travel are the two essen
tials most needed now.
With the continued and growing
use of existing air lines between dis
tant points for the movement, not
only Of mail and express, but Of
passengers, l can picture swift ex-
pansion of these routes in no very
distant future until every geograph-
ical division Of the United States will
be linked up, both east and west and
north and south, with every other
section.
At the same time considerable
progress will have been made toward
connecting air links between coun-
tries in both North and South Am
erica so that the airplane will come
into the field of its greatest useful
ness-that Of the long haul.
Ocean FLIGHTS Must Wait
The plane will also play a con-
spicuous part in reducing transport
time between the two hemispheres,
but the tragic conclusions of a num-
Der of transatlantic flights have
taught US that we are not yet ready
for anything like a regular overseas
service. am convinced that even
this will come eventually, but to
hazard q guess as to how long it
will take to devise ships of the air
capable Of conquering the wide and
stormy reaches of the ocean as a
matter OF daily performance would be
foolhardy.
We should first direct our un-
divided attention toward perfectinr
the service on land-and l am frank
in saying that it is today far from
being perfect. There are many OBJ
stacles, resulting in delays and some
times in serious accidents, which time
and invention alone must overcome.
Over q long route there is very
often q spot each day where weather
conditions present difficulties and
the pilots are confronted with at
mospheric conditions, including fog,
that too often rob the airplane sery-
ice Of the time it has gained over
other methods Of Transportation.
These kinks must and will be ironed
out Of the system and weather OBJ
stacles must be overcome to attain
the public confidence necessary for
successful service.
Rate Cut Was Help
The greatest step toward popular
ixing the air mail in America was
The reduction Of the postage rate to
fite cents for the first ounce. Au-
gust, the first month the new rate
49, operative produced m increase
$3.50 percent, or almost double the
- carried in July.
III - NY earnest conviction that
seeeoding months will bring about
nal mounting total Of air mail
1 - thet win justify the in
~ system during the
DUJI40 M00Ehn ~ rrinfr 80
q. u % .!.l... ea - significantly pro-