Evening star., 1928-12-30
Line Down West and Another
Down East Coast Via
Cuba Considered.
RESPONSE is EVINCED
IN COUNTRIES VISITED
Plans to Bring Washington Within
72 Hours of Lima, Peru,
Are Discussed.
BY the Associated Press.

ABOARD U. S. S. UTAH, en- route
to Hampton Roads, December 29.-De-
velopment of air transportation between
the United States and South America
is one of the matters in which Presi-
dent-elect Hoover has interested him
self largely throughout the Latin Amer
lean tour.
His interest found an instant response
on the part of government officials in
all the countries visited, but it was ap-
preciated that there are serious diff
culties to be overcome before reliable
international air service can be de-
veloped. Plans were discussed that
would bring Washington within 70 hours
of Lima, Peru, and within 4 days of
Buenos Aires, as compared to the IL
or IA days at present required by the
fastest steamers.
The major air routes proposed were
one down the west coast of South Amer
lea and another down the east coast
direct from the United States via Cuba.
Problem in East Coast Line.
The east coast line presents the
greatest difficulties because of the vast
stretch of practically uninhabited land
in Brazil which must be crossed unless
the line of the coast is followed. In
Mr.. Hoover's opinion, after consulting
available maps, there would be little
difficulty in establishing service along
Venezuela and the Guianas, but once
the border of Brazil is reached the diff
culties, would begin and might prove
inSurmountable.
At present there is fairly steady
service from Buenos Aires northward
along the coast of Brazil to the point
from which a line is projected to
Africa and Europe. This projected COM
munication across the Atlantic is stim-
ulating much interest among South
Americans in the development of a
direct route to Brazil. The govern
ments of several of the republics are
evincing a lively interest in the sug-
gested direct communication with the
United States, and the American ma
val mission to Brazil is now preparing
data on projected routes for the in
formation of the governments OF the
two countries.
Part Now in Operation.
The most feasible route, from the
information now at hand, has been
said to be that down the west coast,
part of which is now in operation.
This route contemplates the use OF
seaplaneS from Panama to Ecuador,
with land planes along the coast OF
Peru, and then either seaplanes down
the Chilean coast or land planes down
the valley from AntofogaSta to San
tiago. The Chilean government is now
projecting line under naval admins
tration.
A commercial line across the con-
tinent from Chile to Buenos Aires IS
also under consideration but some
doubt has been expressed as to the
possibility of maintaining steady SerV-
ice across the Andes because of storm
conditions necessarily encountered at
an altitude of $4,000 feet.
An alternative proposal Is the con-
nection of the railroad from Chile to
Buenos Aires with the present airline
northward to Rio de Janiero, which
would be extended to complete the lap
from Brazil to Washington.
Peru Developing Routes.
Peru is already developing air lines,
and government officials there evlnced
a lively interest in Hoover S suggestion
regarding direct communication. with
the United States. Lines are also IN
operation in Colombia and Bolivia:
It has been conceded that contlnu-
Gus flying over either of the major
routes would be impossible at the out
set as the planes could be in the air
only during daylight hours. Night n.y.
ing requires highly developed system
of beacon lights, particularly along sucn
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