Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-24

American opinion on the future of
lighter-than-air transportation, as re-
flected in comments on the achieve
ments Of the Graf Zeppelin, appreciates
the tremendous progress made by the
German pioneers, though most observers
do not overlook the obstacles which still
must be overcome before the airship
can be considered seriously as a COM
merce carrier.
The Baltimore Sun holds that "the
Graf and her successors will have to
make more than one trip to establish
commercial aviation on a very grand
scale as a regular thing" but comedies
that "a very notable beginning has been
made. And when all the factors and
difficulties are called to mind" adds the
Sun, this beginning seems almost to
be summation of the ambitious de-
velopment of air travel in recent years"
The Davenport Democrat agrees that
DR.. Eckener of the Graf has taken
another long step toward his goal of
showing the world that his Zeppelins
must be seriously considered as COM
merce carriers Of the future"
As described by the Rock Island Ar
gus, the flight across Siberia was "as
truly q pioneering venture as was the
first trip taken across the American
wilderness in q covered wagon, and
fraught with fully as many dangers"
The Manchester Union recognizes "a
long step forward in the performance
of the dirigible."
1T is so long since misfortune befell
any ship Of the superdirigible class"
says the Akron Beacon Journal, that
a caution which would be best served
by doing nothing to court a failure
might urge that the German Zeppelin
company ought to be content for a
while with triumphs already gained in
its great field Of transport. The very
fact that these objections do not pre-
vail, that they have been considered and
put aside, only proves how well grounded
Is the faith Of the company in the worth
OF its airshipS and their ability to meet
any test required by modern transport
service"
at is only relative to say that the
air has been conquered" according to
the Providence Journal. "The Zeppelin
had good luck on her Eastward trip.
There have been Atlantic storms that
might have torn her to pieces If she
had been out In them. But with in
creasing experience dirigibles will be
built capable Of withstanding more tenn
pestuous conditions than the pride of
F'r1edrtchShafen has yet encountered.
Every voyage will help to show designers
and builders how to remedy weak points
and produce craft better calculated to
be accepted by the travelling public as
reasonably safe in rough weather"
Pointing to the present lack in many
places OF rudimentary weather report
ing and terminal facilities" the Des
MONIES Register concludes that "the
possibility OF reliable and safe service
n trrfHo 10
are provided everywhere will be obvious
to every one" The Salt Lake Deseret
News forecasts "the time when girdling
the globe by air will be as regular and
as commonplace as steamships trip
from port to port, as dependable and
vastly more expeditions and exhilarat-
ing" The Shreveport Journal declares:
Larger and better airships, with plenty
OF room for freight and passengers, will
be be built, provided American financial
interests can be induced to put up the
required cash. That ought not to be
such a task, in view Of the record hung
up by the big gas bag on its latest un-
dertaking"
1.-THE Graf Zeppelin" in the opinion
OF the Pasadena Star-News, demon
strates that the dirigible type of air.
ship Is capable Of making good speed
with safety over long distances. The
dirigible in some form undoubtedly will
figure prominently In future develop
ment Of commercial aviation.
"Dirigible hangers and mooring masts. i"
thinks the San Antonio Express, doubt |
less will be erected at regular intervals
between Friedrichshafen and Vladiyos-
tok. Japan probably will collaborate
by providing airship stations In Korea
and throughout the homeland. It is |
developing commercial aeronautics, and
recently opened an airplane line be-
tween Toxic and Mukden via Osaka and |
Dairen."
A picture Of Siberia and its need Of |
the service Of the airship Is drawn by !
the ST. Louis Dispatch, with the