Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17
S mans familiarity with
aviation increases the uses

~ found for this form OF
rapid transportation multi
ply. The airplane long since has
ceased to be the exclusive prop
erty of the aviator; it has become
an accessory to business, to gov
eminent and to the other activi-
ties of humanity.
The hum of the airplane motor
is heard in the far places of the
earth. Equipped with skis, the
airplane lands on the frozen
wastes of the Arctic and the Ant
arctic. It has become a boon 10
the explorer, the gold proSpector
and the trapper in the polar re-
gionS. The widest jungleS know
the airplane; in it the mapper
conducts rapidly and with the
most meticulouS accuracy work
which formerly was a tortuous
and unsatisfactory procedure. The
most arid desert forms no barrier
to the pilot. The airplane is seell
where the locomotive and the
automobile are unknown.
Those who still remain Skeptical
Of the utility of the airplane be-
cause they cannot see eye to eye
with the air transport operator on
the necessity for the expanding
system of passenger and express
lines have only to consider the
multitude of other uses to which
the airplane is put today to real
ize how widespread an influence
aviation has become in the daily
life of the people.
The airplane has been pressed
into service by the tax assessor in
many parts of the world. In Oran,
Algeria, the palm tree is the cri-
terion of property value; the in
habitantS of the GASES are taxed
according to the number of trees
they own. When the assessor has
reason to believe the property
owner is counting his trees with
the eye that sees not, an aerial
photograph is made. the exact
number of trees is diScerned by
cold = blooded and diSpaSSionate
count and, though the palm tree
owner may tear his beard and
howl in the desert night, he payS
and pays.
Many Government Uses.
Other government uses of the
airplane are really too numerous
to worry about. The Department
of Agriculture makes extensive use
of the airplane. Crop busting as
a means of annoying the boil
weevil and other plant pests is
conducted by the department in
Louisiana and by agriculturiStS in
many places. In the West the air
plane is used for seeding Of
great areas. Wheat, grass and
other crops have been planted
successfully, quickly and cheaply
by distributing the seeds from the
air. The United States Forest
Service makes continuous use OF
the. airplane. More than $4,000
aerial photographs have been ex-
amined to determine the extent |
and distribution of timber.
The Navy Department, at the |
request of the Department Of
Agriculture and other govern
agencies, during the past
Summer mapped many thousands
of square miles of Southern
Alaska. Forest patrols are a means
of detecting fires before they pass
out of control; when the fire has |
gotten out of hand temporarily |
the airplane is used to bring fire.
fighters to the scene and to OBJ
serve the spread of the flames and
mapping out the best means of
combating them.
The Alaskan Roads Commission
is making free use of the airplane
and is promoting aviation by lay
ing out landing fields in all parts
of the territory. Recently the
president of the commission, Mai |
Malcolm Elliott, by use of air
transportation, was able to COM
plete in nine days survey which
would have required one year by
the only other available means of
transportation.
The Coast Guard aviation Serv-
ice is growing in size and impor
lance. Regular aerial patrols are
flown along dangerous stretches
of coast, safeguarding the lives Of
those who travel by sea. The eX-
tended use of the seaplane and
flying boat along our rivers. lakes
and seacoastS imposes added bur-
dens upon the Coast Guard which |
can be borne only through the use
of the airplane.