Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-21
North and South America to
Be Joined in Extensive
Network.
POST OFFICE LEADERS
PLAN TO LINK LINES
Regular Four-Day Route, Which
Would Replace 13.Day Schedule,
Is Contemplated.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


The largest air mail service in the
world is to be established by the United
States. It will link North and South
America and may be in operation with
in the next few months.
The Post ONCE Department is plan
ming to build the new service by con-
Meeting existing air routes and taking
advantage Of new lines that are being
started in South America through the
aid Of American capital. There has
been sharp competition between Euro
peans and Americans for possession of
the air lines and it Is believed that by
reason of the influence Of the Wash
ington Government in extending air
mail contracts, the American companies
have the upper hand.
The plans call for a regular four
day service over routes which hereto
fore required minimum of Is days.
All Lines Would CO. Operate.
Air mail to South America will be
developed, however, by cooperation be-
tween steamship lines and air mail COM
panieS, especially since It is thought
that the air mail will stimulate COM
merce between the two continents and
thus there will be enough business for
all concerned.
When the network of foreign air lines
Is completed, 1t Is expected that light
cargo and mail will be carried. In view
of the fact that parts of South America
are relatively inaccessible by rail, the
dispatch of air mail and freight to
central points there to be relayed by
automobile will make it possible for
many regions to be brought in closer
touch with American markets for all
kinds of goods. Development Of fast
steamship lines is likely to follow the
extension Of the air routes, because with
quickened means OF communication,
the demand for American products rea-
SOnably may be expected to rise.
The American Governments present
air mail service to the Pan-American
countries Is less than year old, but
in that time the American lines have
covered more distances than those of
the European countries which pioneered
in South America. One of the Ameri-
can companies, according to informa-
ton at the Post once Department, car
ried more than loo, 900 pounds of regu-
lar and special air mail between the
United States and Latin America this
year. A base for the relaying of mail
for South America Is to be established
at Miami, Fla, thus connecting with
Air Companies Get Aid.
It is q curious coincidence that the
aviation companies are getting their
assistance from the American Govern
ment today In exactly the way In which
advocates of an American merchant
marine pleaded for help in the last 80
years. If the proposal had been made
that the aviation lines to foreign coun-
tries be subsidized directly by the Amer
lean Government, 1t never would have
received the sanction of Congress But
in recent years the shipping industry
has been successful In persuading Con-
greSS to give what is known as indirect
aid, especially in the letting Of con-
tracts for the carrying Of mail. Other
governments have for long time prac-
ticed this form of subsidy. but it was
not approved in the United States until
the last three years. Now the aviation
industry is getting the benefit Of that
principle and it is a foregone conclu-
sion that the American countries would
not have been able to get financial
help If they could not have had the
benefit of air mail contracts.
Harry New, former Postmaster Cen
eral, has gone into the aviation BUSH
ness, and Paul Henderson, who, until
few years ago, was Assistant Post
master General, now is a prominent
figure in the aviation world. 1t is
considered likely that the Post ONCE
Department will become a training
school for executives and that from 1t
will be drafted from time to time Of
ficials to take charge of aviation prof.
ects of various kinds.
The Post Office Departments ex-
perience with the air mail, both inside
and outside the United States, will
make it center of aviation knowledge,
particularly as it relates to the move
ment of commerce. Other branches Of
the Government will be concerned pri-
marily with the regulation of trafic in
the mechanical sense and with the in
tensive research in airplane and engine
building.
The American Government is aiding
the aviation industry much as 1t orig
inally did the railroads.
(Copyrisht, 1929