Evening star., 1928-10-07
CLEANING UP THE AIR
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Every housewife who bemoans she
fact that curtains and draperies will not
stay fresh can rejoice because 1t is
probable that CRIME and SCOT will dis
appear along with mud streets. She
will be surprised at the cause 1t is
not because manufacturers have had a
change Of heart and are willing to sink
money in project that will keep her
kid gloves white. or because costless
ways Of absorbing smoke have been
invented. 1t is on account of the
airplane
1t is we'll known fact that fog is the
great enemy of the aviator and il is
becoming recognized that the man.
made fog, smoke, is also a handicap tn
flying. Therefore it is up to cities which
have visions of being centers of air
commerce to clean up the adjacent
atmosphere. Scientists may not know
how to dispel natural mists and must
combat them with remarkable lighting
and signaling devices, but they do know
that smoke can be avoided or done
away with. 1t will devolve on cities to
pass ordinances doing away with the
bleary, binding SCOT, or else they will
not become popular airports.
Providing a we'll located excellently
equipped field and painting in large
capitals the name of the city on roof.
tops will not be the only requisites of ar
airport. Airplane operators may have
to put UP with natural fog, but they viii
select sites for ports that are Ieas
susceptible and they will avoid those
which are yelled in smoke screens
Clean cities are going to have the pros
porous air terminals as well as con.
tented housewives.
It Is up to the cities themselves to dC
away with man-made fogs, and since
many OF them anticipate a day Of
thriving air commerce and are alread,
investing money in fields and elaborate
equipment to accommodate airplanes. II
is probable that they will take thu
necessary steps to do away with ar
unnecessary hazard. Even If smoke foe
were not positively dangerous. it i.
natural that operators will not select
cities for their important ports where
neaVy smoke often held down in mists
VIII add complications to the already
delicate problem of dispatching anc
receiving planes
The Federal Government exerts every
known effort and Is conducting research
lnto unknown methods of protectine
ana guiding the airman. The certifying
EA~"S 6AA pAdnCS, CTCGLlOu Oh all
tramc regulations, and establishment
and maintaining of airways all con.
tribute to the promotion of efficient
night and safety first in the air.
Equipment Constantly Improving.
Just the one, task of establishing ano
maintaining airways is a stupendoIs
piece OF work. It is remarkable not onIy
IN its magnitude, but also because Il
involves keeping abreast with the prog.
ress made in perfecting protective
equipment. Some 1000 miles are lighted
and the equipment is being constantlJ
improved. AS soon as new devices anG
systems are invented and tested theJ
must be installed in order to sustain,
the eftcient service that air commerce
demands and deserves.
The Airways Division of the Depart.
ment OF Commerce to which is ASSIGNED
tnlS task proceeds on the theory that
ike mariners, airmen are navigator,
ana must be given protection and all
helpful information. They require ever
more safeguards than the men at sea
to provide the same degree of safety
Tor airships are more affected by ad.
verse conditions than seaships are.
The Airways Division operates sim.
uarly' to the lighthouse establishment
even operating through that organiza.
tion. Among its duties are the insti.
tuition OF airways and the locating Of